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Old 11-19-2019, 10:36 AM   #1
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Solar Cost

Hi All,

I was wanting to know about what the solar installation cost are with the panels and all necessary hardware, controllers, etc. If someone can share their views it would be a great help.

Thanks in advance.

Doyle

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Old 11-19-2019, 10:49 AM   #2
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We paid around $1400 for 4 280w solar panels, charge controller and associated wiring and breakers. That's for the materials, we did the installation ourselves. Inverter and batteries were about another 1400 or so I'd guess...maybe a little more with the cables and fuses and junk.
The installation isn't that hard, just takes time and a bit of learnin'.
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Old 11-19-2019, 10:57 AM   #3
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Hey Doyle,

That is a pretty broad question. I have two RV's with solar. One cost about $500 the other around $3000.

Best to figure out what you need to run from solar and size your batteries to support those loads. Then size your panels and charge controller to support your batteries.

Two good resources starting out are:

http://www.solarpaneltalk.com lots of great stickies to get you started.

http://www.renogy.com they sell "kits" with most everything that you need. Good pre-sales and post technical support. I have installed a couple of their systems for other folks and been pleased with them. You will spend a bit more than if you shop each component for best pricing.

Good luck..
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Old 11-19-2019, 11:15 AM   #4
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I'm not sure what you're going to get out of this thread. Solar needs and the systems designed to meet those needs in the current context differ greatly. You have people on here with everything from small single batteries & portable panels up to systems that can run high-draw appliances like clothes dryers & AC. That's not to mention the cost diff based on component selection, component source/prices, etc.


For what it's worth, for 800AH of AGM storage (4 x 6v), a 1200W inverter charger, 2 MPPT controllers, 1200W of panels, 2 parallel-capable inverter generators, & assorted wiring, boxes, & hardware, we have ~$8000 estimated, assuming pretty much top-of-the-line gear @ retail prices. Have yet to see what that works out to in real life where we hopefully won't be paying top dollar. The batteries alone are about 1/3 of the total. I consider the generators part of the total system, but if I wanted to divorce them from the 'solar' price that would be ~$1200 less.
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Old 12-23-2022, 11:15 PM   #5
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I'm not up-to-date with current PV prices, but $0.75 per watt is a good starting point for the panels. Panels these days are a generic commodity item, and apart from the very cheapest crap they all work well and will last for decades, so it's pretty safe to buy on price alone. Just make sure they have sturdy frames to resist the forces of being on a bus roof with hurricane-speed wind when you're driving. So saying, the charge controller(s), the battery bank(s), the inverter(s), and all the miscellaneous switches / circuit breakers / fuses and fuse holders / power posts / cable and wire / lugs / etc etc easily cost more than the panels themselves. If you can collect the panels yourself you will save a lot of potential trucking costs, just like for tanks, so find a good local supplier. Don't forget to allow for any future expansion plans, so it may be worthwhile to use heavier downfeed cables now and to keep space for more panels and components. And DON'T allow any shade whatsoever on the panels, ever, at all!

Good luck, John
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Old 12-24-2022, 12:32 AM   #6
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