Grape Solar is an Oregon-based solar panel maker offering a new solar energy options brand, portable solar panels, and DIY installation kits.
While Grape Solar has just been in the building applied photovoltaics (BAPV) marketplace since 2009, it has set a good reputation for producing durable, inexpensive solar panel kits in America.
The company provides both polycrystalline and monocrystalline solar panels and installation services through its specialist network of builders.
Engineered Solar also sells kits directly to the general public through major retailers such as Costco and Home Depot.
In this blog, we'll have a look at Grape Solar and explore their solar energy options. We'll be breaking what makes Grape Solar different and where you can purchase Grape Solar DIY options.
What makes Grape Solar Panels distinct?
While the kits themselves are very similar to others on the current market, such as Renogy Solar, Grape Solar delivers affordable solar kits and fantastic customer service, which can be an excellent alternative for anyone taking a DIY approach to solar panels.
While you can technically set up any solar panel brand on your own, Grape Solar makes that choice simple by selling directly to customers and focusing on DIY kit options with solar inverters, solar panels, and racking systems.
Most kits include solar panels, extension cables, a charge controller, and a manual.
Are Grape Solar Panels cheaper than other brands?
They are technically not the most economical solar panel supplier in the market, but they provide a nice mix of quality, higher efficiency panels, and affordability, which is reasonable for most consumers.
Grape Solar Panels can also count towards local rebates and incentives, so make sure to check what options your state or city offers.
As per the Home Depot, a 4-pack 300kW solar panel will cost $1,190. But if you're considering installing a Grape Solar kit to power your whole home, you want a minimum of 4 solar panels, and the total quantity will change for each home.
Say you determine that your home needs 20 solar panels, so that means you require 5 Grape panel kits with 4 panels each, making a total of $5,950.
While that first cost is less costly than a standard solar installation, you want to buy racking and wiring individually, which will increase that price.
Other Grape Solar alternatives are easier to assemble, like the popular RV choice, the GS-Star-100w, which will cost about $72.99 for each panel. And for the off-grid interested clients, the Grape Solar 400-watt off-grid option price is $536 for the machine.
Of course, these estimations do not take into consideration installation fees, updates, or accessories. If you would like an integrated solar option, you'll be legally needed to go through a licensed contractor to connect your solar panel system to the grid.
However, generally considered cheap in the range of solar choices, be sure to do your research ahead of time before taking benefit of Grape Solar's pricing.
System updates and builder fees can raise the cost quickly, and the advantages and disadvantages of your investment have to be considered in the long-term.
What types of warranties do they provide?
Grape Solar offers several guarantees for its own solar panels. While particular warranties may vary based on products, clients can expect the following:
Where can I buy Grape Solar Panels?
Grape Solar Panels are exceptional because consumers can purchase them straight from retailers such as Home Depot and Costco.
Several solar panel makers do not sell to customers, rather selling products through third-party installers and distributors.
This makes Grape Solar a fantastic alternative for DIY solar jobs or portable solar panels for RV use and on-the-go battery charging.
There are additional DIY solar company options in the marketplace like Renogy. Though, Grape Solar has kits that can retrofit your whole house, along with kits for RVs or trailers.
The majority of the competition only sells small kits to the off-grid, nomadic way of life.
Dig a little deeper and have a look at whether portable solar panels are a fantastic option for you.
If portable options don't suit your requirements, contact licensed contractors to ascertain the real price difference of a DIY vs. professional setup.
Is it possible to install Grape Solar Panels with no solar professional?
Like other solar panel alternatives, customers are well within their rights to install Grape Solar panels to their home improvements without a builder's help.
Though, if you decide to go the DIY route, keep a few things in mind:
How does weather affect performance?
Like all solar panels, overall performance and efficiency will be affected by the community weather conditions.
Solar panels operate at maximum efficiency under certain temperature ranges. Most panels have been tested at 77°F, and any temperature variance will change the panel's electricity output.
This is called the temperature coefficient. A solar panel with a temperature coefficient of -0.25 percent indicates that for every 1.8°F increase in temperature, the solar panel's maximum power will decrease by 0.25%. The lower the coefficient, the less variance you will see on your system.
Let's look at this example.
The temperature coefficient that 100W Grape Solar GS-STAR alleges is 0.32 percent. This implies that for each level over 77°Fahrenheit, the efficiency of solar panels will reduce by 0.32 percent.
If a day's temperature approaches 104°F on a summer day, the power output of the solar module reduces by 8.62 percent since solar cells consume less energy.
The temperature coefficients of Grape Solar are higher than most panel manufacturers, meaning that they have more energy loss at high temperatures.
Are Grape Solar panels best for you?
You can buy and install Grape Solar panels on your house by yourself, but it may make more sense, both financially and for simplicity, to have professionals set up the panels.
Grape Solar provides a durable, affordable choice of mid-range solar panel alternatives. They may attract more to the DIY-minded individual, as they're among the few producers selling kits to the general public.
If you're on the lookout for DIY kits for an RV or portable home, purchasing the kits directly from Home Depot is a viable choice.
However, if your goal is to power your house with solar, it typically makes sense to work with a certified contractor that may fill out all of the paperwork, find out how many panels you want, and set up everything for you.
Key Takeaways
Grape Solar panels are an excellent DIY option for your house that you can buy straight from Costco or Home Depot.
Grape Solar gives budget-friendly Solar panel kits, though there are better guarantee options on other solar panel companies.
Setting up Grape Solar panels on a home without the support of a solar professional may wind up costing you more money.
Compared to other solar panel Manufacturers, Grape Solar loses more efficacy or capacity to generate energy with higher temperatures.
