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Do-it-yourself solar panels? Now on sale, aisle 3
December 10th, 2009, 11:52 am · 10 Comments · posted by Pat Brennan, science, environment editor
Lowe’s is now selling do-it-yourself solar panels in some California stores in a pilot project the home improvement giant hopes to take nationwide. 
The 54-pound panels, which can be plucked by customers from store shelves for $893 apiece, are meant to be bolted to roofs of homes; though single panels are fairly low-wattage — 175 watts, about enough to power a flat-screen TV — they can be snapped together like Legos, allowing customers to add panels over time.
Twenty such panels would be needed to equal a typical professionally installed system.
They connect directly to home power systems.
“We’re the first to offer these type of grid-connected panels” on store shelves, said Lowe’s spokesman Steven Salazar. “They’re easier to buy and install and more affordable for consumers.”
The project is beginning in 21 stores across the state; stores in Burbank, West Hills in Los Angeles, Victorville and Fontana are among them, though the panels are not yet being sold in Orange County.
The panels should be available in a number of stores across the country beginning next year, Salazar said.
Depending on how handy the buyer is around the house, the actual installation might not be too difficult: a ladder and power drill are required, and the panels simply plug into a dedicated circuit breaker, like a washer or dryer — though Lowe’s recommends hiring an electrician to connect the solar panels to the circuit breaker.
When the sun is shining, solar energy flows from the panels through the circuit breaker and into appliances in the house.
But do-it-yourself installers should first check with their city or county on what permits might be necessary. They should also talk to their power company — in much of Orange County, Southern California Edison.
The company recommends hiring a licensed contractor, and will provide information on state and federal rebates for installing solar power systems. That could amount to 45 percent of the cost, said Edison spokeswoman Vanessa McGrady.
The company also offers advice and sign-ups for free classes on solar power on its “Go Solar California!” Web site.
“They should call us,” she said. “We’re here to work with you, and we’re here to help people go solar.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(Photo of customer buying home solar panel in West Hills by Gus Ruelas, the Associated Press.)
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Check your HOA too, I’m sure many frown at panels on roofs.
Yeah, check with your city. In my city it took 7 months to secure permits. So don’t think you are just going to run out, buy and install and be done. BTW, 20 of those panels to equal a professionally installed system is more expensive than actually getting a professionally installed system.
Solar installations are exempt from local zoning review by the Fed. The reporter should have written that in the article. The review is limited to issues of safety and building code for the building department. The review is required to be non-discretionary.
I am just waiting for someones proposing to build a house in some coastal city with view issues and the design review board tells them they need to lower their roof by 3 feet to accomodate a view shed to the rear and the howmebuilder, a week after the house is finaled, install 6-foot high solar panels in the view area that was meant to be protected…
It would be interesting to see what the pay-back time would be on these. If one panel, at just under $900, would power a flat-screen TV how long would it take before you gat a return on your investment? I would estimate, depending on the size and type of TV (plasma? LCD? LED?) it would be at leat 5 years. However as those whp own solar outdoor lights know, the power generated is severly limited during the winter months. In summer my lights last about 8 hours, during this time of the year I might get half that, even on a sunny day.
Dirty little secret is this, By the time you deal with the roof leaks, interior damage, cost to move the panels for roof replacement, the fact that they claim a 30 year life(tell me what lasts this long?? ITS B.S.), ITS 0 NET, 0!
Good luck w/ your warranty replacement when they fizzle out in 7-11 years too!
I want one!
*Batteries not included.
If it’s so important to move toward renewal sources of energy, why the hell do they make it so damn expensive for the homeowner to deploy it? $900 for a single panel? Really? How much does it cost to make?
Hi Remmy700p, here’s is a rough approximation of cost.
Crystalline panels cost about $2.00 per watt to make so the panel is around $350. Figure the manufacturer wants to make around 30% profit which brings the panel to $455. These have a built in DC->AC inverter which wholesale goes for around $100 bringing the panel to $555. Figure about $20 for logistics so the panel costs Lowes roughly $575 landed at their store. Lowes currently makes about a 35% profit margin bringing the price to about $900.
WOW, GREAT NEWS FOR ROOFERS EVERYWHERE in this bad economy. Homeowners putting bolts, screws & nails through their roofs w/ a dab of silicone to seal it up for the next 20 years! AAAAHHHHHHhahahahahahahah! let it rain, let it rain, let it rain……..