Greetings from Geek Hill

[StevesWeb]

Good day,

I'm one of two geeks that live on the top of a small hill in Corona CA. Because we are geeks and we live on a hill we call our home Geek Hill.

Right now our solar power vendor is wrapping up structural reinforcements on parts of our 50 year old place as they prepare to install a fairly large 18KwDC grid connected system with 78 Sharp 235 watt panels and 78 micro-inverters.

We are installing a fairly large system for a home, in part because we have several koi ponds that require pumps running 24/7.

I worked on wide area data networks for 30 years before retiring and keep busy with a microscopic web hosting company that mostly hosts my own websites.

So, that's moi. Hi everybody.

[Mike90250]

Welcome. Be sure you get a monitoring package with the micro-inverters, so you can see how their output is doing.

[StevesWeb]

Welcome. Be sure you get a monitoring package with the micro-inverters, so you can see how their output is doing.

Thanks for the welcome, Mike.

I was told in vague terms that we would have full monitoring capability. We chose Enphase M215-60-2LL-S22 microinverters and we are buying the system outright. Is it correct that homeowners contract with Enphase for an ongoing subscription to performance data?

I understand the basics of the science involved and am well up to speed on electricity and home wiring, my lack of knowledge is exactly where you pointed, in how the system is operated post install.

[Naptown]

Thanks for the welcome, Mike.

I was told in vague terms that we would have full monitoring capability. We chose Enphase M215-60-2LL-S22 microinverters and we are buying the system outright. Is it correct that homeowners contract with Enphase for an ongoing subscription to performance data?

I understand the basics of the science involved and am well up to speed on electricity and home wiring, my lack of knowledge is exactly where you pointed, in how the system is operated post install.

Lifetime free module level monitoring comes with the M215 from Enphase.
You will need an Enphase Envoy and a high speed internet connection to make it work.
Your installer should have included the Envoy. Don't let them charge you for Enlighten ( the web monitor)

[StevesWeb]

All 78 panels are up now, spread out in 5 arrays on top of 5 structures here at Geek Hill. There was a great deal of structural reinforcement done first on our carport, garage, and guest apartment.

We are now waiting for a specially made placard that documents the system, apparently a requirement of the city or SoCalEd. Sometime next week I'm told that they will be back to apply the placard and double check everything for permit sign off. I'm told our Envoy will arrive at that time.

I have made a photo gallery for those interested.