I have a 23-year-old grid-tied solar system in New York that works pretty well. It was installed by the previous owner and originally had a capacity of 5kW. Now, it produces about 3.4kW peak and generates 20-25kWh on summer days with a total of 30 panels covering south and west exposures. The inverter, a Sunny Boy 5kW, is about five years old, and aside from a fuse change, everything else has been maintenance-free.
However, my roof is on its last legs, especially where rain runs off the panels onto the shingles. I'm concerned that taking down the panels for a roof replacement, then reinstalling them might not be the best idea due to the advancements in technology and the risk of damaging the system during reinstallation. Finding a company that will do a roof replacement instead of a new install has proven challenging as well.
While I'm open to doing a roof install if needed, I'm also interested in adding battery backup to my system. What are your recommendations?
3 Answers
Make sure you're aware of local permitting and utility company agreements before proceeding, especially since electrical codes have changed a lot over the past 23 years. If you're in Long Island, just keep in mind that you may face some hurdles due to grandfathered systems. Planning ahead could save you from complications later.
I’d suggest hiring a roofer to replace your roof and giving them new solar panels and racking to install while they’re at it. Plus, you could have an electrician swap your current inverter for a newer, larger one that supports battery backup. This way, everything can be upgraded at once without much hassle later on.
Consider this: new panels are much cheaper now and can deliver twice the power of your current ones. You could save time and money by installing fewer panels to match your current output. Just be sure to install the solar racking before the new roof goes on to minimize the risk of leaks!