5.04KW solar panel is coming up in SF Bay Area

[Analyst]

Free Panels

I can get free solar panels and free installation for you,Im a Solar Panel Analyst,My name is Steve I can be reached at Knowledgebuildsabundance@gmail.com

[solar_newbie]

Day 3 + 4

Day 3 -- Just for reinspection of the city
Day 4 -- Panel are up. Electric are connected. Solar is UP ....
Next step : register envoy and will see the fun going on... Final city sign off ... PG&E PTO

[solar_newbie]

The ladder the installers use must be tied at the roof, the ground AND the house? What? Is this a multistory building or something? And I understand the inspector needs to see the ladder tied off before work can continue too?

3' setback from all edges is also more restrictive than other CA counties. Here in El Dorado county, as long as the roof on the other side of the ridge is clear, then there's no need for BOTH sides to be clear. The object/ purpose is to give firemen a lane to walk and to chop a hole in the roof near the ridge to vent an attic in event of a fire. The only time an inspector came out to my job was for the final. He spent maybe 5 minutes and left with two items; put a lock on the disconnect box and caulk where a conduit went through a wall into the house. He still signed off, said we could do those and he'd trust us to get it done.

Yes, he does not go up until the leader is secure. This is a single story home. But I would understand the safety.

The requirement is not 3' setback from edges. It is 3' clear from everything. That is the first note he asked
Second is to make sure all rails to be secured to each other. It is good and safe right

He spent over 30 mins. Go through each panels, read each spec, ensure the space between rail is correct based on the size of the panel and based on manufacture suggestion. He said different panel are different, so do not apply the same rule.

Plus the high of the leg must be less than 8" (not 10" like standard).

Actually it is good at least he acts on my interest.

[skipro3]

The ladder the installers use must be tied at the roof, the ground AND the house? What? Is this a multistory building or something? And I understand the inspector needs to see the ladder tied off before work can continue too?

3' setback from all edges is also more restrictive than other CA counties. Here in El Dorado county, as long as the roof on the other side of the ridge is clear, then there's no need for BOTH sides to be clear. The object/ purpose is to give firemen a lane to walk and to chop a hole in the roof near the ridge to vent an attic in event of a fire. The only time an inspector came out to my job was for the final. He spent maybe 5 minutes and left with two items; put a lock on the disconnect box and caulk where a conduit went through a wall into the house. He still signed off, said we could do those and he'd trust us to get it done.

[solar_newbie]

Day 2

Inspector came and he requested couple changes as city code is tier the whole array must be 3 feet from everything on the roof ... Today job is just to move the racking system to match the location that inspector requests. He also requests all ladders must not only secure on the roof and ground, but also tie to the house ... It is interesting that it is not belong to the house and inspector cares about the safety of workers.
The good part is the city will come tomorrow morning again to make sure those are fix and sign off for resuming put those panels on the roof.
I guess I need to wait for tomorrow to get my system up ...

[newe70]

Your installer got it going quick, bud. Congrats! Post some pictures if you have a chance.

[solar_newbie]

Day 1 - Report

- Completed racking system for 18 panels
- Completed connecting 18 emphase M250
- Completed wiring a new 125A sub-panel all 18 emphase M250 using 2 15A breakers.

Now everything must be stop to wait for city inspector to inspect all roof, electrical .... This is a requirement in my city to ensure the roof is no damage due to solar installation.

Tomorrow plan (Day 2) : city inspector to do the middle job inspection, install all panels after that and connect the new sub-panel into the main-panel.

Report again tomorrow. I love the SW280 mono black. It looks solid and nice ... Envoy computer looks good also with WIFI connector.

[sjsun]

Finally I will get solar install on my roof today ... super excited like a new toy. I do not feel it when remodel kitchen, bathroom, front yard, backyard and even whole house trip off and remodel before Spent nearly 6 figure money on this house already.

The system for my house is simple with 2 paralel racks on west face roof, each will carry 9 panels and 9 micro inverters. I will see all black rack and panel today as I like black on roof

I even defer my project discussion with my big boss (VP and head of department) and told him I will stay home for 2 days to see my solar installation.

Will update later on how it goes

Sounds exciting, indeed Remember, one who dies with most toys, wins :P

My manager has also been very interested in my Solar project. He knows I do thorough research on all my projects

Got one vendor down to $3.65/W for an LG+Enphase system. Awaiting another smaller vendor to get back on some final pricing. Also, looking to get panel and service upgrades to 200A. Anyone got ball-park pricing on the panel upgrade? I got one quote of $3500.

[solar_newbie]

Installing today

Finally I will get solar install on my roof today ... super excited like a new toy. I do not feel it when remodel kitchen, bathroom, front yard, backyard and even whole house trip off and remodel before Spent nearly 6 figure money on this house already.

The system for my house is simple with 2 paralel racks on west face roof, each will carry 9 panels and 9 micro inverters. I will see all black rack and panel today as I like black on roof

I even defer my project discussion with my big boss (VP and head of department) and told him I will stay home for 2 days to see my solar installation.

Will update later on how it goes

[kulugo04]

Total is around 3.5/w

Hi can you pm me your installer? Thanks.

[sjsun]

Total is around 3.5/w

Care to share the installer's name? Thanks!

[solar_newbie]

Thank you all. I am now understand those loads. Solar is supplier and so is the grid.
100A breaker and 100A panel can only support one more 20A solar breaker for supplier .... If I need to go to 40A, I would need to upgrade to 125A panel or drop the breaker to 80A. Upgrade can take be expensive on labor due to too many circuits ...

So, the option I choose still hold well with the second panel:
Meter ---- 100A breaker -- 100A sub-panel 1: all household stuffs, pump, dryer (if needed) ....
---- 60A breaker -- 125A sub-panel 2: Solar , EV car, AC

With 80A breaker from the grid, I could run up to 70A for solar (assume 120% over subscribe).

AC uses 3.3KW and EV car uses 6.6KW --> total 10KW if run together (most likely in some hot night). It would drive 42A.. So the 80A is good enough to cover 125% overload.
Future adjust would be much easier and a lot of flexible with this second panel ... If run 2 EV cars, total energy need is 16.6KW. It would drive to 70A. So I would need to change to 100A breaker. This will limit solar to 50A.

Is my math corrected?

[paul65k]

I understand. There will be no fire . The worst case is the breaker strip and it takes 10-20 mins to cool off and you can turn it on again.
Normal household electric uses 2 AWG wire from a 100 A breaker to internal home sub-panel. If you looks up, 2 AWG wire can handle maximum 94A. You can open the panel next to your meter to exam the wire size.

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

So, even you can over load 120A, you should use 94A for a long period of time or the wire itself will cause your trouble

Solar will use 40A
1 Electric Car will use 30-40A
Household stuff is around 20-30A. If you run any AC or individual AC, you need at least 10-20A per each.
Pool need 30-40A (I use 2 horse power pump for my home)
Main AC use 40A for 3.5-4 ton AC. If you have 6 ton AC on the 2,500 square foot home, you need more.

So most new home design to separate AC to different breaker and house hold stuffs to different breaker. I would not need to count it.

So what you need to do is to arrange for time to use ...

Take example, if I need to do deep fry, microwave, oven (little oven) and do pressure cooker the same time (it is normal during weekend when preparing multiple things the same time), I would need minimum 15*4 = 60A. Then, Solar will take up to 40A. I already reach the max.
If I forgot to turn off the timer for the pool pump, It will draw 30A easy.
I will trip my breaker of 100A.

Currently without solar, I am fine ... as my AC is running on a separate 40A breaker at that time.

For safety, I would see the following design in electrical for Solar and EV car.

Meter ---- 100A/125A sub-panel 1: all household stuffs, pump, dryer (if needed) ....
---- 100A/125A sub-panel 2: Solar , EV car, AC

I took a look at few houses (old and news). Most have 3/0 AWG from meter and split into 2 breakers: 100A (for sub-panel) and 40/60A (for AC). 3/0AWG can handle 239A , so you can easy to have 2 sub-panel with 125A each (assume you can overload up to 20% or 286A).

I would agree with you that there are multiple design. Some can save money .. by overload the 100A sub-panel or upgrade it to 125A sub-panel ... but on the long run. I would have a separate 125A sub-panel ...

So I'm no electrician but...................aren't most of these power estimates based on Start-up power and not working amps??..........at least with regard to those items with motors (refers, AC, etc..). I'm wondering what the liklihood that all of those items would

1. All kick on at the same time?
2. Even more inportantly stay at those draws for any extended period of time

.........these questions are aimed at the comments regarding the potential damage to the wiring over time.......not trying to be a smart ass cuz candidly I just don't know if this is a real concern or more of a theoretical one

[J.P.M.]

Total is around 3.5/w

Thank you.

[solar_newbie]

Care to share a specific $ number ?

Total is around 3.5/w