It would require a leak in the shower stall AND a way for the water to get into the electrical panel's box. (not to mention through the stucco if it's surface mounted outside)
AND it'd have to create a continuous path from the live wire into the shower. More likely it'd drip somewhere and just cause corrosion in the meter box and in 40 years enough damage to cause a fire.
But I can understand not wanting it near a shower - if nothing else it's a potential concern for resale.
It looks like your current panel may be center feed.
I can't get more than the thumbnails - but I think the main breaker is in the middle with the branch circuits above and below it.
If that's the case, then you can't use the 120% rule on that.
You can see if they will leave the meter/breakers where it is because the only place to relocate it is on the other side of the fence. (Usually they don't want it on the other side of a fence)
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Yes, that would be the lowest cost option as well. Between the bathroom windows are (2) bath and shower stalls, I don't think the county inspector will allow a main panel to be relocated to those locations due to possible shock hazards. One small leak in the shower stall is all it would take......... and of course the bathroom windows are blocking the other possible routes/runs.
Nope, its the big POCO. I do have a complaint and am awaiting a response.Originally posted by ceburyLeave a comment:
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Generally, the City Inspector rules on houses, and the power company just feeds them. BUT - maybe the power company is tired of all the solar, and is throwing up obstacles just to frustrate. Going to a smaller PV array that the existing panel can handle may be the only answer, if it can generate enough to cut out the high tier rate category.Leave a comment:
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The problem with re-locating the main panel is the alternative locations are 2 bathroom walls further in from the current location and the house has vaulted ceilings. There is also an HVAC unit & furnace separating the bathrooms from the bedroom where the main panel is located. I'm not sure the building code allows a main panel to be located on a bathroom wall (facing externally)??? An electrician said the shower stall might have to removed if is covering the only clean wall run??
My main panel is currently located just on the other side of the fence in this pic:
Current main panel breakers:
WP_20161010_010.jpg
The costs to upgrade the underground burial cable service would negate any financial gains and would lengthen the time it will take to recoup costs. It seems so unfair?
I did locate another nearby home with the same floor plan and setup. The installer installed a smaller system (18) panels and replaced the existing main panel with a new 100 amp main panel (Eaton MBE1224PV100BTS). This system was installed a year ago and the main panel was allowed to remain in its location on the bedroom wall by the POCO.
My goal was to have 24 panels (6.84 kW) since I have a rear south facing roof which would have given me maximum sun exposure. But the main panel re-location requirement from my POCO does not seem feasible or reasonable at this point, they do have a reputation for being anti-solar! Salesman thinks the POCO has worries about EMF health issues since most new homes always have the main panel on the garage.
Will wait and see what my installer's electrician says regarding the maximum amount of solar panels on a 100 amp main panel if my POCO will even allow it in its current location.
The CA Solar Rights Act states an unreasonable barrier or obstacle (such as the code requirement a main panel upgrade must re-located away from a bedroom wall) is illegal so I'm wondering if I have some legal recourse there???
"Section 714 of the Civil Code is amended to alter the definition of what is a reasonable restriction on a solar energy system as it pertains to restrictions that would significantly increase the cost of the system or significantly decrease its efficiency or specified performance, or that would not allow for an alternative system of comparable cost, efficiency, and energy conservation benefits.
Specifically, “significantly” means an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) over the system cost as originally specified and proposed, or a decrease in system efficiency of an amount exceeding 10 percent as originally specified and proposed."Last edited by Zero_Balance; 10-12-2016, 12:37 AM.Leave a comment:
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The problem with re-locating the main panel is the alternative locations are 2 bathroom walls further in from the current location and the house has vaulted ceilings. There is also an HVAC unit & furnace separating the bathrooms from the bedroom where the main panel is located. I'm not sure the building code allows a main panel to be located on a bathroom wall (facing externally)??? An electrician said the shower stall might have to removed if is covering the only clean wall run??
My main panel is currently located just on the other side of the fence in this pic:
WP_20161011_006.jpg
Current main panel breakers:
WP_20161010_010.jpg
The costs to upgrade the underground burial cable service would negate any financial gains and would lengthen the time it will take to recoup costs. It seems so unfair?
I did locate another nearby home with the same floor plan and setup. The installer installed a smaller system (18) panels and replaced the existing main panel with a new 100 amp main panel (Eaton MBE1224PV100BTS).
20161011_164410.jpg
My goal was to have 24 panels (6.84 kW) since I have a rear south facing roof which would have given me maximum sun exposure. But the main panel re-location requirement from my POCO does not seem feasible or reasonable at this point, they do have a reputation for being anti-solar! n thinks the POCO has worries about EMF health issues since most new homes always have the main panel on the garage.
Will wait and see what my installer's electrician says regarding the maximum amount of solar panels on a 100 amp main panel if my POCO will even allow it in its current location.
The CA Solar Rights Act states an unreasonable barrier or obstacle (such as the code requirement a main panel upgrade must re-located away from a bedroom wall) is illegal so I'm wondering if I have some legal recourse there???Last edited by Zero_Balance; 10-12-2016, 12:38 AM.Leave a comment:
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1> Every (legal) grid-tie inverter in the US requires a neutral. It has to check that the voltage between the neutral and the hot wires are in the proper range (and shut itself down if they're not)
2> I would doubt that using a subpanel will allow the OP to avoid upgrading the main panel.
I think at this point OP is going to have to relocate the main panel (since it will have to go to 125A busbar panel)
He *MAY* be able to get them to leave it as a 100A service and avoid running new wire from the utility to his house (and the digging/boring that goes with that)
My advice would be to upgrade wires so could do 200A service if he does have to replace those wires. Most of the cost will be in the digging - the wires are small part.
If downgrade to a 4.8kW system (or 4800W inverter, even with slightly more panels) it might be possible to leave the panel as-is. (If it's an end-feed panel you possibly can use the 120% rule)
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If your 100 amp service will handle the 8.8 solar install and your HVAC circuit is is large enough to handle the back feed, you might be able to feed a sub panel (4 circuit 3r from lowes) with the hvac circuit . run the hvac on the sub panel and back feed through the other 2 breakers in the sub panel. You may not have a neutral wire,and not sure if your inverter requires one.
I am not an electrician so be sure to check with your installer electrician. If this meets the requirments let us know, it was told to me by my electrical inspector so I know it is used in some jurisdictions.Leave a comment:
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Service & Main Panel Upgrade Code Requirement - Unreasonable!!!!
Hi,
I recently signed with a highly recommended installer to have a 6.84 kW, 24 panel system installed on my home (1560sq ft, 3BR) located near Merced, CA.
My home currently has underground 100 amp service to a 100 amp main panel located on a bedroom wall. The installer stated the POCO has a code requirement where if the main panel (combo meter panel) is upgraded then it must be re-located to a non bedroom wall. After my installer submitted their plans to the POCO they stated my service must be upgraded to 125 amp and my main panel will need to be upgraded to 125 amp and relocated to a nearby bath room wall?
The service upgrade by the POCO will require extensive underground boring from the new main panel location, then underneath an HVAC unit out to the street, then underneath the street to the transformer. Cost is estimated between $6000 to $15,000???
The main panel relocation is estimated at a set price for $1500 by the installer's subcontractor electrician. Problem is my home's main wiring will have to replaced with longer romex to accommodate the longer run. Another obstacle is the new relocation area has 2 bathroom windows and an HVAC unit. A contractor friend stated the relocation might require sheetrock work as well.
Is the expensive service upgrade from 100 amps to 125 amps really necessary for a 6.84kW solar system? I read on another thread 100 amp service is fine using the 120% rule up to an 8.8kW as long as 2 slots are available in the main panel for the additional breakers? Obviously the code requirement to relocate the main panel is unreasonable as well but the POCO is stating the main panel must be relocated and removed from the bedroom wall.
I am highly disappointed in my POCO's code requirement of relocation of the main panel away from the bedroom wall. My floor plan was not designed nor friendly for the relocation of my main panel.
To top it all off, a neighbor down the street with the exact same floor plan, service and main panel location was not required to upgrade her service nor relocate her main panel. Her paperwork stated a main panel upgrade was needed to 125 amps but when I checked it is a Eaton 100 amp, 12 slot main panel combo (her meter is the same as mine). She has 21 panels but I have not verified what size they are??
The POCO stated to my installer they will be enforcing the main panel relocation code and service for my solar install.
Why the discriminatory treatment and unreasonable code requirements from my POCO?????Last edited by Zero_Balance; 10-11-2016, 03:52 PM.
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