Photovoltaic system–build it yourself or hire a specialist?

Anyone planning the installation of a PV system has various options for saving costs and time. There are basically three variants for the construction of the PV system:

• Self-construction of the PV system in large parts
• Hiring a specialist company
• Appointment of a specialist planner

Depending on your own abilities and skills (technical understanding and manual skills), one or the other variant may make more sense.

When is it worth building your own PV system?It is not possible to completely DIY solar power system yourself, future system operators must be aware of this. In order to save costs, however, at least large parts of the system can be built yourself. Prerequisites are:

• Technical understanding
• Skilled craftsmanship
• Correct tool

However, the disadvantages of building your own are also obvious: It takes a lot of time to plan the PV system yourself, to get all the necessary offers and finally to set up the system yourself. All risks and liability issues affect the system builder, i.e. the owner of the later system, himself. On the other hand, the cost savings that can be realized are advantageous.Do-it-yourself PV system: Yield calculations are importantBefore the actual construction of the PV system, the individual components must be selected and the size of the system must be planned. It is also useful to carry out a yield calculation. Most module providers offer small tools on their websites. You may need to use off grid solar kit. These can at least provide a rough yield calculation.

It is also important for the self-construction of the system that builders get a very good overview of the market. Prices, performance and efficiency are important here. However, caution should be exercised when the prices are too low. These are mostly dubious companies. Future PV system operators should also be suspicious if the guarantee promises are too long. Especially small, unknown companies could disappear from the market during the guarantee period and then the long guarantee is no longer of any use to the client.ATTENTION! However, once the system has largely been created, PV system operators still need a specialist. Only an electrician approved by the grid operator is authorized to carry out the electrical installation between the inverter and the public grid.When is plant construction with a specialist tradesman worthwhile?If you have a strong technical understanding but only a few manual skills, you are well advised to hire a specialist tradesman. Here, too, there is planning before the order is placed. This means that the type of module, size of the system and location should already be fixed so that offers can be obtained that are specifically tailored to your own needs. This advance planning is also important in order to receive identical offers. You may need to look for solar batteries for sale. If these differ in terms of module type or system size, a comparison is not possible.TIP: In the case of corresponding offers, the technical data of the individual components should be strictly compared with one another. Even the smallest differences can lead to significant price deviations.

Where can I find a suitable contractor for the PV system?Appropriate tradesmen for the construction of the PV system can be found in the yellow pages. There are often recommendations from friends and acquaintances, and last but not least, the chamber of crafts can provide information on whether the selected skilled craftsman is a full member of the craftsmen’s guild.A reputable specialist craftsman will also inform the future PV system operator about his or her experience in the PV sector and will not submit an offer without having examined the conditions on site. At the same time, many specialist tradesmen create an individual yield calculation. Solar systems can be widely used in many products, such as solar calculator. This can help to check your own decisions regarding system size and module selection and, if necessary, to make a different decision.A comprehensive list of the services included in the quoted price is important when selecting a specialist tradesman. Ideally, these should include the following points:

• Installation of the PV system
• Acquisition of necessary roofing work (possibly with the help of sub-contractors)
• Contacting the network operator and clarifying all formalities

When should I hire a specialist planner?Anyone who lacks both technical understanding and manual skills and the necessary time to set up the PV system themselves can also turn to a specialist planner. The Mc4 connector is also an integral part of building a solar system. Suitable specialist planners for the photovoltaic system can usually be found in the following areas:

• Engineering offices for electrical and/or energy technology, supply or building technology
• Architectural offices, provided they can demonstrate a corresponding specialization

The advantages of the specialist planner are obvious: It is an independent company that is not tied to specific makes for the PV modules or the like. Therefore, it is generally recommended to always hire a neutral specialist planner who does not achieve higher commissions by arranging certain modules and therefore acts more in their own interests than in the interests of the customer. Incidentally, suitable, reputable specialist planners can also be found through the chambers of engineers and architects in the respective federal state.

What does the specialist planner for the PV system cost?The costs of the specialist planner are based on the fee schedule for architects and engineers (HOAI). There are two basic options for determining costs:

• Billing on an hourly rate basis
• Billing based on the actual construction costs

In addition to the complete system implementation, builders can also commission a specialist planner for comprehensive advice. Then, among other things, he will calculate the correct system components and sizes. The partial services are then of course cheaper.How does the specialist planner work?Anyone who has their PV system implemented by a specialist planner hands over the following tasks to them:

• Planning a PV system that is optimally tailored to the needs of the customer
• Tendering of the required work
• Construction work supervision

The structural and local conditions must be taken into account. Based on this data, the size of the system, the individual components of the system and the necessary in-house installations are planned. On this basis, a cost calculation is created, which is individually tailored to the financial requirements of the customer. The specialist planner then creates a list of services according to VOB. This includes all the services required to implement the system. The solar system will store the electricity converted by the solar panel in the battery box through the charge controller. The unit price, quantity and total price are also shown. This list of services is then used for the tender, with which various, comparable offers are obtained. The specialist planner then checks the offers obtained in this way both technically and mathematically and selects the most favorable offer.This is followed by the written award of the contract, the monitoring and the formal acceptance of the system. If there are any defects, they will be documented during acceptance and a deadline will be set for their elimination. The warranty period only begins when all defects have been eliminated and the PV system has been accepted.