Gary from BuiltItSolar is up to things again - PV system
 

Looks to be a good sized system. I look forward to seeing where this goes and his actual production numbers. He also went with Enphase inverters.

Our New PV System - Build-It-Solar Blog

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1257475806

Hi,
I just finished up the system today -- going to call for the electrical inspection tomorrow morning.
I may feel differently after the inspector sees it and tells me what I need to do over, but the electrical part seemed very straightforward -- the Enphase micro inverters make it pretty easy. Doing the wire trench and the mounts (3200 lbs of concrete) were not so easy, but I did manage to lose 5 lbs :)

I plan to put up a very detailed story on planning it and putting it together.

Gary

Great to hear Gary. I am very much looking forward to it! :)

Gary has his site updated with his install and design info.

Designing and Installing a Grid-Tie PV System

Dang!! That Gary has installed a fantastic system!!
That kind of ground mounted array would be perfect for my front yard..
If we didn't live in vandalville. :(

If I ever do get some PV for the roof, the hardware will be very similar
to the choices Gary made.

Hi,
Guy Marsden has a good description of the same kind of system for a roof install on his site:
ART TEC - Solar Power - blog Home Page
There is a lot of good material on his site.

Gary

Guy Marsden has done some really good work. I might be getting some of those
nice insulated curtains he found.

Maybe even add some Solar PV in the backyard to lessen the impact of all the
phantom power suckers in my house. Today I turned off the PC, heat, fridge and freezer
and took a long look at the continuous 24/7 load. It's 300 Watts!!!
That's 7.2 kWh a day! More than I use to heat the whole house on mild days!
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/projec...l-project.html


So, now I'm looking at adding another source for the house to feed on..

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-....html#post5110

Hi,
The starter kits with 1 large pv panel plus 1 enphase inverter are interesting. Several outfits offer them now. I think you could call Solar Panels from Wholesale Solar Renewable Energy on the phone and get their opinion on whether its really a viable thing to do, or just something to get you interested in a larger system -- they offer one of these startup kits, and I found them to be pretty honest on questions.

For a code compliant hookup, you would have to to run the 240VAC that the micro-inverter outputs to a disconnect switch that is located near the utility meter, and then on to a dedicated 240VAC breaker in your breaker panel. Similar to this:
DIY PV System Installation -- Wiring
This is some work, but, it does not add a lot of cost. It would also set you up to be able to add more pv panel and micro-inverter pairs to the system. You can have up to 15 on one breaker.

On the paperwork side, you would have to (most likely) get a permit for the work, and then sign up with the utility for a net metering agreement, and get a new utility meter (which is normally free I think). The utility will probably want to see the signed off permit before they will do the net metering. Of course, if you are never producing more power than you are using, there is no gain for you from net metering.

On a more bootleg basis, I think that one could do something as simple as taking the micro-inverter output and plugging it into a 240VAC socket (eg an electric dryer socket). I believe that the inverter would sync up with the grid and work OK. You would not have any overcurrent protection for the micro-inverter or its wiring, and it would definitely not be code legal, but I'm pretty sure it would work electrically.

One problem with this 1 PV panel + 1 micro-inverter setup is that the Enphase micro-inverters have very little in the way of reporting how they are doing. Enphase normally expects you to buy the $300 EMU unit which monitors the micro-inverters and reports how they are doing. Without the EMU, all you get on the micro-inverter are some LED's -- these do tell you when it thinks its working, but does not give power output numbers -- just a green light. I'm not sure what Enphase would say if you called in and said that you are getting a red light on your inverter, but have no EMU to get the actual error code from it. They have good customer support, but not sure how they would react -- ie whether they would replace the inverter.


Gary

I've seen the basic one panel kit before at WholeSale Solar.
Enphase 215 Grid Tie Solar Power System
It kinda looks a bit like the parts I had picked out. I started thinking about that 300 watts and looked at a 150W panel.
Thinking it would be the right size, if I wanted to add another one later one. (For a total of 300 watts). Plus, it's cheaper.


Of course, I would never bootleg.. But it seems like a person with 300 watts
of parasitical drain could hook up an Enphase (or two) as long as he didn't
go over 300 watts.. Might even slow down the meter from blinking so rapidly.. :cool:

Another poster here has already used his KillaWatt with an Enphase,
by measuring one side of the circuit and multiplying the reading by two.
I have a couple of amp meters laying around that I could use too.


My wild-eyed idea was to mount the panel in the back yard using an old
satellite mount, and run the 24VDC back to the house (on the
existing cables) and connect them to the Enphase in my basement ham shack.
(Where I happen have my old Ham 2kw amp that uses 230vac).

Anyways, late this evening, I hit the button and lowered the dish down
(due to leafs & the snow in the forecast) to very low angle.
Then I realized that I could reach up and grab the feed plate (focal point).
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...er/NCL/BUD.jpg

The center of the dish is just too low. It I removed the 'bowl' and added
a PV rack, the bottom part of the panels would be very near the ground.
Not a good idea in this part of the world.
The dish has been modded for elevation only, so I could do the seasonal angle tweaks.. By watching the amp meter at noon.
I was thinking the actuator would be great for dumping the snow off!

So, now I'm back to thinking about clearing out the dish and putting a shed on that land. A shed with a strong roof..
Maybe something like this, but without the greenhouse parts.
http://www.handyhome.com/images/solarshed.jpg
A longer version maybe.?. With a neat row of PV panels up near the peak.?. Out of reach.

Found this today.. Storage Sheds - Lancaster County Barns: Green Solar Sheds
It comes with the PV hardware!!
http://www.lancasterbarns.com/acatal...-sheds-399.jpg

Hey Gary, sweet set-up!