Got my proposal yesterday for a 4.5KW residential solar system...

[mackdaddy]

11. My inverters are going on their fourth year. No maintainance required.

I did wash away some wasps nests.

I have "name brand" Fronius inverters that have a 10 year warranty. The PV panels themselves should last at least a couple of decades. The average quality inverter has a service life of 10 to 15 years, much like most quality "industrial" electronics. An inverter replacement is often not thought of in home systems. They can cost 10% of the project to replace.

Obsolete or failed inverters should be recycled just like any other electronic devices. The inverters have nearly the same exact components as an audio power amplifier, TV, or computer or computer UPS. Transformers, circuit boards, IC's, and Aluminum heat sinks.

I have a fairly large system for an individual home, 10kw dc rating. I make about 12 thousand KW-Hrs per year, actual measured AC energy output. I still use 14 thousand KW-Hrs per year since I have an all electric home with electric heatpump. I am an engineer and taught solar, so I did my own design and installation for under $1.50/watt and did get a "subsidy" on my federal taxes. (which was about what a corporation would get for any equipment investment.) It will pay for itself about 3 to 4 times over, during its expected life of 20 plus years vs paying retail electricity rates to the power company.

Overall it is much less maintenance than any other of my home systems like HVAC, plumbing, water heater, roofing, or other electrical have been. And I have in 3 years and 2 months made the same amount of energy as would have required burning 41 thousand pounds of coal at the AEP plant.