Old Rocks
Diamond Member
You do not have to have a licensed electrician to do all the work. It does have to pass electrical inspection, and a licensed electrician has to do the final hookups.
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So does installing traditional electrical systems require a licensed electrician.Why should the cost of installing panels be anymore than installing a roof?
The point is that the material and installation costs should be justified, over time, when your utility costs disappear.
HOWEVER: If this is such a great deal, the why aren't all builders offering new homes with solar panel roofs? As it is, few even offer them as an option.
Because it takes skilled labor to install and connect solar panels, and anyone can put up a roof. You have to wire the panels together and connect them to your house wiring, which requires that you use a licensed electrician in most jurisdictions.
You do not have to have a licensed electrician to do all the work. It does have to pass electrical inspection, and a licensed electrician has to do the final hookups.
So does installing traditional electrical systems require a licensed electrician.Because it takes skilled labor to install and connect solar panels, and anyone can put up a roof. You have to wire the panels together and connect them to your house wiring, which requires that you use a licensed electrician in most jurisdictions.
But installing a roof does not. The question was why solar panels cost more to install than roofs, not why does electrical wiring cost more than walls.
I don't know what you are smoking, but a licensed electrician doesn't have to install solar panels. An electrician has to wire the connections for a new home if you want a certificate of occupancy. Just like an electrician would be required for traditional wiring into the grid.So does installing traditional electrical systems require a licensed electrician.Because it takes skilled labor to install and connect solar panels, and anyone can put up a roof. You have to wire the panels together and connect them to your house wiring, which requires that you use a licensed electrician in most jurisdictions.
But installing a roof does not. The question was why solar panels cost more to install than roofs, not why does electrical wiring cost more than walls.
Solar industry targets new homes - CNET NewsAnd what about the cost of installation?
Buying the panels is only half the battle.
Why should the cost of installing panels be anymore than installing a roof?
The point is that the material and installation costs should be justified, over time, when your utility costs disappear.
HOWEVER: If this is such a great deal, the why aren't all builders offering new homes with solar panel roofs? As it is, few even offer them as an option.
Putting in solar panels at the time of construction could help reduce the cost of going solar. About half the cost of a solar system currently is incurred by the panels and other equipment. The other half revolves around the installation. Installation costs are lower at the time of construction.
Skull, both KissMy and I posted sites where you can buy the panels for $1.20 a watt. Differant sites and sources.
And what about the cost of installation?
Buying the panels is only half the battle.
Why should the cost of installing panels be anymore than installing a roof?
The point is that the material and installation costs should be justified, over time, when your utility costs disappear.
HOWEVER: If this is such a great deal, the why aren't all builders offering new homes with solar panel roofs? As it is, few even offer them as an option.
So does installing traditional electrical systems require a licensed electrician.
But installing a roof does not. The question was why solar panels cost more to install than roofs, not why does electrical wiring cost more than walls.
Not true.
Because it takes skilled labor to install and connect solar panels, and anyone can put up a roof. You have to wire the panels together and connect them to your house wiring, which requires that you use a licensed electrician in most jurisdictions.
I don't know what you are smoking, but a licensed electrician doesn't have to install solar panels. An electrician has to wire the connections for a new home if you want a certificate of occupancy. Just like an electrician would be required for traditional wiring into the grid.
So the answer to octonerd's question that you gave was incorrect.
As a matter of fact you can install your own solar panels as long as you can pass your city's permitting requirements...if they exist.
Because it takes skilled labor to install and connect solar panels, and anyone can put up a roof. You have to wire the panels together and connect them to your house wiring, which requires that you use a licensed electrician in most jurisdictions.
I don't know what you are smoking, but a licensed electrician doesn't have to install solar panels. An electrician has to wire the connections for a new home if you want a certificate of occupancy. Just like an electrician would be required for traditional wiring into the grid.
So the answer to octonerd's question that you gave was incorrect.
As a matter of fact you can install your own solar panels as long as you can pass your city's permitting requirements...if they exist.
Connecting them to your home wiring does, which is what I said. Maybe the problem here is that you cannot read. Even if all the electrician does is verify that you have everything hooked up correctly, he still has to be there.
You do not have to have a licensed electrician to do all the work. It does have to pass electrical inspection, and a licensed electrician has to do the final hookups.
I agree. It isn't from lack of trying...I didn't realized this was something that had to be approved by Congress.Solar industry targets new homes - CNET NewsWhy should the cost of installing panels be anymore than installing a roof?
The point is that the material and installation costs should be justified, over time, when your utility costs disappear.
HOWEVER: If this is such a great deal, the why aren't all builders offering new homes with solar panel roofs? As it is, few even offer them as an option.
from your source:
Yet, builders are only beginning to use solar panels.Putting in solar panels at the time of construction could help reduce the cost of going solar. About half the cost of a solar system currently is incurred by the panels and other equipment. The other half revolves around the installation. Installation costs are lower at the time of construction.
The real problem as I see it is educating a reluctant public to understand that a home can be effectively solar powered. The government needs to beging building THEIR OWN BUILDINGS that run only off solar power.
How many solar panels are on the White House?
Governor's Mansion?
Prisons?
Army Housing?
You are saying this is an additional cost in new home construction...having the electrician. It is not. All new construction needs an electrician no matter what the source of energy.Because it takes skilled labor to install and connect solar panels, and anyone can put up a roof. You have to wire the panels together and connect them to your house wiring, which requires that you use a licensed electrician in most jurisdictions.
I don't know what you are smoking, but a licensed electrician doesn't have to install solar panels. An electrician has to wire the connections for a new home if you want a certificate of occupancy. Just like an electrician would be required for traditional wiring into the grid.
So the answer to octonerd's question that you gave was incorrect.
As a matter of fact you can install your own solar panels as long as you can pass your city's permitting requirements...if they exist.
Connecting them to your home wiring does, which is what I said. Maybe the problem here is that you cannot read. Even if all the electrician does is verify that you have everything hooked up correctly, he still has to be there.
If green jobs here go like they do in spain, they will COST us 2.2 jobs for every one they make, for a net loss of 120% post creation.Not only that, I'm really curious exactly how many jobs will be produced.
Then compare that to all the jobs that he is personally responsible for throwing out the window.
This is part of his plan to make it illegal for us to use oil. Not only will jobs be lost, people are going to die.
Energy subsidies to ALL forms of energy must be stopped, and let them stand on their own merits and flaws. Let the fittest form of energy survive. Sort of an economic/industrial bit of Darwinism.
When evaluating the REAL cost of energy one must include the cost of attain that energy (including the cost of making the equipment, or to find the sources of it) as well as the cost of the POLLUTION that using that form of energy.
And it's that second part, the cost of the pollution, where our economics is (I think) missing the real cost of hydrocarbons.
I don't believe exploiting hydrocarbons IS really a cheaper energy source. (easier to find and explot, yes)
I just think that most of their TOTAL costs have as yet not been QUANTIFIED correctly.
What is the cost, for example, of the disaster in the Gulf?
What is the cost, for example, of spewing crap into the air?
We can't quantify those costs very accurately, and mostly we don't want to quantify those costs AT ALL.
There's NO FREE lunch when it comes to producing or tapping energy, folks.
You do not have to have a licensed electrician to do all the work. It does have to pass electrical inspection, and a licensed electrician has to do the final hookups.
None of you have ever done any type of construction work have you?
You need to pull permits first. Then you have to assess whether putting 500 pounds or more of panels on your roof requires structural modifications to handle the extra weight. And the building inspector will probably require it anyway.
If you have to raise the angle of the panels to one steeper than the roof angle then you have to factor in the extra supports needed for wind resistance.
Installation costs will vary by region but they will not be cheap. The prices I posted before were for an installed system in my area. Everything I have looked into tells me the cost of an installed solar system is $7 - $9 per watt.
You do not have to have a licensed electrician to do all the work. It does have to pass electrical inspection, and a licensed electrician has to do the final hookups.
None of you have ever done any type of construction work have you?
You need to pull permits first. Then you have to assess whether putting 500 pounds or more of panels on your roof requires structural modifications to handle the extra weight. And the building inspector will probably require it anyway.
If you have to raise the angle of the panels to one steeper than the roof angle then you have to factor in the extra supports needed for wind resistance.
Installation costs will vary by region but they will not be cheap. The prices I posted before were for an installed system in my area. Everything I have looked into tells me the cost of an installed solar system is $7 - $9 per watt.
Yes, I have worked construction. And if you hired me to put in the panels, it would cost you what you state.
But, for most home owners, if they do most of the work themselves, the cost is far lower, and they can have a 5 kw system for $10,000 or less.
No, the weight you quote is for silicon systems, and they are still expensive. The thin film systems are far lighter, and getting more so every day.
Right now, as we post, there is work going on that will boost the thin film effieciency from about 11% to 40% or better. That will make the slope of the roof less a factor. And drive down the price by a factor of four or better.
Because it takes skilled labor to install and connect solar panels, and anyone can put up a roof. You have to wire the panels together and connect them to your house wiring, which requires that you use a licensed electrician in most jurisdictions.
I don't know what you are smoking, but a licensed electrician doesn't have to install solar panels. An electrician has to wire the connections for a new home if you want a certificate of occupancy. Just like an electrician would be required for traditional wiring into the grid.
So the answer to octonerd's question that you gave was incorrect.
As a matter of fact you can install your own solar panels as long as you can pass your city's permitting requirements...if they exist.
Connecting them to your home wiring does, which is what I said. Maybe the problem here is that you cannot read. Even if all the electrician does is verify that you have everything hooked up correctly, he still has to be there.
Typically solar panels are DC which require an inverter to switch to AC for home use. Inverters or micro inverters at the panel can be quite expensive and require regular maintenance depending on your system size. There is also the consideration that solar panels lose efficiency over time and require replacement as do inverters.