[SCVLightning]

I already have existing panels on the south facing section of my roof. But I’m looking to add more since I got my lightning.

Sunrun is willing and able to install more on the same side but Tesla is saying they need to install on the north facing side. They claim that I will still get pretty good production despite being North facing. Also, Tesla is about 8k cheaper before incentives and 6k cheaper after. The two systems will be similar size in terms of panels.

Anyone have any experience with north facing solar panels? Is Tesla just blowing smoke to get the deal?

 

[kalvink]

Depends on your location, but the hours of exposure on the north facing solar panels will be much less than the southern exposure. They could be using the additional installation to get more ITC rebates, but in terms of good use of your investment - north facing panels are not the best.

 

[SCVLightning]

Tesla is saying the north side still gets decent sun. Obviously not the same so I’m wondering how much production I’ll be losing. Might not be worth the 6-8k I’ll save

 

[mofospinner]

My company installs solar panels and we have been in the solar business for 13 years. If someone is proposing to install your panels on the North Facing portion they are simply doing it for their own profit. We never install panels that are facing North. If you need more panels, sometimes a ground mount array or higher wattage panels to replace your existing setup would be my recommendation.

 

[btreece]

Ground mount array if you have the real estate

 

[SCVLightning]

My company installs solar panels and we have been in the solar business for 13 years. If someone is proposing to install your panels on the North Facing portion they are simply doing it for their own profit. We never install panels that are facing North. If you need more panels, sometimes a ground mount array or higher wattage panels to replace your existing setup would be my recommendation.

thank you. This is the confirmation I was looking for from an industry expert.

 

[Jfmoots]

My company installs solar panels and we have been in the solar business for 13 years. If someone is proposing to install your panels on the North Facing portion they are simply doing it for their own profit. We never install panels that are facing North. If you need more panels, sometimes a ground mount array or higher wattage panels to replace your existing setup would be my recommendation.

really good advice!

 

[KElkhorn]

Go to pvwatts.nrel.gov

Put in your location, capacity, orientation, and angle, and it will tell you what your annual production will be.

 

[SCVLightning]

Go to pvwatts.nrel.gov

Put in your location, capacity, orientation, and angle, and it will tell you what your annual production will be.

thanks. This is estimating way more than what Tesla is saying. Even when I make the roof a crazy steep angle. Sounds like Tesla may be underestimating to be cautious.

They did say they are factoring in the angle and side of the roof in their production estimate.

 

[KElkhorn]

This also doesn't take until account any trees, etc.
Make sure your azimuth is 360/0, 180 is due south.

 

[SCVLightning]

This also doesn't take until account any trees, etc.
Make sure your azimuth is 360/0, 180 is due south.

no trees or obstacles

 

[KElkhorn]

What size array/ what's your angle/ what zip code

 

[Dave’sNotHere]

no trees or obstacles

In that photo it looks like you’ve got a lot of unused space on the south facing roof. What have your installers said about that?

View attachment 6221

 

[SCVLightning]

What size array/ what's your angle/ what zip code

it’ll be 5.2kw, I don’t know the angle exactly but i played around with it with the worst angles. Zip is 91387

 

[JoeSal5095]

I own a solar company - It depends on your location and the pitch of your roof. If the north roof isn't steep then it will produce energy, period. Beware of Tesla though, they will give you a cost through their website and then go up from there. I definitely would also try to stay away from Sunrun if you can. We go up against Sunrun all the time, I can tell you that they're typically about $5,000 more than us, using inferior products.
I'm not 100 percent familiar with the Cali market, in Connecticut some Northern roofs are fine if they aren't steep. I'd imagine you get a lot more sunlight hours on a Northern roof in California to make it even more feasible. If it's a 5.2kw system, how many panels are they using? Most likely they're 390-400 watt Q cells with a centralized inverter. a 5.2 kw system should cost your around 16,500 before rebates also, that's the cash price.

 

[Voltz]

I own a solar company - It depends on your location and the pitch of your roof.

Quick question, is it normal for local solar companies to refuse to come to the site and do a site survey? Twice now, I've joined two SUN co-op installs and had local companies refuse to do anything more than Google maps calculations, then reject me because of trees. South facing ~30º roof lat 37º, the attic temp graphs indicate that it gets a lot of exposure most of the year. I do get late afternoon shading from the west.

 

[smaster553]

thanks. This is estimating way more than what Tesla is saying. Even when I make the roof a crazy steep angle. Sounds like Tesla may be underestimating to be cautious.

They did say they are factoring in the angle and side of the roof in their production estimate.

I own a solar company - It depends on your location and the pitch of your roof. If the north roof isn't steep then it will produce energy, period. Beware of Tesla though, they will give you a cost through their website and then go up from there. I definitely would also try to stay away from Sunrun if you can. We go up against Sunrun all the time, I can tell you that they're typically about $5,000 more than us, using inferior products.
I'm not 100 percent familiar with the Cali market, in Connecticut some Northern roofs are fine if they aren't steep. I'd imagine you get a lot more sunlight hours on a Northern roof in California to make it even more feasible. If it's a 5.2kw system, how many panels are they using? Most likely they're 390-400 watt Q cells with a centralized inverter. a 5.2 kw system should cost your around 16,500 before rebates also, that's the cash price.

I got a Tesla 14.28K system installed - 2 years ago for $28K (before rebates) with Solaredge invertors. Most are installed south West and south east due to the way my roof is. Have been getting 14.5 mW generation (sucks to be in NE) as during Nov-Feb my generation drops to just 300-400 kw only. Max summer months I get 2 mW.

 

[KElkhorn]

it’ll be 5.2kw, I don’t know the angle exactly but i played around with it with the worst angles. Zip is 91387

Yes so somewhere in the 4-5000 kWh per year range, not bad

 

[SCVLightning]

Yes so somewhere in the 4-5000 kWh per year range, not bad

tesla is saying 6500 and that site is saying Over 8000

 

[KElkhorn]

tesla is saying 6500 and that site is saying Over 8000

I usually round down for things like this, but I'm not sure how you are getting 8000, unless you are using an open rack mount instead of a roof mount.
If I put in a 20 degree roof, I get:

Flat roof I get:

30 degree roof: