03/16/2016
Anonymous
Some friends had good luck with Ross, so we thought we were making a good choice when they came to town. We were partially right ... the system, once it was turned on is working very well (2 months so far) and I couldn't ask for a more professional install team (electrician and panel installers).<br /><br />Problem 1: After the panels were installed we found out from the town inspector that our roof was supposed to be reinforced (per engineers report from 5 months prior).<br />Problem 2: we could have done the upgraded when we redid the roof, if we had known.<br />Problem 3: their inspectors (the guys who delivered house measurements / information to the engineer) made mistakes about the structure of our house.<br />... Actually, since they reported less structure / supports then were actually in the house, it was what allowed us to keep the system.<br />Problem 4: Ross was slow to respond ... The issue was discovered at the beginning of November and only fixed near the end of December. I was ready to demand that the panels be removed because of a fear of a winter similar to 2014/2015.<br />Problem 5: Because of not taking care of what the engineer said to do in his report, Or "go live" date was delayed 2 months.<br />Problem 6: What they talk about in the sales pitch isn't what's in their "all in one price". ex) The inverter system is supposed to come with an emergency outlet (labeled as a standard part in the inverter documentation), but we didn't know it wasn't included until after the install was complete.<br /><br />Big Problem 7: The system size is not what the put in the contract. On the contract they list the system size at 7.3 kw , without any labels as to what they are referring to. As the consumer that number is the Total AC power that I can get.<br />But it is NOT!<br />We are getting at least 5% less taken right off the top! -- a max of ONLY 7 kw!<br />(even before considering that the equipment is less than 100%).<br />Now, if you do some research on the internet, part of the reason for this difference (7.3 kw dc --> 7 kw ac) is standard industry practice to get the best results over the entire year. If I had known about this when we signed the contract, it would have been acceptable. But realizing it later ended up pushing their rating down.<br /><br />Problem 8/9: Other friends have been having issues (kind of cancelled out the good feelings we got from the friends who were some of the first to get solar in town)<br /><br />The GOOD!!<br />As I said the installers did superb work.<br />Once the system was turned on, it is performing great.<br />We've had a lot of sunny days during our first 2 months (mid Jan - mid Mar), but I think the panels will have taken care of 80% of our electrical needs already!<br /><br />At the end of the day, I am happy I went Solar and look forward to very small electric bills, but I wish I didn't need to go through 4 months of headaches.