A newbies DIY solar install

[ededic]

We have postponed the build of our retirement home due to:

1. The ridiculous cost of lumber goods right now
2. The explosion of innovation in solar technology.
3. Waiting for more contractors in the area that are certified to install solar roofs.

Our house is on track to use solar as the primary source of power.

 

[orezok]

Currently waiting on the electrical diagrams to come back. Ended up hiring this out and is the only thing I'm waiting on to complete the application for approval to our utility. Hopefully it's a fast approval so I can get the equipment order placed.

Orezok those rates are crazy. We are .13 cents year round with no peak or off peak and that's higher than most around because we are on the local coop. My business is with evergy and rates are .09.

Because the rates are so high, that was the exact reason I went solar. Below is last months bill. As you can see, I generated 187 kWh more than I used. Many months I am in the "green" so it doesn't matter what the SCE cost is . August our hottest month which has monsoons causing us to use the regular AC and not evaporate coolers and December with additional cooking and lights are my highest months so far. From the graph this month I used a -6.23 kWh vs last year 25.17 and 2 years ago 26.38. I should receive a small rebate check next June on my anniversary date.

I really don't care what SCE charges any more and will recoup my investment in about 4 years.

My next "upgrade" is that I am installing an electric water heater to replace my 15 year old LP one. Propane is even more rediculous than electricity out here. First I have to pay Amerigas $129 per year to get a contract rate. That gives me the privilege of paying $3.50 per gallon year round. NO summer discount.

I may have to add couple of more panels and micro inverters but that is all.

 

[ponytug]

@orezok Personally, that's exactly what I love about net metering annually, and why we went solar. I can bank excess power June-September and "use" it Dec-March. Even with big batteries at the house, that's hard to do.

All the best, Peter

 

[ning]

This is what my electricity looked like recently, set up for less expensive rate at 9pm.

You can see the hot tub (240v) timer go off at 4pm, which is during the most expensive electricity, so the system pulls from the battery and keeps exporting PV to the grid (export is paid at import rates, unless you end up exporting more than you use).

It'll look different in a couple days as I expect it's going to be charging after midnight since the new TOU plan is cheapest from 0000-1500. It could just recharge from morning sun, but right now it doesn't matter one way or another since grid power at 0000 costs the same as 0900 PV gets refunded, so may as well have the batteries recharge at 0000.

 

[jk96]

I received the line diagrams and plan set back today. Application has been made with our electric coop so just waiting on their approval now in order to order equipment and move forward. Plan set attached.

 

[ning]

I received the line diagrams and plan set back today. Application has been made with our electric coop so just waiting on their approval now in order to order equipment and move forward. Plan set attached.

The site plan shows the 481' trench with a 1" pvc conduit, and the SLD shows it with a 2" pvc conduit (wire tag 6).

I'd get a second opinion on that conduit sizing - I ran 2 4/0 + 1 #10 neutral in a 2" and it was snug enough; I don't want to think about 3 4/0 + #4 on that long of a run. Also I'm not sure if all of those cables may over fill a 2" conduit (Google "conduit fill").

Also I'm curious - my system was spec'd with a ground at the array and no ground in the conduit, and a pretty small neutral (the neutral was just for some auxiliary stuff at the array, my microinverters don't do neutral); check if those inverters really need a massive neutral cable?

Is there any communication necessary between the service panel area and the inverters for rapid shutdown?

 

[techman]

Your plans remind me of my system

My distance between the house and array is smaller, only about 125'.

paul

 

[jk96]

The site plan shows the 481' trench with a 1" pvc conduit, and the SLD shows it with a 2" pvc conduit (wire tag 6).

I'd get a second opinion on that conduit sizing - I ran 2 4/0 + 1 #10 neutral in a 2" and it was snug enough; I don't want to think about 3 4/0 + #4 on that long of a run. Also I'm not sure if all of those cables may over fill a 2" conduit (Google "conduit fill").

Also I'm curious - my system was spec'd with a ground at the array and no ground in the conduit, and a pretty small neutral (the neutral was just for some auxiliary stuff at the array, my microinverters don't do neutral); check if those inverters really need a massive neutral cable?

Is there any communication necessary between the service panel area and the inverters for rapid shutdown?

Yep. Looks like I'm seeing 2" conduit with a total of 3 4/0 + #4 ground same as you on the long ac run. Could easily just jump up the conduit size. Will check on the neutral and verify no coms needed for the rapid shutdown. I do not believe they do.

 

[jk96]

Will have to do some checking on conduit. Looking at charts it seems 2" should be plenty. Hoping so as there is a significant price jump from 2" to 3" or even 2.5"

 

[ning]

Yep. Looks like I'm seeing 2" conduit with a total of 3 4/0 + #4 ground same as you on the long ac run. Could easily just jump up the conduit size. Will check on the neutral and verify no coms needed for the rapid shutdown. I do not believe they do.

If there's any possibility that you may as 6 batteries to the system for microgrid/backup, you'll likely be needing to have communications to the shutdowns or to some additional control there (with a microgrid, the inverters won't see the grid go down).

At the very least I'd consider running a 1" conduit with a pull string if that's at all possible, rather than having to dig again.

 

[ning]

Will have to do some checking on conduit. Looking at charts it seems 2" should be plenty. Hoping so as there is a significant price jump from 2" to 3" or even 2.5"

The fill looks good but I'm not sure about pulling all that, it's going to be a really tough pull, I'd talk to someone about how to do that or even pay them to do that pull.

 

[jk96]

The fill looks good but I'm not sure about pulling all that, it's going to be a really tough pull, I'd talk to someone about how to do that or even pay them to do that pull.

Build/sleeve the conduit around the wire on grade then drop in when finished?

 

[ning]

Build/sleeve the conduit around the wire on grade then drop in when finished?

tbh that's my suggestion. my consulting friend-electrician said there's nothing wrong with doing that. gluing it up is messy, but I'm pretty sure it works out

 

[jk96]

Already recieved an email back this afternoon with the coop approval pending a $125 payment to convert the meter to a smart meter.

 

[jk96]

I intended to document my solar install but the project got pushed to this fall and then went much faster and easier than anticipated. I finished them last month but just missed our inspection date with our electric company. Had to wait until last Monday for the next inspection date. Some of you may have already seen it on My "Lake Corona" update but thought I would go ahead and post some pics here since this one was left hanging. Will use this thread to update how the system is working as well.

I ended up with with 24.9 Kw. Grid tied system. 60 x 415 watt trina solar panels. 2 x 12.5 fronius string inverters. System has been up and running now since Monday. Some of my install pics below.

2021-11-21_08-54-02

2021-11-21_08-53-14

2021-11-21_08-52-41

2021-11-21_08-54-30

2021-11-17_08-50-21


That's me on the right and Dan, a really good friend of mine, on the left. Dan was there almost everyday I worked on the panels and was a huge help.

2021-11-21_08-51-56

2021-11-21_02-38-13 by Jeremy Kovac, on Flickr

 

[bmaverick]

I intended to document my solar install but the project got pushed to this fall and then went much faster and easier than anticipated. I finished them last month but just missed our inspection date with our electric company. Had to wait until last Monday for the next inspection date. Some of you may have already seen it on My "Lake Corona" update but thought I would go ahead and post some pics here since this one was left hanging. Will use this thread to update how the system is working as well.

I ended up with with 24.9 Kw. Grid tied system. 60 x 415 watt trina solar panels. 2 x 12.5 fronius string inverters. System has been up and running now since Monday. Some of my install pics below.

2021-11-21_08-54-02

2021-11-21_08-53-14

2021-11-21_08-52-41

2021-11-21_08-54-30

2021-11-17_08-50-21


That's me on the right and Dan, a really good friend of mine, on the left. Dan was there almost everyday I worked on the panels and was a huge help.

2021-11-21_08-51-56

2021-11-21_02-38-13 by Jeremy Kovac, on Flickr

Really nice.

QUESTION, is that setup rated to withstand 80MPH winds?

Whilst living in TN, I saw a setup similar to this literally ripped apart. Insurance mostly covered the damage. Owners rebuilt and created wind embankments to prevent damage to the go at it solar system.

 

[jk96]

Really nice.

QUESTION, is that setup rated to withstand 80MPH winds?

Whilst living in TN, I saw a setup similar to this literally ripped apart. Insurance mostly covered the damage. Owners rebuilt and created wind embankments to prevent damage to the go at it solar system.

It is. Rated for 105 mph. If I add crossbracing between uprights that jumps to 160 mph. Racking system is 3" schedule 40 galvanized pipe. Uprights are all 2.5 to 3ft below grade in 24" x 42" concrete footings.

 

[ning]

I used ironridge as well; it's fully engineered. Nice and easy to set up!

 

[jk96]

1st week is in the books. Panels produced 601 Kwh for the last 7 days. I had a high of 115Kwh on the 18th ( no clouds) and a low of 42Kwh on the 19th (no sun). Looks like my peak production hits about 19,400 watts this time of year on a sunny day. That peaks around 12:15 currently.

 

[jk96]

End of month update.
From our install date on 11/15 through 11/30 we used 1162 K wh of electricity and produced 1170 K wh from solar. With December being one of our lowest producing months and also getting into our heating season I'm expecting a small bill for December. By this time next we should have enough accrued credit to cover any billing in December.