A New York City homeowner says a solar-and-EV-charger project has turned into an expensive "installation nightmare," and a lesson in why homeowners should verify electrical sizing before making a final payment.
Here's what to know
Only after paying $46,000 toward a $54,500 job did the homeowner find out that their system was designed as a solar-only installation, even though it also needed to accommodate roughly 40 amps of solar and a 60-amp EV charger.
They then shared their story in a post to Reddit's r/Solar forum.
According to the Reddit post, the setup included 20 REC panels rated at 460 watts each, 20 Enphase IQ8HC microinverters, and a 125-amp main panel, with installers running 100 feet of 6-AWG cable and pairing it with a 40-amp backfeed breaker.
The homeowner said two days of calls with Enphase customer support led them to believe that future additions, whether more solar, EV charging capacity, or battery storage, would likely mean replacing the existing wiring with larger conductors and using a bigger backfeed breaker.
But the electrical issue was not the homeowner's only complaint. Beyond the electrical sizing dispute, the homeowner said the project brought other costly problems, including a railing issue that added $5,500 and a solar canopy whose low end measured 10 feet instead of the 12 feet shown in the plans.
Commenters streamed in to lambast the installers.
One advised, "Don't pay any more until it's done and working...."
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Another wrote, "If they committed to do something in the original contract (including the railing) they are contractually obligated to deliver to code at no extra charge to you. Check with a contract attorney, but I don't see how the[y] can promise a job including railing for $X plus $5,500 for fulfillment."
A third suggested, "They need to restart and do it right."
What can be done?
Going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, especially for drivers hoping to charge an EV at home. But these savings can only be achieved if the installers do their job correctly.
It can unfortunately be tricky, though, to find a vetted installer you can trust, and help you obtain these energy savings.
More From EnergySage
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
If you're looking to install panels, you can explore EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates from pre-vetted contractors and compare quotes. Its free tools that let you compare competitive bids from local installers without them getting any of your contact information unless you choose to work with one further.
Those free services matter because solar quotes can vary widely. With EnergySage's help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations.
Where can I learn more?
Plenty of other homeowners have wrestled with the same issues, from sizing a solar system around an EV charger to planning for batteries and future upgrades. The stories below show how those early design choices and quote comparisons can shape whether a project goes smoothly or ends up needing expensive rework.
• One homeowner said his solar setup works after skipping a battery and adding an EV charger.
• Another homeowner avoided a pricey rooftop overhaul and used 900W of portable panels for EV charging.
• A homeowner on Reddit found that with vanishing incentives, they could still see up to $9,000 off a solar bill.
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