Sunpower getting out of the installation business

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  • peakbagger
    Solar Fanatic
    • Jun 2010
    • 1565

    Sunpower getting out of the installation business

    I wonder how support for existing installations will be handled?

    SunPower ceases residential installations, lays off 1,000 | Electrek

    I guess the all in one approach is going by the wayside
  • azdave
    Moderator
    • Oct 2014
    • 765

    #2
    This is what it says in the article that you linked.

    "We will still manage ongoing customer service needs, including operations and maintenance (O&M), and will continue to honor our Complete Confidence warranty."
    Dave W. Gilbert AZ
    6.63kW grid-tie owner

    Comment

    • J.P.M.
      Solar Fanatic
      • Aug 2013
      • 14939

      #3
      On S.P. support continuing or otherwise, and a couple of other things from a S.P. system owner:

      If the comments and problems seen around here are any indication, it may not matter too much how existing or ongoing Sunpower customers are handled.
      Logic: Bad to no service from an outfit in business is somewhat comparable to no service from an outfit getting out of business.

      On the other hand, if my experience of owning a S.P. system that's not missed a beat since 10/13/2013 is any indication, and if that of my HOA PV neighbors who also own S.P. legacy systems(about half of which are older than mine) are any indication (about 14 or so systems), I'd guess a lot of existing S.P. legacy systems with string inverters may well have mostly contented owners of nominally trouble-free systems.

      Sunpower was known for high quality panels and their rebranded string inverters were generally from the best inverter manufacturers.
      Quality was good and vendors were generally a cut above the rest. But, that said, overall, S.P stuff no better than was available from other reputable manufacturers using quality installers.

      On the down side, S.P.'s per installed STC W system prices were generally about 20 - 25 % higher than other known and trusted brands that had about the same fit for purpose quality.

      Also, S.P. advertising was generally deceptive claiming - almost shouting - that their product was the "most efficient". So, to test the "most efficient" claim, I got a 5 STC kW = 16 X 327 STC W roof mounted system and compared its output to that of about 12 other non S.P. systems in my HOA.
      I did my own analysis and date gathering, extensively on my own system, and less so but still valid on the others with those neighbor's cooperation.

      I believe I proved (to my own satisfaction at least) that the most efficient claim was, and is, bogus B.S. and very disingenuous.
      S.P. equipment, while good, had essentially identical output per year (and per day) per installed STC W when corrected for orientation and compared to the non S.P. systems I monitored.
      The S.P. systems simply had a smaller footprint - about 20% less area (for 20-25 % more money per installed STC W) on systems that produced the same annual output per installed STC W.
      All systems I monitor are in the same HOA and within a radius of ~ 1.5 miles.
      All systems were essentially shade free.

      I'll miss the S.P. mfg. quality as it used to be, but I won't miss the hard times, frustration and just plain B.S. I had when trying to communicate with S.P.
      That experience was never good and seems not to have improved with time.
      I often wondered how much greater their flashy and seemingly ubiquitous advertising budget was compared to their customer service budget.

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