Tesla Solar doesn't honor their warranty.

k490 said:

Leasing solar is a bad idea stuck with that company forever just one downside. Sounds like your DIY fix resolved it IMO I would just treat it as your own system and support it yourself who would know any different. My utility has been increasing solar connect fees, and reducing the rate they pay for solar it has had the effect of flushing out the scammer solar contractors who mostly selling lease systems. I know people who bought a lease system and ended up paying for the lease and never reduced their bill to 0 like they claimed. When they complained to the solar contractor they are told it's because they use too much power. Phoenix last 2 years has had record extreme heat now they are on the hook paying more for electricity then if they just never got solar.

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Beeralph said:

In 2010 I purchased a 20 year lease on a 6kw home grid tied solar system from Solar City. They were owned by Tesla, but pretty much operated independently. It came with a warranty for the life of the lease for equipment failure and labor included to repair or replace such equipment. They also promised in the event of roof replacement due to acts of God, they would remove and replace the panels.
At first they were great. I had a panel that the glass shattered on and they came out and replaced it while I was at work, no charge. I ended up recommending them to at least 4 people I knew who took a contract with them.
I ended up having to replace my roof due to hail damage about five years ago. By this time Tesla had taken over. They couldn't get a crew out for almost a year. They told me I could contract with a licensed installer and the warranty would still stand. I hired a local company who did a great job.
2 years ago there was another bad hailstorm and once again I was forced to use the same contractor as before. Once again they did a great job. 18 months after that the inverter stated failing. I called Tesla and they scheduled a tech for a month out. Of course by the time he got there, the inverter started working again. This happened twice more before the inverter finally failed while the tech was there.
He replaced the Fronius IG5 inverter with a Tesla one. He installed it just as the sun was setting. I saw that the inverter was producing about 500 watts and assumed it would get back to normal levels when the sun came up. It never did. The same tech had told me on a previous visit when my inverter was working intermittently that Tesla's inverter was much more efficient, but it was possible that the panels might need to use a different string configuration. When I contacted Tesla I told them that and they acted like I was crazy or stupid. That inverter was put in in late October 2023, and I just now got it working right. I looked inside the inverter panel and realized that with 35 panels on my roof, the only way this inverter would work was to run 4 independent strings. I contacted Tesla and sent them pictures of the installation(5 strings of 7 panels in series connected in parallel at the junction box with 1 positive and 1 negative running to the inverter) . I told Tesla that the diagrams inside the inverter specifically said that if the B terminals on the inverter were used, the strings must have an equal number of panels. They said they would get back to me. When they did they said the problem was due to a third party installation. They wanted $5700 to remove the entire system and reinstall it. I complained to the BBB and they kept stalling. Finally they quit responding to me and the BBB and got an unresolved complaint.
I knew the wiring was wrong. Yesterday I wired the panels in accordance with the independent string diagram on the inverter. I had to remove 5 panels to access the strings and tie the panels in 4 series strings with 9 panels on three strings and 8 panels on one. I removed the gage 4 wires from the conduit and used them to pull 8 10 gage wires through. Today instead of making less than a kilowatt of power, I am making almost 6. I doubt I will say anything to Tesla because I just don't trust them. I regret taking a contract with them and recommending them to friends.
When this contract is over I will probably install my own system. It is terrible when you pay for a warranty that is worthless. I hate being lied to. Things like this give the solar industry a bad name.

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OM617YOTA said:

I talked to Solar City when I bought my house. The numbers didn't work out, but even if they had, I wouldn't have gone with Solar City due to their greasy used car salesman vibe and communication style.

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k490 said:

Leasing solar is a bad idea stuck with that company forever just one downside. Sounds like your DIY fix resolved it IMO I would just treat it as your own system and support it yourself who would know any different. My utility has been increasing solar connect fees, and reducing the rate they pay for solar it has had the effect of flushing out the scammer solar contractors who mostly selling lease systems. I know people who bought a lease system and ended up paying for the lease and never reduced their bill to 0 like they claimed. When they complained to the solar contractor they are told it's because they use too much power. Phoenix last 2 years has had record extreme heat now they are on the hook paying more for electricity then if they just never got solar.

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Beeralph said:

My niece is in Surprise Az. She had solar installed by one of these scammer solar installers. It works, but it has never produced what was promised. She has tried to get compensated, but they just stall and respond to her issues by claiming that it is a totally different problem. When I first got solar I looked on attempts to regulate the industry as efforts by the utility companies to stifle competition. Now I think there needs to be some consumer protection. Some of these guys are just con men.

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CharlesWhitlatch said:

I did some city permit and utility approval drawings for a DIYer in Surprise, AZ, in 2015. I got a nice complement forwarded to me by them from APS (the utility). APS said it was the fastest approval of a DIYer they ever had. My various permit drawings, and designs, were always nearly perfect.

NEVER EVER lease a solar system. Few companies will install purchased equipment for a DIYer, but I know some who will. Solar installations are VERY lucrative. The new NEC rules are safer but more costly, and APS (utility) now requires approval before work can even be started, even if you have a building permit.

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robbob2112 said:

Care to post your drawings without the personally identifying info? I am always looking to collect stuff that is good.

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CharlesWhitlatch said:

I installed my own system in Phoenix the end of 2013. I have two 3.8 kW inverters (SolarEdge). One inverter failed two years ago, replaced under warranty, all shipping paid. A power optimizer failed, replaced under warranty, shipping paid. I did all repair work myself.

You should have a harness when working on panels on the roof, for safety (it's easy to slide down panels on the roof). It's very satisfying to repair the system yourself.

I am "grandfathered" with APS - net energy metering, no peak demand time, charge, or rate. the system produces enough energy to power an EV, keep the house cool, and I get a few dollars credit ($0.0287 per kW) at end of year. The utility is APS.

My daughter has a "paid up" lease that came with her home, that she had to take over. She has a 5 kW Fronious inverter, 4 strings of 9 panels each 180 W (?) (much older tech and not quite enough energy for A/C in 118 deg F heat). We need to cancel the 20-year lease at the end of term, or they start some new monthly lease charges. The company that takes care of the solar system maintenance is good. They keep updating their meter (4G cell, now) and came out to determine why the power output was low (tree shading, now cut down).

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robbob2112 said:

Care to post your drawings without the personally identifying info? I am always looking to collect stuff that is good.

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k490 said:

I don't plan on mounting panels on my roof wife doesn't like the look of solar on the roof also if you ever want to remove it going to leave big mess on the shingles with black marks all over the roof from the sealant. That means entire roof has to be re-shingled I got it done in 2012 for 4500 I heard now it cost $10-12k . My plans are a ground mounted system and a transfer switch to a offgrid EG4-6500xp. Maybe if we move to 2-3 acres then I can build much larger system and grid tie. APS, and SRP require CEC listed equipment battery prices were extremely high of the ones listed on the CEC. The EG4 powerpro is listed now much lower prices I think as time passes market going to get much cheaper for battery systems. The unfortunate thing is contractors likely won't pass that along to customers they will continue to gouge people.

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CharlesWhitlatch said:

In 2013 I needed a new fiberglass-asphalt roof (old three-tab shingles on OSB). I bought special mounts (resulting in vertical aluminum cylinders for mounting rails, forgot the brand) that are put on before the asphalt shingles (I went with Owens-Corning architectural shingles, white). The Owens-Corning fiberglass-asphalt shingles have a 30-50 year guarantee (I forgot which) and I expect them to outlast me. Good news is that, with the IronRidge 1000 aluminum rails, the panels are well-ventilated 6-inches above the roof, perhaps gaining some additional output power in the (very) hot Arizona sun. I think I paid about $9K for the roof, mounts, and labor (expensive). I am on a 70 x 100 lot but yes, I would like 2-3 acres. Let me know if you find a deal.

I have 32+ 405 W bifacial panels and mounts I plan to install in the back yard. I have shade from a southeast palm tree and an east Palo Verde tree to contend with, but not worried. The NEC RSD rules for ground mounts are easier, and I think you are allowed 3 feet into a building for HV conductors from the arrays, if I remember correctly. I am not worried about CEC listings for batteries but I am planning a separate nonflammable air conditioned insulated shed enclosure. There are at least 8 Li-ion battery formulas, and LiFePO4 is BY FAR the safest.

If you have the time and knowledge, you are perfectly capable (under Arizona Revised Statutes, last time I checked) of getting your own building permits and doing your own work (legally), if you are the OWNER of your home. Even your own A/C work. I completely cleared my South roof for solar panels. I took down the "package" A/C unit and installed a "split system"- condensor with air handler (with some help).

Remember, the roof UNDER your solar panels lasts even longer. If you have ground mounts, you have to isolate (fence enclosure) the mounts or use conduit/shielding for the wiring if people have access.

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k490 said:

Your adding a battery to your current grid tied system you be required to sign a new interconnect agreement, and lose the grandfathering. Also be required to add 2 more meters that is if you plan on permitting it. I'm just taking a few circuits going off-grid for battery backup I don't plan on permitting. I have underground conduit I ran 20 years ago for wiring back to my inverter. I know roof would be cooler under panels like I said wife doesn't like way solar panels look on the roof.

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