Anyone know anything about BP solar panels being sold by Home Depot? Are they any good?

BP is one of the bigger names in solar, I can't remember who they bought out. But if you’re looking to purchase one of the places I always price check against for pricing is Sun Electronics.

Thank you. Going to the Sun Electronics site certainly was interesting. Especially as I have been quoted from $50,000 to $79,000 for a 10 K system, depending on installer. I do not have a quote from HD yet.

Home Depot is offering free financing for the first year which is enticing. But, are their systems of any quality? Do they last, and will they stay on in a wind storm.

It is hard to say with HD as they use local contractors. It could be a great deal or a company that is gone in 6 months. I wonder if HD stands behind those installs. If I recall correctly the solar panels themselves are BP.

Why not support your local solar dealer/installer? They can probably do the job for a good price and if they are good, you will have the support you need if something goes wrong.

Home Depot "Free" Financing is only good if your going to pay the amount off in "FULL" for before the promotional period is up. They just defer the interest and tack it on to the balance once the promotional period is up.  A one year interest free 50k solar system ins't going to save you much once that 23% interest rate kicks in. 

Pretty much anything the big box stores tends to sell tends to be at the lower end of the quality scale of things. that why they can offer you seemingly great prices, it's low end products. Just look at the brand name lawn tractors they sell for 2k, they only last a few years before they start having lots of problems.     
  

Support your local dealer, not  Home Cheapo aka the Red Star Depot

BP Solar is part of the Home Depot Solar program. Basically, if you go to a Home Depot and they offer a solar electric system ( at least out west here ), chances are it is using BP Solar modules. They only use Xantrex inverters for their "Home Depot" systems. The inverters are not the best but the panels are. In addition, you can only use the panles that they provide for the Home Depot systems, ( which are limited to 175, 190's or 195's whichever has not been allocated out already ). This sucks for the customer because if they do not have alot of roof space, they could be using a higher wattage panel that BP already makes, but BP allocated the panels already for the program, so if you were to get a 230 watt panel from BP Solar and you wanted to use it for your HD installation, you would not be able to do this.

As for the contractor who provides the work, this is typically a company that has a contract with BP Solar thru the Home Depot program, and they are issued a certain # of stores for their territory. Also, no one in the BPHD program should be using any subs for the install. Be careful if you sign with a company they is using subs because they cut corners and traceability becomes and issue, after the fact, in case something goes wrong with the job. Good luck!

All good advice. Thanks! I have been talking to local installers, but feel I'm being pushed hard by folks that don't know all that much. I did check in to the HD installer and backed off fast. The people involved have a less than stellar reputation for installs when they were doing independent installations. I have, however, been looking farther afield and am finding some good, experienced people who I believe would be able to build me a solid, reliable system.

I made the mistake of buying carpet through HD. They gladly take your money, well actually, it was like pulling teeth to get the right order in w/ this idiot in front of the computer. Should have been a warning sign to run. Of course they screwed up and didn't get carpet for a few months. HD said not to bother them that I should deal directly with the supplier. I firmly asked the manager who cashed my check and to get my $*$&#(! carpet. HD pays local contractors less to do the install so whenever you have a problem you will be bottom priority. To this day I drive past HD and go to Lowe's for various stuff and try to support local guys. I learned my big box lesson.