Project Solar Install Review: MPU, Solar, Batteries

Tl;dr: Longer install time than local companies, some delays/permitting issues, way cheaper, more customizable design, great customer service, works perfectly.

I’m writing this review to go over the pros and cons of choosing Project Solar for this install. Enjoy!

Two years ago, a power outage from a NorCal wildfire caught us unprepared, and my wife and I had to drive to a friends house at 6am, run an extension cable to the car, just so she could pump for our preemie newborn. I know, TMI, but it was stressful and warranted a solution.

So the engineer in me started to look for solutions. External battery? Too small. Generator? Noisy and didn’t want to bother with the gas along with running extension cords everywhere. Whole house generator? Quotes were 12-20k, and I didn’t see the cost / benefit. Solar? Yes, but we’d need batteries.

I started getting quotes from reputable companies. First one. 3kw system, an Enphase battery. 42k. Wtf? Second one, 4kw system, sonnen (why?) battery, 38k. Third one, 5kw system, 2 Tesla power walls or 2 Enphase encharges, which could only power 8 circuits because “that’s the max they’ll do” per the sales rep. 50k, and then 3.5k for a mpu. I then got a broker thinking I’d get the best deal. $5 a watt and “batteries are dumb” after an hour long presentation.

So I’m pissed. How is it so expensive? Clearly I only need a 3-4 kw system. I have 15 circuit breakers in my in-house sub panel, controlled by a 100a breaker at the main panel, with an ac I don’t need backed up. Won’t 7-10kw of battery power (and 20+ kWh) do the trick?

I go down the Tesla the route next, and their design of panels on the north side of my house plus non-existent customer service responses about backup options, mpu needs, etc. freak me out enough to cancel the deposit, despite it being more within my budget.

As I gave up on my search, I played a game of online chess where Project Solar came up as an ad. I checked it out, asked a few questions via email, and within a day, a 1 minute video with a design and price are sent to me. No annoying 30 minute meetings pressuring me to buy anything, hiding costs and everything else associated with the common solar company.

I worked with my project manager on the design, modified it in a way local companies wouldn’t budge, and got a price of ~36k for a 200a main panel upgrade, a 5.7kw system, and 2 encharge 10kwh batteries. About 15-25k less than local companies. The reason for this size vs. a smaller 3-4kw is degradation, need for extra production to charge the batteries, and increased usage in the future with kids, ev’s, etc. No brainer.

Along the way, there were delays in permitting, a few lapses in communication, and some frustration on lack of timelines due to multiple project managers throughout the project. The silver lining was Grant consistently was able to get things moving for me, credited back some work I had done myself, and my last project manager, Carly, was awesome in pushing the installers to get things moving. Both her and Grant always answered the phone when I had questions, got back to me quickly with email, and kept me updated whenever I reached out.

I was also able to get on the phone with their engineer and design the backup system so that my whole house, minus the AC was backed up. All local companies refused to do this, despite me never running close to 32A due to how small and efficient our home is. They kept saying “8 circuits with a subpanel is our max”. Even an Enphase specialist I spoke with said that was bs.

The solar panels were installed in a few hours, no issues. The main panel upgrade, while only $2,200, was done sub-par (by a random company) from what a few local electricians pointed out. Missing a bond wire and gaps around the panel that have allowed condensation to get in. I would recommend paying a little extra for a local electrician.

Aaron, the sunlight battery installer, did an awesome job. The install is huge and took a day and a half. He then had it commissioned and charging in under 2 hours, where local installers told me it’d be all day. He showed me how the system worked and got me going with the app. He knows his stuff and has a strong work ethic.

Mark, the Enphase specialist, spent a long time on the phone with me to ensure everything was producing, monitoring it in real time, etc. I produced 32kwh starting at 11am, sent back 6kwh, and charged the batteries. I’m now solely using batteries to power the house all night.

Ultimately, the price outweighs some of the subcontractor and deadline frustrations I had. Issues will come up with any project, but having people like Grant, Carly, Aaron, and Mark that do care about ensuring things get done right, is a positive sign. Yes, I could have had it up and running quicker and with less issues with a local company, but project solar allowed me to modify the design, were upfront about pricing, and care about getting it done right. Ive read delay issues others have had, and while it sucks, they are a non-local startup. No company is perfect, but their business model is something I believe in. I have the system I want, working perfectly, that no local company would build out for me. Thanks for reading!