Are the Tesla low profile panels and skirt really worth it?

american.patriot · Jul 28, 2024

Been in the market for solar + Powerwalls for a few months, but Tesla keeps pushing out our onsite inspection. It's been over 2 months of rescheduling last minute, and it's getting frustrating.

Found a local Tesla certified installer that has great reviews and have been in business for 10 + years, however, they do not use the low-profile panels and installation hardware that my wife is crazy about. She seems to like how the low-profile Tesla panels and skirting look. Is it time to just move on and work with an authorized installer? I've seen a few options to add skirting after the install, but not sure it's DIY territory for me, especially since building is two story.

zanydroid · Jul 28, 2024

I’m not sure we can convince your wife. It comes down to the form/function vs aesthetics. And we can only be emotional support animals basically, beyond supplying the small amount of technical input

Lower panels and skirts are likely objectively pernicious because they interrupt air flow. High temps reduce output

As an engineer that appreciates both specs and aesthetics, I considered getting the “skirt” for my Unirac system but combination of taking more time to find it in stock, and not enough space on some roof planes to sacrifice 6-12”, easily answered it for me.

But, if i had more space and more sunlight available at my property, and it was easier to buy; maybe i would have been willing to sacrifice it.

As an additional datapoint, I looked at a trimmed solar panel in my neighborhood (that’s where I learned about), and I looked at the cost and installation manual. And noped out of using it with that level of investigation

For Unirac it’s mostly clip on work, if you go on a Tesla forum someone may have a link to the instructions from the OEM.

Solar Guppy · Jul 28, 2024

Higher the mount off the roof and no skirts means better performance and likely longer life. You can see my arrays HERE to get an idea of how they look, maybe your other half might not be to put off by the look?

american.patriot · Jul 28, 2024

Thanks

zanydroid said:
I’m not sure we can convince your wife. It comes down to the form/function vs aesthetics. And we can only be emotional support animals basically, beyond supplying the small amount of technical input

Lower panels and skirts are likely objectively pernicious because they interrupt air flow. High temps reduce output

As an engineer that appreciates both specs and aesthetics, I considered getting the “skirt” for my Unirac system but combination of taking more time to find it in stock, and not enough space on some roof planes to sacrifice 6-12”, easily answered it for me.

But, if i had more space and more sunlight available at my property, and it was easier to buy; maybe i would have been willing to sacrifice it.

As an additional datapoint, I looked at a trimmed solar panel in my neighborhood (that’s where I learned about), and I looked at the cost and installation manual. And noped out of using it with that level of investigation

For Unirac it’s mostly clip on work, if you go on a Tesla forum someone may have a link to the instructions from the OEM.

Solar Guppy said:
Higher the mount off the roof and no skirts means better performance and likely longer life. You can see my arrays HERE to get an idea of how they look, maybe your other half might not be to put off by the look?

Thanks

Anx2k · Jul 28, 2024

I have both a Tesla system and another smaller one I installed myself, and I have the skirt on both of them (Ironridge, not sure if Tesla uses the exact same system, but visibly it looks the same to me) - on my system I installed it on all sides, but on the Tesla they only installed on the bottom and sides. Beyond the aesthetic benefit, it also keeps more of the birds out - I actually had a bit of an issue with birds coming in on the tp of the Tesla, and I ended up using some of the bird screen and attaching it along the top to stop them, but they don't seem to want to climb in under the skirt as much (or at least haven't yet). I also feel like it would help a bit in windy conditions, as presumably it would reduce the amount of wind that could get up underneath and lift - but that's just a guess on my part. Here's pictures of the system I installed myself with the skirt on it:

Post your current battery bank and inverter! (pictures only)

diysolarforum.com

american.patriot · Jul 28, 2024

Anx2k said:
I have both a Tesla system and another smaller one I installed myself, and I have the skirt on both of them (Ironridge, not sure if Tesla uses the exact same system, but visibly it looks the same to me) - on my system I installed it on all sides, but on the Tesla they only installed on the bottom and sides. Beyond the aesthetic benefit, it also keeps more of the birds out - I actually had a bit of an issue with birds coming in on the tp of the Tesla, and I ended up using some of the bird screen and attaching it along the top to stop them, but they don't seem to want to climb in under the skirt as much (or at least haven't yet). I also feel like it would help a bit in windy conditions, as presumably it would reduce the amount of wind that could get up underneath and lift - but that's just a guess on my part. Here's pictures of the system I installed myself with the skirt on it:

Post your current battery bank and inverter! (pictures only)

diysolarforum.com

Thanks; looks great. I’ve been researching the IronGate Contour skirts as well. How easy are they to install? Parts probably come up to around 2k for my array size, so it’s effectively a question of if it’s worth the extra 2K to have a local installer who’ll be (hopefully) more responsive should I need support than Tesla.

zanydroid · Jul 28, 2024

Anx2k said:
I also feel like it would help a bit in windy conditions, as presumably it would reduce the amount of wind that could get up underneath and lift - but that's just a guess on my part.

You have a big problem if the uplift safety factor of the panels and the racking depends on the influence of cosmetic trim

Anx2k · Jul 28, 2024

zanydroid said:
You have a big problem if the uplift safety factor of the panels and the racking depends on the influence of cosmetic trim

As I said, I feel like a 1” gap and an angled cover would cause less uplift - but it’s not like I would consider it as part of the design calcs. Last year we had wind gusts one day over 100mph (typically in a year the peak winds I’ll see won’t be much over 50mph), and it ripped tiles off the roof and did a bunch of other damage, but the panels did great. Did the skirts stop them from being ripped off? I highly doubt it, but they certainly didn’t cause it to be worse.

Skirts primary benefit to me is aesthetic, but in my experience I think those two other factors are worth considering.

Anx2k · Jul 28, 2024

american.patriot said:
Thanks; looks great. I’ve been researching the IronGate Contour skirts as well. How easy are they to install? Parts probably come up to around 2k for my array size, so it’s effectively a question of if it’s worth the extra 2K to have a local installer who’ll be (hopefully) more responsive should I need support than Tesla.

They’re trivial to install - took me I think all of an hour or two to put them on. About the only gotcha I ran into was originally I had just normal clamps on the outside of the panels, but I had to switch to the hidden inner clamps and trim off the excess railing so I could have a continuous trim flow on the side. Beyond that you just need a miter saw to cut them to length.

american.patriot · Jul 28, 2024

Anx2k said:
They’re trivial to install - took me I think all of an hour or two to put them on. About the only gotcha I ran into was originally I had just normal clamps on the outside of the panels, but I had to switch to the hidden inner clamps and trim off the excess railing so I could have a continuous trim flow on the side. Beyond that you just need a miter saw to cut them to length.

Thanks. May do them myself. The installer doesn’t do them themselves and their third-party guy wants $80 per panel (parts included) but I still think that’s too much. 48 panels will run almost 4K.

LydMekk · Jul 29, 2024

4K install cost is frikking WORTH IT in my eyes.
Crawling around on the roof with 48 panels is a big job.

american.patriot · Jul 29, 2024

LydMekk said:
4K install cost is frikking WORTH IT in my eyes.
Crawling around on the roof with 48 panels is a big job.

Correct, but I guess my dilemma is that's 4k additional I have to pay if I go with the authorized installer vs Tesla, since Tesla includes the skirts already. I love the idea of having a local company to get a hold of for support vs Tesla, where you have to wait 3-4 months.

Steve777 · Jul 29, 2024

Another consideration for skirting is rodents. If you have those critters they like to chew wires and can cause considerable damage (current panels I picked up used were on a house in town and suffered several bouts of wires chewed thru before they were removed). I believe skirting on roof installed panels is now mandatory in my AHJ if you are going to pass inspection.

american.patriot · Jul 29, 2024

Steve777 said:
Another consideration for skirting is rodents. If you have those critters they like to chew wires and can cause considerable damage (current panels I picked up used were on a house in town and suffered several bouts of wires chewed thru before they were removed). I believe skirting on roof installed panels is now mandatory in my AHJ if you are going to pass inspection.

Thanks. I live on a cul-de-sac that backs into a wooded area, so lots of visits from raccoons, squirrels and opossums.

zanydroid · Jul 29, 2024

If there is heavy rodent risk, shielding the bottom is worth it IMO.

In principle the airflow should not affect derating of the PV conductors down there unless you have crazy thick bundles from several strings running for long distances.

Are the Tesla low profile panels and skirt really worth it?

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