Solar panels and New Roof

I prefer the more traditional ridged framed solar panel rather then a solar shingle. The biggest downside to the shingle in my eyes is the amount of electrical connections. Consider a 1000 watt PV array. If you were to use five 200w modules your array could consist of 4 series connections. If you were to use the shingles, at 17 watts each, your talking about 55+ series and parallel connections. While all that wiring at the beginning might not be so bad, what happens if one connection comes loose sometime in the next twenty to forty years? I would much rather troubleshoot a system with 4 electrical connections then one with 50. The trouble shooting of the system with that many connections is the biggest limiting factor in my mind.

If you are going to install the system yourself, and it's your first PV installation, solar shingles may not be the best place to start because of the complicated wiring. It may be hard to find an installer willing to work with the shingles. A lot of installers I talk to don't work with the shingles because of the complication of the wiring.

The price of the shingles is about 1$ more per watt then the most expensive 200w ridge frame modules and flush mounting combined. I don't know how much non-pv shingles cost, so it's hard to do a real price comparison.

It really comes down to opinion. Some people would argue that the building integration of the tiles is environmentally friendly because you are using less resources in constructing your home. It's hard to argue this. A lot of people like the ascetics of the shingle. I think traditional solar panels look cool- so again it's a matter of opinion.

unisolar shingles are cool to me in the - wow that is cool that they can do that - sort of way.

they are more expensive and tedious to install.  electric code considerations are also trickier.  if a person has the dough, a very qualified installer (nabcep) perhaps with experience with these, and the will to have their roof be their pv and vice versa - then go for it and do the shingles.

i can tell you that at this point, that person is not me.  i have neither the money, the house, nor the patience to install solar shingles. i like boring old framed pv

more safely installed solar is always good.  get the facts and do what makes you and your fam happy.

cheers

james Alt-E staff