DIY solar/worth the cost? - Page 7

Roostre · 10-22-16, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

With hydraulic fracturing and the constant threat of useful idiots ramming a fracking ban through, the fracking for gas and US gas reserves will continue to increase even when it makes no economic sense to continue fracking in the short term.
The price of natural gas is going to remain low for the forseeable future.

I'm on the other side of that bet I guess. Historically low gas prices can't/won't go on forever. Once the nail is driven through coal's head there is no reason gas won't get more expensive. Most of the new generating capacity coming online is gas. Old plants are being shut down daily because they cannot pass emissions requirements that were cleverly written to ensure that only natural gas can pass the tests.

Fracking has become a political football and when the next round of anti-fracking laws go into effect it may kick off a new round of energy price inflation. Power companies will have to pass on the higher costs to their customers. As gas goes, so goes electric... my opinion is that the general pressure will be up, even as renewables help to lighten daytime loads.

Roostre · 10-23-16, 10:36 AM

We drive past this array often. This guy probably sells more solar than any radio or tv ad could.

Roostre · 10-23-16, 10:43 AM

where2 · 10-23-16, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roostre

We drive past this array often. This guy probably sells more solar than any radio or tv ad could.

My PV array is on the rear side of my house on the second story roof. I'm fairly certain most people up and down my street have no idea my array exists. A few in my community have them on the roof on the front side of the house due to existing home orientation on the lot. I do not begrudge those residents the opportunity to have solar simply because it cannot be hidden, nor do I think it detracts from home values around installations in view.

Roostre · 10-28-16, 02:33 PM

Talked to the building department about permitting. Turns out I need a letter from a structural engineer to proceed in addition to about $400 in fees. Found a local guy that specializes in solar stuff and he did his site visit today. He says he will have the package to the city by next Wednesday.

The power company had a truck on site yesterday and I presume they were doing their evaluation of my meter/panel and the support infrastructure. I'm pleasantly surprised as I just turned my application in 6 days prior.

My Spider Rax Black Widow mounts have arrived. The shipping company called and arranged to drop off the panels, power optimizers, and inverter on Monday.

So real progress!

pinballlooking · 10-28-16, 02:44 PM

It is sure different in other parts of the country. Here they do not even inspect the solar array.
I just got a permit for a breaker added to my panel in my barn/garage. (I live in a small rural area so laws are not the same as bigger places.)
I think it was $25 and I paid for it with my aluminum can recycling.

Sounds like things are moving alone nicely.

Roostre · 10-28-16, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinballlooking

It is sure different in other parts of the country. Here they do not even inspect the solar array.
I just got a permit for a breaker added to my panel in my barn/garage. (I live in a small rural area so laws are not the same as bigger places.)
I think it was $25 and I paid for it with my aluminum can recycling.

Sounds like things are moving alone nicely.

Rural areas surely have more degrees of freedom. Most of the time when you ask "why" it is because somebody in the past did a shoddy install that had a negative consequence to the neighbors. So "they oughta be a law" group-think gets invoked.

Seems like the more tightly you pack people into a small area , the more likely that they will try to exert control over each other instead of minding their own business!

pinballlooking · 10-28-16, 04:05 PM

Our inspectors have a time each day where you can call them and run stuff by them. I called my inspector a few times and ran the system by him and he would assist me on code interpretations. He did want me to use a larger ground wire than code required. I just did it because he was so nice and I am sure it is safer anyway.

stevehull · 10-28-16, 04:24 PM

Pinball,

I like to use AWG 4 stranded copper (typically 7 strands of AWG 16) with no splices connected at the ground to two 10 foot deep copper clad ground rods ~ 4 feet apart.

Did your inspector recommend something similar? Or are you talking of the ground wire that goes to the inverters . . . .

I also like to put an RF "choke on each 220 line coming off the roof array. This is ten turns or so of the wire with a ~ 6 inch diameter held together by 3-4 plastic ties.

When lightening hits the array, the pulse tries to get to ground - or rather WILL get to ground. The "choke" impedes this impulse on the AC circuit and the surge finds another way - down the non spliced stranded copper wire. The key to to make sure the mhos (inverse of ohms) of the ground wire are way more than through the L1 and L2.

No, it is not code (it's better), but lightening can make a day REALLY bad!

Steve

pinballlooking · 10-28-16, 04:39 PM

He had me use #6 bare to all rails and micro inverters with no splices. #8 bare copper was code but it was not a big deal to use #6.

10-23-16, 10:36 AM	#62
Roostre EcoLearner Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Rocky Mtns Posts: 113 Thanks: 107 Thanked 26 Times in 19 Posts	A local ground mount array that I find impressive... We drive past this array often. This guy probably sells more solar than any radio or tv ad could.

10-23-16, 10:43 AM	#63
Roostre EcoLearner Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Rocky Mtns Posts: 113 Thanks: 107 Thanked 26 Times in 19 Posts	Solar Edge Design Tool Screenshot

10-28-16, 02:33 PM	#65
Roostre EcoLearner Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Rocky Mtns Posts: 113 Thanks: 107 Thanked 26 Times in 19 Posts	Progress.. Talked to the building department about permitting. Turns out I need a letter from a structural engineer to proceed in addition to about $400 in fees. Found a local guy that specializes in solar stuff and he did his site visit today. He says he will have the package to the city by next Wednesday. The power company had a truck on site yesterday and I presume they were doing their evaluation of my meter/panel and the support infrastructure. I'm pleasantly surprised as I just turned my application in 6 days prior. My Spider Rax Black Widow mounts have arrived. The shipping company called and arranged to drop off the panels, power optimizers, and inverter on Monday. So real progress!

10-28-16, 02:44 PM	#66
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	It is sure different in other parts of the country. Here they do not even inspect the solar array. I just got a permit for a breaker added to my panel in my barn/garage. (I live in a small rural area so laws are not the same as bigger places.) I think it was $25 and I paid for it with my aluminum can recycling. Sounds like things are moving alone nicely. __________________ Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Solar Install 12.5 Kwh- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mini Split installs - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. EV Chevy Volt - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by pinballlooking; 10-28-16 at 03:39 PM..

10-28-16, 04:05 PM	#68
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	Our inspectors have a time each day where you can call them and run stuff by them. I called my inspector a few times and ran the system by him and he would assist me on code interpretations. He did want me to use a larger ground wire than code required. I just did it because he was so nice and I am sure it is safer anyway. __________________ Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Solar Install 12.5 Kwh- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mini Split installs - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. EV Chevy Volt - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-28-16, 04:24 PM	#69
stevehull Steve Hull Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: hilly, tree covered Arcadia, OK USA Posts: 826 Thanks: 241 Thanked 165 Times in 123 Posts	Pinball, I like to use AWG 4 stranded copper (typically 7 strands of AWG 16) with no splices connected at the ground to two 10 foot deep copper clad ground rods ~ 4 feet apart. Did your inspector recommend something similar? Or are you talking of the ground wire that goes to the inverters . . . . I also like to put an RF "choke on each 220 line coming off the roof array. This is ten turns or so of the wire with a ~ 6 inch diameter held together by 3-4 plastic ties. When lightening hits the array, the pulse tries to get to ground - or rather WILL get to ground. The "choke" impedes this impulse on the AC circuit and the surge finds another way - down the non spliced stranded copper wire. The key to to make sure the mhos (inverse of ohms) of the ground wire are way more than through the L1 and L2. No, it is not code (it's better), but lightening can make a day REALLY bad! Steve __________________ consulting on geothermal heating/cooling & rational energy use since 1990 Last edited by stevehull; 10-28-16 at 04:27 PM.. Reason: speling and clarity

10-28-16, 04:39 PM	#70
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	He had me use #6 bare to all rails and micro inverters with no splices. #8 bare copper was code but it was not a big deal to use #6. __________________ Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Solar Install 12.5 Kwh- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mini Split installs - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. EV Chevy Volt - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.