Turnkey PV Solar on Ebay - $2.95/Watt

I've been seeing small "starter" kits, same concept ( Enphase) for about the same price per watt. Been considering just setting a few in the backyard (too much shade on the roof) and plugging them into an existing unused 240v circuit. With a small number of panels (low total amperage) it's tough to see what could go wrong. I've read through the enphase install manual, and it's just like tinkertoys up to the point where you install a regular (house-wiring) exterior junction box. You just clip the plugs into the sockets. Then it's just standard house wiring. With the Federal 30% tax incentive, at that price, the simple payback period is about 13 years, at the rates I pay for electricity.

 

Raw panel prices are ~$1-1.50 per watt. (retail, cheaper in pallet or container quantities) When I bought my first panels they were close to $10! Grid tie installs are now under $5/watt, exclusive of rebates and tax credits.

Icarus

 

That's about right. Name brand panels (Sharp, Hyundai, and so on) are ~$1+/W, decent inverters are ~$.5/W, and everything else is about $.5/W. Someone can pay someone a $1/W markup for putting it all together, but they don't need to these days.

 

Not bad. Don't know where they are getting their rebate info though. AZ is $1000 state tax credit capped, federal is 30% (~$5100), utility rebate is $5k cap. Still not bad, but not free as they claim.
FWIW I'm in the middle of a DIY, here's how its shaping up:

24 x Canadian Solar 230W: $5800
Sunnyboy inverter: $2600
Unistrut for racking: $1000 est
Misc HW & cabling: $1000 est
Final hookup, permits, etc: $1600 est

Ttl $12,000 / 5.5kW = $2.18/W gross installed
AZ Tax Credit: $1000
Fed Tax Credit: $3600
Util Rebate: $5000

Net Cost: $2400

Annual Production $700-800 @ 9c/kWh, simple payback ~ 4yrs. That's all a bit oversimplified, but hopefully it'll work out ok. Found a local contractor who is willing to "supervise" the design and install at an hourly consulting rate so we can qualify for tax credits and utility rebate. Got my design package approved by utility, working on the building permit package. Fingers crossed