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Discrepancy between online hardware prices.


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Hi all.

Good day all.

New to the solar environment and simply doing some research. Please take it easy on me (the posting guidelines link on this forum does not work, in case I break any rules). My question is around the difference between online hardware prices and what installers quote.

We have had 3 installers come out and give me a quote. While I am not an electrician/handyman and sit on a laptop daily, I'm not too sure why the hardware prices are so different?

What I am looking for is system that we could upgrade in the future. We don't have a 250-300k budget. The systems we have priced using various sites online, I can see we could afford the following:

5kvA inverter + 5-6 kWh batteries + 5000W+ panels

The sites I have been looking at are:

https://solaradvice.co.za

https://artsolar.net

https://www.solar-shop.co.za

https://www.gwstore.co.za

And the general price range I'm looking at for the hardware alone is about 100-140k. What I don't get is when as an example 2 items priced at 120k but you can find them for 77k online. 

My question then is, do you buy the hardware yourself and trust an online store with thousands of Rands or do you not take that risk and rather pay the massive difference to an installer that way are kind of more guaranteed of the product and have a physical person to hold accountable?

To be honest, I'm not looking to source all the bits and bobs, but would obviously work with the installer to source at least the big things, inverter/battery/panels, at a good rate.

Regards.

 

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1 hour ago, jykenmynie said:

Does the installer give you a detailed quote where you can see the prices of the hardware itself? The installer is likely to also quote for installation, wiring, CoC etc.

Yes, the installer I was looking to go with gave a very detailed quote indeed. But I had an issue with the inverter/battery price being way too high. Well high, when compared online, and not online as in finding one website, but online as in a couple of sites having the same hardware at a much cheaper price. 

Installer 2 and 3 gave prices on inverter/battery/panel and probably just a rounded the rest into installation.

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The problem with buying the items (the big ones) yourself is you could buy stuff that is not compatible with each other. The installer might use other equipment from what you selected in your search. It is a bit of a minefield, but a good supplier should be able to assist you.

Or you can post your list of items here and the forumites (it that the correct word) will point to incompatible items.

But installation does cost a bunch. And support for that product and installation as well. 

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1 hour ago, Jaco de Jongh said:

Online stores are expensive. Where are you based, send me a PM with your contact details and i will try and sort you out. 

I'm based in Cape Town Jaco. Unfortunately there's a difference in Cape Town/Jozi pricing as well 😄 But that's a topic for another thread. Economy of scale probably.

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3 minutes ago, jjordaan said:

Yes, the installer I was looking to go with gave a very detailed quote indeed. But I had an issue with the inverter/battery price being way too high. Well high, when compared online, and not online as in finding one website, but online as in a couple of sites having the same hardware at a much cheaper price. 

Installer 2 and 3 gave prices on inverter/battery/panel and probably just a rounded the rest into installation.

I had exactly the same happened to me. Some people take insane chances.

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Just now, jjordaan said:

I'm based in Cape Town Jaco. Unfortunately there's a difference in Cape Town/Jozi pricing as well 😄 But that's a topic for another thread. Economy of scale probably.

Jaco delivers to CPT. I'm going to purchase my solar panels and MPPTs from him.

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Just now, Louisvdw said:

The problem with buying the items (the big ones) yourself is you could buy stuff that is not compatible with each other. The installer might use other equipment from what you selected in your search. It is a bit of a minefield, but a good supplier should be able to assist you.

Or you can post your list of items here and the forumites (it that the correct word) will point to incompatible items.

But installation does cost a bunch. And support for that product and installation as well. 

This was what I was looking at or similar, just felt that it has a lot of the bits and pieces in one place/box. https://solaradvice.co.za/product/alpha-ess-5kw-5-7kwh-lithium-ion-load-shedding-kit/ . The idea was to get an installer to help get the rest panels/cabling and of course do the installation.

So that could probably be below R150k all in all? I'm guessing here. I am a noob and so if that idea is pie in the sky or the hardware ain't good, feel free to let me know. Thanks.

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5 minutes ago, jykenmynie said:

I had exactly the same happened to me. Some people take insane chances.

Does feel like solar is in the prospective phase. I do know there are some very value for money deals up in Jozi. Cape Town ain't the same! Off topic a bit :)

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7 minutes ago, Jaco de Jongh said:

And i have booked some installations in CPT as well from 4th of august. I have a few days open before I return back home. 

Sure, you can DM me a message when you in the Mother City. Thanks.

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4 minutes ago, jjordaan said:

Or should I contact directly? 

Direct is better. 

2 minutes ago, jjordaan said:

I do know there are some very value for money deals up in Jozi. Cape Town ain't the same! Off topic a bi

normally the guys has warehouses in both CPt and Jhb, the normal imports through the harbours ships to Jhb directly, there it gets offloaded and shipped back to capetown, double shipping and they have to work that into the price. Dealt with the same situation while working for a big bakery group years back. I know its not right, but gave up fighting that fight. 

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Hi Jordan,

  •    I just bought a Victron Easysolar from Jaco, ( I live in Cape Town ), even though he is way out there, he has been helping me with my million and one questions with my install. 
  • I am in retail sales and know the importance of service after the sale, and I can definitely say, Jaco follows that concept, PLUS his prices are definitely the best
  • Tariq
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52 minutes ago, Tariq said:

Hi Jordan,

  •    I just bought a Victron Easysolar from Jaco, ( I live in Cape Town ), even though he is way out there, he has been helping me with my million and one questions with my install. 
  • I am in retail sales and know the importance of service after the sale, and I can definitely say, Jaco follows that concept, PLUS his prices are definitely the best
  • Tariq

Thanks man, much appreciated. Sounds like Victron is the way, been seeing that frequently on this forum. Will have a google to see why.

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