The Sparkys are coming! The Sparkys are coming! Coming to my house on Saturday!

[slackmaster]

My solar energy contractor called this afternoon to ask if it was OK for the installers to start working on my house on Saturday, April 2 early in the morning.

I'm getting a 1.5 KW grid-tied photovoltaic system installed just in time for warm sunny weather.

The DC Sparkys installing the solar hardware on my roof, and the inverter this weekend. The AC Sparkys are tentatively scheduled for Monday morning to upgrade my distribution panel to 200 amps and drive in a grounding stake.

There may be Sparkys who swing both ways at any time.

I'll take and post pics and provide more details if anyone is interested.

[pacalo]

1. Yes, please do! And I'm interested in the difference with the electricity bill.

I'm excited for you!

:fistbump:

[Scuba]

2. Yep, very interested. What climes? Square feet of cells? n/t

[slackmaster]

3. I live in San Diego and have nearly perfect exposure on one side of my house

No chance of ever being shaded by a tree or by a neighbor to the south building up.

I don't have the size but will update.

Thanks!

[slackmaster]

4. Things are moving already. Cute Sparkette from SDG&E just swapped out my electric meter.

Halfway to work I realized I didn't have my cell phone, returned home to find an SDG&E electrician working on my distribution panel. There something about a petite, attractive woman wearing a hard hat and sunglasses that really turns me on. But I digress.

They replaced my home's ancient original mechanical meter with a digital "smart" meter back in September, but that one did not support net metering, i.e. decrementing the net power used when the customer is generating more power than consuming it. It's the equivalent of a mechanical meter turning backwards.

In some places the mechanical meters have a physical ratchet mechanism to prevent them from running backwards. SDG&E does have one major restriction - A customer cannot be paid for being a net producer of power. The law allows them to do this, and the effect on someone like me is restricting the size of the array that it makes financial sense to install. I'm getting a 1.5 KW system. If full net metering was allowed I think I would have opted for about twice that. But under the present system I'd be giving away power for free and still paying the $5 monthly connection fee. Fuck that!

[slackmaster]

5. Bumpdate - Panels are on the roof, inverter hung on the wall, Sparky is running conduit

The man drove in TWO grounding rods as required by code here. (My existing system is grounded to the cold water pipe.)

I've been taking a few pics, and will post after work is complete.

If anyone is interested in hardware, my panels are Sharp ND-224 UC1. Seven of them, so system is rated at 1,568 Watts.

The inverter is a PV Powered model PVP2500. I could add another four of the same type of panel without changing the inverter. If I get an A/C system or plug-in car, that would be reason to upgrade.

It's pretty exciting to see the project actually happening. I've wanted to do this for about 15 years.

[Throckmorton]

6. I wish I could do the same here,

But my property is completely shaded by tress, that are owned by neighbors. They absolutely refuse to allow me to have them removed, even though they are on the north side of their yards.

I am actually considering selling and moving to a better location, as my brother in law just had a 4.5 KW system installed and I think it is very cool.

Yes, I work in nuclear power, but I do see the advantages of this arrangement. Its not like I get my power at cost, I pay the same rate as everyone else.

[slackmaster]

7. My system went live at 3:08 PM on Friday, April 15 - tease-bump pending installation pics soon

It's been an exciting week. The electrical upgrade ended up being a bit more work than the installers had anticipated, but it's all in and working, with a few loose ends to be tied up Monday or Tuesday plus a final inspection. Then the final bill will come.

My system was generating more than 1.3 KW around 1:00 this afternoon. That is as expected, and I'm satisfied with it so far. Today is the first day of my life in which I produced more energy than I consumed, the first step on a loooooong journey.

I'm exhausted, and I have to do some work (as in my job) tonight after 10:00 PM (yes, on Saturday night) because I had an unplanned absence on Friday.

[Nihil]

12. Congratulations!

> Today is the first day of my life in which I produced more energy
> than I consumed, the first step on a loooooong journey.

Excellent news!

:toast:

[wtmusic]

8. Very cool. Looking forward to pics.

:thumbsup:

[Lost-in-FL]

9. Congratulations! You will love your system.

It is a great joy to state at the counter going backwards!!

BTW, our last electric bill was $15!!

[slackmaster]

10. First batch of pics for your amusement - These cover the first two days of work, 4/2 and 4/14/2011

400 My south-facing roof before installation began, 4/2/2011.



401, 403, 404 Installation technician uncrating Sharp solar panels.







402 Installed cable clips for grounding wire.



406 Technician locating roof mounts with flashing.



408 Installing aluminum mounting rails.



409, 410 Panels going into place. They each weigh about 47 pounds.





416 Inverter mounted on exterior wall, near 1964 vintage GE 100-Amp distribution panel with modern "smart" meter.



417 Inverter with documentation.



419 Array fully mounted, grounding wire hanging loose. The inverter I bought can handle up to four more of these panels in case I decide I need more power some day.



426 Old distribution panel de-energized, stucco being chipped away, 4/14/2011. Note lack of available breaker slots. I had maxed it out by adding several circuits. Because the service upgrade was needed for the solar project, I'm including that cost in the capital investment eligible for the 30% federal tax credit. We'll see how that flies a year from now. Be sure to consult with your tax accountant before embarking on a project like this.



428 Lineman cutting the second hot wire. There's no turning back now!



430 Technician inside my garage, working old cables loose.



434 Lead installer and technician as seen through gaping hole left by removal of old distribution panel. They are a father-and-son team.



439 New 200-Amp Cutler-Hammer panel in place. The electrical upgrade, per current code, required two 6-foot grounding rods driven into the soil. My old panel was grounded to the cold water pipes via a piece of aluminum wire.



443 Spaghetti. When I did my previous branch circuit upgrades and additions, I was mindful of the need to get a service upgrade some day and left plenty of slack to avoid complications. (I am a master of slack, after all.)

One of the circuits I had added previously was a 220-volt line in EMT conduit for my milling machine. The solar guys had not anticipated that, and didn't have their conduit tools. They managed to connect my old pipe by gently bending it with their bare hands.



449 New service entrance wires in place on new weatherhead - but not so fast! Inspector "Monty" showed up for an initial check, and immediately noticed that installers had used #2 wire here. That would be correct for a 125-Amp installation but not 200. Installers had to go back to the electrical supply place and wait in line for more than an hour to get 2/0 size wire, and new 1-1/2" conduit and fittings to replace existing 1-1/4" pipe which is too small for three pieces of 2/0 wire. Monty made them reconnect the cold water ground from my old service panel, and buy me all new circuit breakers too. BUSTED! Seriously, the inspector added a great deal of value to the project for the few minutes he spent on site. He may have saved my house. Thanks, Monty!

The installers' confusion came from lack of experience with service entrance upgrades. They made a bad assumption - That #2 stranded copper wire would be OK because SDG&E's overhead wires are #2 stranded aluminum. Copper wire has about 50% greater ampacity than aluminum wire of the same gauge. However, SDG&E's drop is in open air. Service entrance wiring resides inside metal conduit, so heat can build up. It's all about the heat. The gentlemen should have consulted a table in their code book, or asked an expert (e.g. the person at the electrical supply store.)



453 Some of the "Alternative" lighting I used for the night I spent with no AC power, 4/14-4/15/2011. There were no standard utility candles to be found in South Park that evening. I had to settle for Mexican-style prayer candles, and the store had only three clear ones so I consented to allow Jesus and the Virgin of Guadalupe to participate in the project. I'm Agnostic. My Catholic girlfriend was amused. Maybe they kept the food in my refrigerator from spoiling. I really don't know. (If I did know, then I'd probably be a Christian or an Atheist.) ;-)



I'll pick up the second and final part later today.

[jpak]

11. Huzzah!

:toast:

[AtheistCrusader]

18. Cutler-Hammer = Good stuff.

I cannot STAND zinsco products.

[slackmaster]

13. Pics part II - Final day of installation

461 2/0 copper wire. Very heavy, VERY expensive.



460 I like to keep all of my old hardware for recycling, art, etc.



462 Installer bravely struggling to keep SDG&E's hot overhead wires from swinging loose in the street. Having that bundle hit by an ice cream truck could have caused a big mess.



466 Affable lineman caught not working.



467 Lineman preparing the new wires. He complained that they were too long. Those guys are a riot but take their jobs very seriously.



468 Lineman placing crimp block on the exposed wires, very dangerous at this point. This is not something an amateur should mess with.



470 Really cool power crimper in action.



473 Taping up the newly crimped connection.



474 Lineman placing seals on the new panel. Not not-too-bad stucco repair job by the lead installer.



475 We have power! At that point the inverter was in the middle of its 300-second countdown to startup. It started right up, and I was producing my first electric power at about 3:08 PM Pacific Daylight Time on 4/15/2011. As promised, my meter started running backward almost immediately although the refrigerator was consuming heavily after being off for 30 hours.

[wtmusic]

14. Martini-time!

Good thing your inspector was doing his job.

Total cost? :shrug:

[slackmaster]

15. Total cost a little over $18K out of pocket. I get a $5,400 federal tax credit for this year.

Plus I am expecting a substantial amount of medical expense, so my finances are actually looking pretty good.

In case I hadn't mentioned my math, I anticipate break-even in about 7-8 years assuming continued annual rate increases of about 6%. Any faster increases and the balance tips heavily in my favor.

Monty the inspector earned his pay and then some. I was a little miffed that the lead solar installer, who has good general construction skills, lacked what I consider to be some basic electrical knowledge. But at the end of the day the system worked. Monty obviously knew his shit and wasn't going to take any crap from anyone.

[Wilms]

16. Inspectors can, indeed, be your friend.

Been around a few. And I've seen people grumble when the inspector rubs chin. But I've never seen them issue an unreasonable order. I'm sure there are exceptions, but overall...

PS: I'm digging your thread and must warn you I may PM for guidance.

Thanks

[slackmaster]

17. I just got my first SDG&E bill since my rooftop PV system went live

The system was not operational for the first eight days of the period.

Previous period - 423 KWH for $89.52
Current period - 157 KWH for $23.04

It should be close to zero next time.

:D