My DIY Solar: Part 8 Solar Panel Install
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
- This is Part 8 in my series following my Do-It-Yourself Grid Tie Solar System Install. In this video I am Installing the panels in my solar system.
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The fact you installed this solo I give you much respect. Great job bro!
When I did my install I figured the same as you, they would want to see all the wiring before installing the panels. I asked the question, when I got my permit, and the inspector said give him a call after I've completed the whole install. All he looked at was the number of panels on the roof matched the permit and that the disconnect was wired correctly.
Just finished and turned on my small 1.3kw 5 panel enphase setup the weekend. Vary diy friendly product. Already want to expand.
A month after I turned my 5.2kw system on I started figuring out how much it will cost to double my system..lol
I was in that cold weather, highs of -30 and lows of -50 are not fun. Working on the planning phase of a system, since I'm not going to install until it thaws out a bit outside.
Install the bottom row first. it will save time and give you a cleaner line.
My local city inspector told me they're supposed to inspect everything on the roof as well. He then told me there's no way in hell he's climbing up on a ladder to inspect anyone's roof so he said I'll trust you. lol
My inspector said they're not aloud on the roof and said the same thing. "I trust you"
You can find something like this on the Avasva page. Full step-by-step instructions right on your desk.
Thanks for posting all these videos. These are very helpful as I'm in the planning stages of DIYing myself. I noticed that at 6:00 your panels are at the roof ridge. I read that fire code must be 3 feet away. Did you run into any issues with that? I'm also in Phoenix. Thanks!
I appealed to the fire martial and paid a $250 fee to not completely follow code. I just had to show that there is still plenty of access to the roof.
@@ICanDoItMyself Not sure where to share my comment with ya, but I finally finished my solar install (14.6kW system) and it's officially hooked up. APS was such a breeze. They trust the City of Phoenix inspection and just hooked up my meter! No issues! Thanks for the videos. Certainly helped with my install.
I think many mistakes in this permit. Firecode is missing which is nessery. And module layout are wrong. you have proper space on back roof you can put more modules on the back roof. because this is south roof there is good sunhors and . you putting 6 panels on the north roof there is very low sonhors. We always prefer potrate module for good sunhors.and you do mix two different types of module Canadian and hanwa solar. And you doing derate main breaker 200A to 175A. But can also supply tap. You meter is detach from the panel
The six panels are facing East. The back roof faces West. I bought the first 22 panels at a different time. When I bought the additional panels, they did not have the Canadian Solar panels available. I'm fully aware of fire code, but due to shading, I petitioned the fire martial to not follow it on the back roof and South side of the garage.
Thanks for your great video series. What slope is your roof? Ours is 6/12 and have a problem with the panels sliding down without a second person to hold them. Do you have any suggestions fir doing it solo? Thanks for your advice.
I think it is 3 or 4/12. Maybe a ratchet strap? Something you can hook to the rail and hook to the panel, get it secured and then move the ratchet. You may not even have to reset it every time.
@@ICanDoItMyself Thanks for the suggestion....
Will like to know if you can have back up batteries with microinverters and how you recommend installing it? I live in PR I have my panels racks but am still debating on buying micro or string inverter. Please let me know you recommendation.
I have Tesla Powerwall2s in conjunction with my microinverter system. It does work but I would go with Enphase's Ensemble/Encharge system. It's a better system. A little more expensive but worth the cost in function and efficiency.
@@ICanDoItMyself So powerwall and enphase battery can be charge with AC? That's my debate since micro inverters and panels are DC-DC to AC and there's where I get confuse and don't know how to charge batteries with AC? Help me out please....
@@richardfigueroa864 That is correct. They are charged and supply AC power. That does cause a little loss of efficiencies but increases ease of installation.
Your videos are very inspiring and encouraging and so well done!!. Thank you so much. How did you know to derate your main 200A breaker (to 175A) when installing the 50A branch circuit breaker? Is there a specific NEC code that required that?
A 200A box has a max load rated at 120% (240A). 200A main + 50A solar = 250A (no good). 175A main + 50A solar = 225A (good). Or, what I have now, 175A main + 60A solar = 235A (still good).
@@khanhphan3806 175A x 120% = 210A
@@khanhphan3806 My panel is a 200A panel with a 175A main. So I can safely go to 240A. 175A main + 60A for solar = 235A
@@khanhphan3806 Panel vs the breaker that feeds the panel.
God job there. why do you have to derate the panel?
sh839c, you can only have 20% backfed. 200amp x 20% = 40amp breaker. It's to keep from overloading the panel. Breakers should only be at 80% continuous so 32amps backfed, max 26 panels. I wanted 30 panels which called for a 50amp breaker which is the reason for the derate. Derating to 175amp leaves 65amps available for backfeed.
@@ICanDoItMyself Got it, thanks.
I am going to try this myself also, how do you know how far apart rails for both vertical and horizontal?
I don't remember finding anything that said specifically. If the panel is 60 inches (5ft) tall and had 1ft overhang top and bottom, that would be a 3ft gap.
@@ICanDoItMyself That makes sense, how much for horizontal?
@@frankphilips5498 if you're going to have the panels in landscape, I would run the rails vertical. Otherwise you need a lot more rails.
@@ICanDoItMyself Thanks for the info
What is the reason for going from a 200amp Main Breaker to a 175amp. Seems backwards?
A panel that is rated for 200 amps cannot go past 240 amps. With a 200 amp main and 50 amp backfed puts it at 250 amps. Derrating the main is the only way to use a backfed breaker any bigger than 40 amps. Going past a total of 240 amps can lead to a fire.
what is the size of wire from Enphase combiner box to main service? Is that AWG#4 or AWG #8?
#6
did you need to have SRP disconnect the meter before you de-rated the main breaker?
Yes. They pulled the meter so I could change it out. Then city of Phoenix inspected and they reinstalled the meter.
@@ICanDoItMyself what did the city say about the wire length between the disconnect and the main panel? How long was it supposed to be?
@@vrei6536 The particular inspector that I dealt with said it was supposed to be 10ft. That is not correct but I did it so he would pass me. The solar meter is not to be more than 10ft from the service meter, I think that is where he was confused.
I just got my system completed but I need assistance in properly installing my Consumption CTS; my readings show my Consumption mirroring my Production. Can you assist me with that?
Your production CT only goes on one line coming from the inverters. The consumption CTs go on the cables coming from the service meter before you main panel. Make sure they are facing the correct direction (there are arrows on them for electricity flow, arrows pointed away from main meter, towards main breaker). Also, make sure they are wired correctly into the IQ Envoy.
@@ICanDoItMyself Thank you so much. I guess I am screwed then since there is no straight connection from my Combiner box back to the main panel and there is the Main Solar System Circuit Disconnect box in between. The installed installed them on the power cables coming into the combiner box.
@@thompsonp86 that explains why the number match, they're reading the same thing.
@@thompsonp86 I posted a video more clearly showing the CTs.
@@ICanDoItMyself Thank you so much!!!!
the fact that you did all this in flip flops bugs me.
I noticed that too. It actually impressed me that he did all that he did on a roof non-the-less, with such stability and confidence and without issues! Sure, the case for more appropriate footwear could be argued, but that's the beauty of a DIY, no one telling you how/what to do (other than code requirements)
why would someone mix portrait and landscape style on the same array that's not space constrained. Looks terrible....
It is space constrained in a way. There is a tree that shades 2/3s of my house during the summer. If I went further north than they would be wasted. This way I could fit 5 instead of 3 if I stayed with portrait. Those landscape panels are also now tilted. I don't think it looks bad and that's what matters since it's my roof.