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diy solar

Is it possible to hire solar company to install solar panel only and I buy my own batteries and connect?

I would hope this thread and all the other rehashed threads give enough context for folks to make their own decisions. I personally don't expect an IRS form to list every concern, because it is already assumed other rules and regulations, local state and federal are being followed. And with that, I'm done with this topic...too tedious to quibble about in my free time, when intent was to be helpful.
 
crazy, remind me to never live there again... and for you poor souls that do and ignore the stupid stuff I guess you have to make sure you know the code....

I did 2 years in Lemoore in the late 1980s...
 
crazy, remind me to never live there again... and for you poor souls that do and ignore the stupid stuff I guess you have to make sure you know the code....

I did 2 years in Lemoore in the late 1980s...
A lot of it is protectionism. And a bit of technocracy thrown in. TPTB really don't want you doing anything on your own.
 
Thanks for sharing

So installation came out to over $4000.
Yes, $4200. Had thought of electric winch and a pair of 16ft 2x6s but $125/panel was doable, made wife happy, and allowed the crew to use their process. Neighbors, with long time solar, mentioned a half dozen or so helping each diy solar. My total cost less than half of the solar bids and have higher watt panels. This forum made it possible. San Francisco is a great area, used to visit my brother when the Navy was flying out of Moffet. Couldn't afford to be retired there.
 
Have not read through the thread, but I hired a well-known local installer to do just the panel install on our gambrel roof and the roof of another building, as my wife didn't want me climbing around on them (probably smart). It's a good install, but they botched the optimizer install completely (didn't record serial numbers) and haven't come back to fix that when promised. And, it cost me a fortune. So, CAN you do it? Sure. SHOULD you do it? Depends entirely on the installer. I'd think twice about doing it again. It's the only part of our system that has been a problem, All our DIY work has been trouble free.
 
I paid a licensed company to install my battery. I could have done it myself with a permit from my town, but anticipated a lot of push back from the AHJ (code enforcement officer). The AHJ and the installer had a nice little chat as peers and all was good. Probably wouldn't have gone like that if I installed the battery.
 
I would hope this thread and all the other rehashed threads give enough context for folks to make their own decisions. I personally don't expect an IRS form to list every concern, because it is already assumed other rules and regulations, local state and federal are being followed. And with that, I'm done with this topic...too tedious to quibble about in my free time, when intent was to be helpful.

Actually I do expect the IRS to list exactly what they want either on the form or better in the booklet they publish explaining things.

I suspect the reason they are mute on the topic of permits or inspections is because the AHJ, city/county/state, is responsible for regulating installs. Were I to get audited and that topic came up I would have a print copy of the booklet explaining it to use to defend the number and how it was arrived at.

The IRS is not about enforcing any sort of laws or rules and there are many placed in the US where there are NO inspections or permits of any kind so the feds can't write it in.
 
Asked for, and received, utility installation approval letter as backup. Turbotax lists energy savings mods from insulation to fuel cells, check solar and enter cost, then on to the next subject. I was ready for questions on dates, watts, or other details.

An audit is different of course. I may be at risk for being lower than the solar company's installs.
 
Simply put, they seem to be too busy to be bothered with not making all the money they can.
I think it's that most companies cannot make money doing that. Once you take them "off script" they need new plans, new procedures, gotta tell their crew to do something different - and then they are liable for the install afterwards.

There are a few local places here that will do whatever you ask them to (for the right price of course.) But they are not solar installation companies. They are the companies that solar installation firms hire to do the work.
 
Actually I do expect the IRS to list exactly what they want either on the form or better in the booklet they publish explaining things.

I suspect the reason they are mute on the topic of permits or inspections is because the AHJ, city/county/state, is responsible for regulating installs. Were I to get audited and that topic came up I would have a print copy of the booklet explaining it to use to defend the number and how it was arrived at.

The IRS is not about enforcing any sort of laws or rules and there are many placed in the US where there are NO inspections or permits of any kind so the feds can't write it in.
I too would hope they would, but for the reasons you and I describe it makes sense why they don't- reliance on pertinent authorities. California and cities within can be a minefield...my city requires resale inspections when you want to sell, they bring up a prior file history, all prior permits, etc. and then go about inspecting EVERYTHING. Anything not listed in their records becomes a 'correction', and if it required a permit, you pay more, and still need to bring work up to code. In many cases, good/functional construction has to be removed. No money saved. Work labeled installed 'improvement' (and governed by CSLB for professionals, AHJ for owner/builders) has to convey to new owners, and has to meet all prior requirements (and fees permits inspections) to convey. THAT is why I push back on the idea that 'illegal' installs will still be valid for form 5695. I would still direct everyone to contact their CPA, their AHJ and local installers, EVEN if they want to DIY, to see what is truly involved...otherwise we are armchair quarterbacking, and leading folks into poor and possibly costly decisions, just to save a few bucks. I'm damn the man a lot of times, sometimes you gotta work with the man. lol
 
Perfect. Complain about permits and then do it wrong...
Now I know 6 foot 10 inches is too low! lol Minimum 7 foot clearance. I hate ceiling fans anyway. I was in my 20's, and VERY much into damn the man/anti-authority...still am, but maybe a bit less passionate about it. I did learn what a tape measure is for...
 
I listed my house for sale last week. I had to fill out a "seller disclosure" form that included a question;
Are you aware of any unpermitted work?
You can always lie, but it isn't difficult for a buyer to search town records and come back on the seller for reimbursement.

In some communities once the town is aware of unpermitted work they will give you notice to have it inspected and fine you on a daily basis until it is inspected and approved. FAFO
 
I listed my house for sale last week. I had to fill out a "seller disclosure" form that included a question;
Are you aware of any unpermitted work?
You can always lie, but it isn't difficult for a buyer to search town records and come back on the seller for reimbursement.

In some communities once the town is aware of unpermitted work they will give you notice to have it inspected and fine you on a daily basis until it is inspected and approved. FAFO
And a good inspector will find everything. That 1990's 50 gallon water heater doesn't match the date nor size of your last water heater permit, doesn't have earthquake strapping, etc. etc. Worse, if there was a recent update to codes, even a compliant permitted water heater may have to be upgraded. If the toilets aren't already low-flow flush, you simply aren't getting any new permits until they are. Sellers in my town have to budget for resale and compliance, on top of usual closing costs. A realtor may get you to spend another $5-10K just to get it up to saleable condition. It's not just my little militant town, either...most in urban/suburban areas follow the same routines.
 
And a good inspector will find everything. That 1990's 50 gallon water heater doesn't match the date nor size of your last water heater permit, doesn't have earthquake strapping, etc. etc. Worse, if there was a recent update to codes, even a compliant permitted water heater may have to be upgraded. If the toilets aren't already low-flow flush, you simply aren't getting any new permits until they are. Sellers in my town have to budget for resale and compliance, on top of usual closing costs. A realtor may get you to spend another $5-10K just to get it up to saleable condition. It's not just my little militant town, either...most in urban/suburban areas follow the same routines.

Oh my, how long does a home inspection take? Days? Weeks?
 
Oh my, how long does a home inspection take? Days? Weeks?
For a regular 3/2, about a half day. Full day for larger homes. I've seen (and actively repaired many corrections) 15-20 pages of corrections. Much of the type devoted to the issue, description and solution paragraphs. I suppose there's 'an app for that' software.

edit: 10-12 pages is common, on a well-maintained home, and most corrections are rather cheap and simple, backflow preventers on hose bibs, etc. But I had a client who had too many bed/baths for her service entrance and had to upgrade to 200A service, about $12K, IIRC, but that was pre-Covid, when you could find and use an electrician. lol
 
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So what does it cost for inspection then reinspection? Is that inspector AHJ?

Here we pay around $400 for a home inspection that by a private company. They don't report to the AHJ, it is just for the buyer to know what they are getting into and require the seller to fix things..
 
So what does it cost for inspection then reinspection? Is that inspector AHJ?

Here we pay around $400 for a home inspection that by a private company. They don't report to the AHJ, it is just for the buyer to know what they are getting into and require the seller to fix things..
City website shows $490 for inspection singe-family, rising for duplex/multi. I *believe* reinspections are included, towards the goal of 'certifying' the resale report, ie: Resale Certificate, which is included in the docs given to buyer. Buyer sees old report, FWIW. The city IS the AHJ. This is completely unrelated to a buyers usual and necessary pre-purchase home inspection and of course independent appraisal, both who may find other faults.
 
I will hire an installer to install an EG4 *Boss-based system. By design, it is battery-ready, so I should have no difficulties adding batteries later.
 
I had always thought solar installers were businesses, not charities.
Based on the quotes my mother got for her house, they seem mostly to be financial scams based on long loans that negate any financial benefit and make the house hard to sell later.

Mike C.
 

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