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Solar Design

(36 reviews) Write a Review
SKU:
solar-design
MPN:
solar-design
Availability:
Varies, custom prepared in 2 to 4 weeks
  • PV solar panel system design
  • solar design site plan
  • solar design layout
  • solar design engineering
  • solar design consumption
  • solar design utility connection
  • solar design pvwatts
  • solar design prices
  • solar permit plan cover sheet
  • solar permit site plan
  • solar permit electrical plan
  • solar permit plan electrical drawing
  • solar permit plan NEC safety labels
  • solar permit plan assembly details
$449.00

Description

Receive a custom prepared design for a solar panel system prepared by an experienced technician. This personalized solar design helps you to make an informed, unbiased decision to find the best solar power system at the lowest cost. Understand your options for residential or commercial modules, on-grid or off-grid, backup systems, rooftop or ground mounting. Once complete with a qualifying system order, the solar design is used to prepare a large format plan blueprint to use when applying for building permits, utility, or HOA approval. See specifications for what's included.

TERMS & CONDITIONS Applies to existing, single-family, grid-tied residence up to 30kW. For off-grid battery storage systems, sizes larger than 30kW, commercial buildings, or new construction, please choose plan upgrade. Final plans provided upon valid system order; plans are not sold without a system order. The design fee is credited toward a valid system order. The design fee is forfeited without system order. Order online or by phone, (888) 498-3331.

 FREE WITH SYSTEM PURCHASE - your cost is credited toward qualifying order (5kW or greater)

  • Explore all options with an experienced designer
  • Easy to understand guide for choosing the best price and performance PV solar panels and system
  • PV Solar Design delivered as a pdf document
  • Final Plan suitable for use when applying for building permits, utility or HOA approval
  • Final plans (printable on 11 x 17 paper) provided upon valid system order; plans are not sold without a system order
  • Applies to existing, single-family, grid-tied residence up to 30kW
  • Plan upgrades available for off-grid battery storage systems, larger sizes up to 1 mega-watt, commercial buildings, or new construction

TERMS & CONDITIONS

  • Standard Design applies to existing, single-family, grid-tied residence up to 30kW
  • For off-grid battery storage systems, sizes larger than 30kW, commercial buildings, or new construction, please choose plan upgrade
  • Final plans provided upon valid system order; plans are not sold without a system order
  • Design fee is credited toward valid system order
  • Design fee is forfeited without system order

What's included in your personalized solar system design

  • Analysis of current and future energy use
  • Assessment of roof or property site for various mounting options
  • Evaluation of current electrical setup
  • Review of local permit or utility requirements
  • PV system sizing options
  • Estimated energy production scenarios
  • Mounting layout and product options for rooftop or ground mount configuration
  • Solar panel and inverter configuration options
  • Best price project quotes for all equipment from your choice of manufacturers
  • Optional full-service installation quotes
  • Tax credit, rebate, and incentive summary
  • Expected lifetime savings and ROI estimate

FINAL PERMIT PLAN INCLUDES

  • NOTE: Permit plan provided with valid system order
  • Solar System Summary, cover page, materials list, and applicable code and system notes
  • Solar array site plan
  • Structural Engineering drawing; specifications and calculations for mounting components
  • Single-line drawing, wiring diagram with electrical specifications and calculations
  • Safety labels and signage
  • Product specifications and certifications
  • Dry-stamped mount engineering letter
  • System design planning
  • 10 - 20 page PV System Plan, printable on 11x17 paper
  • Plan revisions if required by building permit authority
  • Optional: original, wet-stamped Plan or engineering letter if required for permit, an additional fee may apply
  • Optional: Wiring Diagram 3-line electrical drawings
  • Optional: 3-D Shading Analysis

Project Requirements Forms

Once a solar design order has been received, please complete the appropriate form for your project.

GRID-TIED SOLAR PROJECT REQUIREMENTS FORM

OFF-GRID OR NEW CONSTRUCTION SOLAR PROJECT REQUIREMENTS FORM

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Installation Instructions

Information Needed To Complete The PV Solar Array Design

We will have an initial consultation with you by phone or email to better understand your goals, preference, budget and location. Then we will send an email and form to request some or all of the following information from you.

  • Last 12 months energy consumption (list actual monthly kilowatt hours or kWh), or copies of electric bills
  • Last 12 months utility billing (list monthly $), or copies of electric bills
  • Energy production goal (e.g. eliminate top rate tiers, 50% of total bill, 80%,100%…)
  • IF ROOF MOUNT:
    • Roof pitch (see HOW TO MEASURE ROOF PITCH)
    • Rafter spacing, typically 16" or 24" o.c.
    • Type of rafters, (e.g. 2x6 solid wood)
    • Type of roof material (e.g. asphalt or composition shingle, spanish S-tile, concrete flat tile)
  • IF GROUND MOUNT:
    • Describe preferred location of solar array relative to house or other marker
    • What is slope / pitch of location
  • Electric Amp service size (see rating on panel label or main breaker)
  • Photo of electric box (with door open)
  • Location of electric box
  • Location of electric meter
  • Name of utility company
  • Name of building permit authority (e.g. town, city or county name)
  • Any preferences for products
  • Any preferences for layout
  • Any homeowner association (HOA) restrictions or concerns. If HOA, please include name & contact.
  • Any building or construction plan drawings or documents
  • Preferred installation method: DIY do-it-yourself, hire your own installer, or require full-service

Don't let this list intimidate you. We will guide you through the process and work for you to meet any standards or codes.

Project Requirements Forms

Once a solar design order has been received, please complete the appropriate form for your project.

GRID-TIED SOLAR PROJECT REQUIREMENTS FORM

OFF-GRID OR NEW CONSTRUCTION SOLAR PROJECT REQUIREMENTS FORM

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36 Reviews

  • 5
    They Made It Easy To Do

    Posted by Chad Z in Houston, TX on Mar 16th 2015

    Overall, it was a very positive experience. People had been impressed and I have been passing around your website. I certainly learned a lot. Overall, it went very well.

  • 5
    Great Experience

    Posted by Jonathan G in San Francisco, CA on Mar 4th 2015

    If you are considering a DIY solar project, I highly recommend you get in touch with the very capable team at sunwatts. In addition to having a huge selection of PV systems at very competitive prices, working with SunWatts is akin to having your very own expert consultant. Extremely knowledgeable, they advised me on many fronts including City and local utility requirements, electrical updates needed, type of racking systems, etc. It’s a huge learning experience and I called them often with questions. SunWatts is patient and highly responsive to emails and phone calls. I especially appreciate the insightful point of views they have that take into account my needs and preferences. Thanks for being there with me through the entirety of the project!

  • 5
    Solar panel design in Dallas Texas

    Posted by Gene L in Dallas, TX on Jan 7th 2015

    The team at sunwatts is extremely knowledgeable and relate very well to the issues involved in planning and designing solar panels. They provided guidance and direction by narrowing down the unlimited options to those appropriate for my job. They provided responsive service and support during the installation process.

  • 5
    purchased a system

    Posted by Luther & Janet S in Lincoln, CA on Sep 16th 2014

    Three neighbors pooled together and worked with sunwatts. They did an excellent job and were very patient with all of us!! Really went the extra mile in helping in the design and ordering. Would recommend your COMPANY

  • 5
    Best E-Commerce experience of my life!

    Posted by Jon B in Los Angeles, CA on Aug 15th 2014

    sunwatts is a class operation. Highly intelligent experts that are devoted to an industry that betters the world. As a DIY I had no idea what I was getting myself into. They held my hand and got me through this rigorous process and provided critical advice in the following areas - electrical and structural engineering, utility rebates, roofing, wiring, permitting, etc. I went through every single item in my SolarWorld 275 with Enphase package and price compared them down to the rails and clamps and they are competitive across the board. Pay the $399 design fee the company charges up front and then credits back! It will end up costing you nothing and will save you 1000's. At this point the panels are on the roof utilizing our in-house labor only which saved us a fortune. We are ground zero for the single family buy and hold industry and we're hopeful that we can convince our investor partners to put solar on their Single Family home portfolios.

  • 5
    Excellent Support and Service

    Posted by Steven G in Auburn, CA on May 25th 2014

    I purchased engineering services and a 7.2 kW PV system from sunwatts.com. The support I received was prompt and professional. Delivery was on-time. Prices were competitive. I will recommend sunwatts.com to my friends and family.

  • 5
    Excellent Service

    Posted by Tom T in Poway, CA on Aug 31st 2013

    My bother-in-law is a general contractor and I was looking for a way buy a PV system without the installation. This design service was really great. It shortened our learning curve and they presented all our options. Decided and a ground mounted setup and they even provided all the engineering specs. We were able to get approved by the HOA and city very quickly and without any issues. This is a great value.

  • 5
    expert PV design service

    Posted by Jason P in Kansas City, MO on Aug 21st 2013

    I was really pleased with the design sunwatts did for me. They exhausted all the options and were very thorough. It would have taken me months to learn everything. They did it in less than a week. Ended up with a very professional set of documents (30 pages) that I was able to get approved by the HOA and the city permits. I especially liked that they presented several product options and let me choose the best fit for my home and budget. They were more interested in getting it right than in making a sale.

  • 5
    I couldn't have done it without them

    Posted by james s in fallbrook, CA on Aug 10th 2013

    The quotes I got from local solar companies were all outrageously expensive. I am en electrical engineer wanted to see if I could do the solar installation by myself, with the help of my two teenage boys. The sunwatts design gave me everything I needed and really taught me alot. We looked at roof mount and ground mount systems. We ended up going with ground mount and the system was approved by the city, no problem.

  • 5
    Very thorough and fast

    Posted by Trent F in New Jersey on Jul 15th 2013

    I didn't know where to start, but when they explained how solar worked, it made sense to go with their service. Glad I did. We got a nice comparison and chose the top of the line LG panels with enphase. It cost a little more, but we knew what we were getting. We were paying about $0.17 a kWh to the power company. Now we'll only pay about $0.09 a kWh, and the price will never go up! They walked us through all the parts and the right way to do it. The system is built to last.

  • 5
    Unbiased customer first approach

    Posted by Greg B in Cave Creek, AZ on May 27th 2013

    These guys were more interested in helping me than in just getting a sale. The design service provided several options. Once I chose a system, they provided all the documentation and wiring diagrams needed for the permits. Very professional and honest.

  • 5
    Professional Service

    Posted by Jim H in Palo Alto, CA on Mar 24th 2013

    We have a big old tree in the yard and i wasn't sure if solar could work for us. They did a 3-D shading analysis which showed precisely how many panels we could fit and how much power we would produce. We submitted everything to the building deprtment for the permits. Once that's done, we'll be ready to order the system.

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