I love the content on this channel! Here's something everyone should PERSONALLY check before they invest in solar. Is there a minimum charge for being connected to the grid? For instance, if my bill is $100/mo, I pay no service charge. But if I use anywhere from $0 to $99 of actual power, I pay an additional $45/mo service fee. So, it's a cheaper for me to use $100 in power than $99 worth of power $44 cheaper ($100 vs $144). Does your electrical utility charge for a net-metering meter? Mine charges me $55/mo for it, and that's in addition to the service charge. In other words, even if I produce all my power with solar, my bill will be $100/mo. I would have to consider this cost as part of the ongoing cost of my solar installation. That would be over and above the total price of materials, labor and interest (assuming a loan). Your milage may vary, but this is certainly not something a company selling systems will bring to your attention, and may even try to hide. You need to know what questions to ask and how to look for tricky language in the assessments and contracts.
P.S. Glad to see you have a store at The Amazon. This gives me a way to support you since you don't service my area, or I assume you don't, and not sure I could afford you, if you did. I usually need an electrician to help me do what I've already done, because I was not physically able to do what I have the knowledge and skills to do.
Crazy idea, what if you throw solar on one of your vans, with a decent amount of battery storage. Use that to provide job site/customer power during the job. In a pinch you could use the vehicle alternator to charge/alternator could charge while traveling to/from site.
34:45 Something seems wrong here. Two red solar leads into a red & white pair, and two black solar leads into a black & white pair. Am I missing something?
It's a longer answer than either of us have time for, but let me explain a few advantages for a solar contractor like us. The SolarEdge solution works well across residential as well as small and large commercial projects. Having a uniform system for design, install and maintenance is advantageous. We've built and actively maintain over 500 solar arrays in Indiana. SolarEdge allows us to do that on a single platform, while still providing energy production optimization, better cost metrics than micro-inverters and more scalable solutions.
My only issue is using romex staples to staple my cable….never seen that done and no company I’ve worked with in MN does it. MC cable gets strapped with mc straps. Either BX4M’s or a one hole strap. I’m sure it’s fine but if you’re going to run commercial wire, look like you’ve ran it before.
That price seems crazy, 8kw of solar and 20kwh of battery. Solark + sok lifepo4 batteries same amount of panels and batteries for half that price installed.
@@triforcelink except it nearly does. They Installed a disconnect, the solark has an auto transfer switch and I was upgraded from 100 amp to 200 amp service. If I had the 200 amp and upgraded to span it would only be a couple thousand different max.
@@triforcelink Yep it's not a cheap panel. More like 7k installed. However my upgrade to 200 amp was 4k or so installed. Just doesn't make sense how this is double the price of my Install.
Joe, I have a question: If I wanted to come off my meter box that has a ground rod in the ground for the meter box and I want to install a subpanel in my garage. Do I have to drive a separate ground rod in the ground for the subpanel?
No. A grounding electrode driven to earth is only needed at the main panel. (There should also be a grounding electrode connected to the water main in the structure). A sub panel installed in the same building does not need its own grounding electrode driven into earth.
@@El_Diablo_LI you are correct. But by you mentioning the water bond tells me you are or Learned from a old electrician. We now use 2 ground rods at the service and the water pipe ground is null and void due to pex.
@@El_Diablo_LI Thanks for getting back with me David. The meter is mounted on a pole outside of any building and has some blank breaker spaces. The subpanel I plan to install would be in a garage away from the meter box. My home is powered with that meter box also. The garage would be a separate building from the home. would this make any difference?
Funny Side to your photo, when I first saw your posted image, the image next to it (In youtube home screen) was a person installing a toilet, so at first I thought you had a photo of the boys standing in front of ... :)
How do you sell Tesla for your company? Do you work with a third party sales company? I'm starting my own electrical company and would like to do Tesla powerwalls/Span panels
Well done on the install. I would look a little more closely at the issue of selective coordination on fused disconnects and inverters. Wondering whether it would actually be better to have the junction box with the strings in the attic space internally rather than the roof - maybe easier for servicing or fault finding?
This is really awesome. I think that Solar and people generating and storing their own power is the way to go, from an aging power grid, to the problems when lightning strikes power lines, power failures etc. And this keeps the electricians in business. They just have to learn how to deal with solar and handle it safely. I'd like to see more roofs and structures made out of solar materials. Even if it's in a shady location something is better than nothing. And always make sure that more than used is generated and stored in battery reserves, literally for those "Rainy Days" and when the sun goes down. I don't like Tesla. Crazy Elon has enough money that he doesn't share with the needy. He doesn't need anymore money. HOA ARE THE WORST. THOSE NAZIS TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO ON THEIR OWN HOUSE THAT THEY "THE PEOPLE" NOT THE NAZIS, PAID FOR ! NOTHING BOILS MY BLOOD MORE AND FASTER THAN WHEN PEOPLE COME ALONG LIKE A NAZI TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH THEIR OWN BODY AND THEIR OWN PROPERTY ! Send the bill to HOA, and put a lien on the HOA property of they refuse to pay !
Was told at continuing education class that a lot of panels are approved to use two identical size #14 & 12 guage ground wires but seldom do that. The lazy foot dragging caveman at Exelon/PECO in Philly maybe 10 years ago required that you have 3 meters for residential solar installs and for a few years prohibited solar from De!aware to Schuylkill rivers downtown.
And think. All this from a guy who thinks wires are gonna magically move around in your pannel and short out all your electrics when you drop service neutral
I’m not sure how you can sleep at night selling those customers old technology solar panels. I did only one and I’m done with that BS. They already have better panels and New LEDs and all your customers they will get stuck for next 15-20 years paying of old system. Sad. But hey other than than I like your videos brother. 👍
There will always be newer, better, more efficient equipment around the corner. Sometimes people elect not to go with cutting edge technology because of the initial higher cost of the new equipment because it's so new.
He JUST can't help saying he's "CEO"...and I dislike the way that he speaks. Its as if he's constantly trying to sell us something...its irritating AF. Thank goodness for fast forward scrolling!!!
Man I love this channel. There aren’t many creators worth binging on, but this one is worth going back and watching.
If only I had the money. But its nice watching someone else get what I want. :)
Courtesy battery for the customer while their power is out, nice touch!
Really nice to see each person on the job site and what they’re doing. Also why they’re doing it. Well done, nice videography too.
What an awesome project, Electric Pro Academy! This is the complete package for home electrification with resilient backup.
I admire your leadership and quality. Thank you.
Love that u post these videos
Thanks Joel and team
Hard work always pays off!!!!!!!
It must be an honor to work on your team. Thank you for sharing this experience.
I love the content on this channel!
Here's something everyone should PERSONALLY check before they invest in solar.
Is there a minimum charge for being connected to the grid?
For instance, if my bill is $100/mo, I pay no service charge. But if I use anywhere from $0 to $99 of actual power, I pay an additional $45/mo service fee. So, it's a cheaper for me to use $100 in power than $99 worth of power $44 cheaper ($100 vs $144).
Does your electrical utility charge for a net-metering meter? Mine charges me $55/mo for it, and that's in addition to the service charge.
In other words, even if I produce all my power with solar, my bill will be $100/mo.
I would have to consider this cost as part of the ongoing cost of my solar installation. That would be over and above the total price of materials, labor and interest (assuming a loan).
Your milage may vary, but this is certainly not something a company selling systems will bring to your attention, and may even try to hide. You need to know what questions to ask and how to look for tricky language in the assessments and contracts.
Very insightful. Good homework and good word.
your power company is pure evil and your state legislature is obviously in bed with them, none of those charges are normal in most states
I like your shirt. Is it available?
Can’t wait to see the finished installation.
It's not publicly available to my knowledge, Loren.
I'm really interested in how effective they way your panel layout system works I like the way you do it !
You Sir are a true master of your trait!!! always something to learn from your videos. thank you!
P.S. Glad to see you have a store at The Amazon. This gives me a way to support you since you don't service my area, or I assume you don't, and not sure I could afford you, if you did. I usually need an electrician to help me do what I've already done, because I was not physically able to do what I have the knowledge and skills to do.
Crazy idea, what if you throw solar on one of your vans, with a decent amount of battery storage. Use that to provide job site/customer power during the job.
In a pinch you could use the vehicle alternator to charge/alternator could charge while traveling to/from site.
34:45 Something seems wrong here. Two red solar leads into a red & white pair, and two black solar leads into a black & white pair. Am I missing something?
Guy on roof installing wires should learn the NEC rule about using a torque driver to tighten electrical connections !
Great little vid Joel and what a crew ... Thx for posting ...
When is part 2 coming, Joel?
I'm curious -- can you tell us why you chose to use long strings of modules to a central inverter, as opposed to micro-inverters on each panel?
It's a longer answer than either of us have time for, but let me explain a few advantages for a solar contractor like us. The SolarEdge solution works well across residential as well as small and large commercial projects. Having a uniform system for design, install and maintenance is advantageous. We've built and actively maintain over 500 solar arrays in Indiana. SolarEdge allows us to do that on a single platform, while still providing energy production optimization, better cost metrics than micro-inverters and more scalable solutions.
Y’all rock!
Breaker panels are like pianos, it's best not to put them on or near an exterior wall.
why not do a line side tap of all the incoming power from the PV panels? easier/cleaner/no connections needed at the homeowner's panel
Edge of hole for SER cable appears to be missing nail plate.
why was part 2 pulled down i was about to watch it
My only issue is using romex staples to staple my cable….never seen that done and no company I’ve worked with in MN does it. MC cable gets strapped with mc straps. Either BX4M’s or a one hole strap. I’m sure it’s fine but if you’re going to run commercial wire, look like you’ve ran it before.
That price seems crazy, 8kw of solar and 20kwh of battery. Solark + sok lifepo4 batteries same amount of panels and batteries for half that price installed.
I bet your half price doesn’t include the cost of buying and installing the span panel, disconnect, and automatic transfer switch.
@@triforcelink except it nearly does. They Installed a disconnect, the solark has an auto transfer switch and I was upgraded from 100 amp to 200 amp service. If I had the 200 amp and upgraded to span it would only be a couple thousand different max.
@@hoocli from what I heard that panel costs over $3k, but I get your point.
@@triforcelink Yep it's not a cheap panel. More like 7k installed. However my upgrade to 200 amp was 4k or so installed. Just doesn't make sense how this is double the price of my Install.
28:50 What's your name, son? Nice presentation!
That's Cody again, from up on the roof earlier in the vid
@@ElectricProAcademy Didn't recognize him shorter, I guess
😂
Joe, I have a question: If I wanted to come off my meter box that has a ground rod in the ground for the meter box and I want to install a subpanel in my garage. Do I have to drive a separate ground rod in the ground for the subpanel?
Attached?
No. A grounding electrode driven to earth is only needed at the main panel. (There should also be a grounding electrode connected to the water main in the structure).
A sub panel installed in the same building does not need its own grounding electrode driven into earth.
@@El_Diablo_LI you are correct. But by you mentioning the water bond tells me you are or Learned from a old electrician. We now use 2 ground rods at the service and the water pipe ground is null and void due to pex.
@@El_Diablo_LI Thanks for getting back with me David. The meter is mounted on a pole outside of any building and has some blank breaker spaces. The subpanel I plan to install would be in a garage away from the meter box. My home is powered with that meter box also. The garage would be a separate building from the home. would this make any difference?
Funny Side to your photo, when I first saw your posted image, the image next to it (In youtube home screen) was a person installing a toilet, so at first I thought you had a photo of the boys standing in front of ... :)
Thanks for sharing!
How do you sell Tesla for your company? Do you work with a third party sales company? I'm starting my own electrical company and would like to do Tesla powerwalls/Span panels
SPAN is very easy & pleasant: www.span.io/partners. Tesla is very difficult to get a hold of, but good luck: www.tesla.com/contact
Well done on the install. I would look a little more closely at the issue of selective coordination on fused disconnects and inverters. Wondering whether it would actually be better to have the junction box with the strings in the attic space internally rather than the roof - maybe easier for servicing or fault finding?
Why mc cable?
This is really awesome. I think that Solar and people generating and storing their own power is the way to go, from an aging power grid, to the problems when lightning strikes power lines, power failures etc. And this keeps the electricians in business. They just have to learn how to deal with solar and handle it safely.
I'd like to see more roofs and structures made out of solar materials. Even if it's in a shady location something is better than nothing. And always make sure that more than used is generated and stored in battery reserves, literally for those "Rainy Days" and when the sun goes down.
I don't like Tesla. Crazy Elon has enough money that he doesn't share with the needy. He doesn't need anymore money.
HOA ARE THE WORST. THOSE NAZIS TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO ON THEIR OWN HOUSE THAT THEY "THE PEOPLE" NOT THE NAZIS, PAID FOR ! NOTHING BOILS MY BLOOD MORE AND FASTER THAN WHEN PEOPLE COME ALONG LIKE A NAZI TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH THEIR OWN BODY AND THEIR OWN PROPERTY ! Send the bill to HOA, and put a lien on the HOA property of they refuse to pay !
I love the REMCs in Indiana. Which county was this?
Was told at continuing education class that a lot of panels are approved to use two identical size #14 & 12 guage ground wires but seldom do that. The lazy foot dragging caveman at Exelon/PECO in Philly maybe 10 years ago required that you have 3 meters for residential solar installs and for a few years prohibited solar from De!aware to Schuylkill rivers downtown.
Use a microphone so that I can hear you
I prefer micro inverters
Hey, James! I hope I look good at 47!! Oh, wait-I am 47, and I don't look nearly that youthful! Ouch. LOL
😂 Nonsense, you're beautiful!
@@ElectricProAcademy ROTFL!
And think. All this from a guy who thinks wires are gonna magically move around in your pannel and short out all your electrics when you drop service neutral
Do you really have to say ceo 😅 and master every time
He’s getting new viewers everyday:)
Kinda feels like a tradition at this point 😅. It also helps break the ice of talking to the camera
@ 27:14-27:15 "vaiginal crimp" ????????????? you can't make this up....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m not sure how you can sleep at night selling those customers old technology solar panels. I did only one and I’m done with that BS. They already have better panels and New LEDs and all your customers they will get stuck for next 15-20 years paying of old system. Sad. But hey other than than I like your videos brother. 👍
There will always be newer, better, more efficient equipment around the corner.
Sometimes people elect not to go with cutting edge technology because of the initial higher cost of the new equipment because it's so new.
Camden's girlfriend is a lucky gal!
He JUST can't help saying he's "CEO"...and I dislike the way that he speaks. Its as if he's constantly trying to sell us something...its irritating AF. Thank goodness for fast forward scrolling!!!
Where’s part 2 Joel