Earth Sky Stars » grid-tie http://earthskystars.net/blog blog for earthskystars Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:35:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 My solar power hits a snag — the electrical inspector! http://earthskystars.net/blog/2009/01/18/my-solar-power-hits-a-snag-the-electrical-inspector/ http://earthskystars.net/blog/2009/01/18/my-solar-power-hits-a-snag-the-electrical-inspector/#comments Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:51:49 +0000 Bill Clugston http://earthskystars.net/blog/?p=103 Well my solar power setup looked all ready to go until the electrical inspector inspected the system. Mary Ness, of the Washington State Dept. of Labor and Industries, cited two complaints, one was arguable either way, the second I found confusing. Apparently Dave Cozine has worked with inspectors that allowed photographs in lieu of climbing the roof  to inspect connections. Mary does not, and wanted the panels removed so she could inspect the Enphase quick-disconnects. I think we’ve resolved this issue, but we’ll see Monday when the inspector comes again.

The lesson I take away from this is have your installer call the inspector before the install begins and ask what they want to see. Dave, who has a spotless record and excellent references, has worked with 47 different inspectors with few snags. But there are no standards between inspectors. There probably should be, but L&I hasn’t set any in place.

]]> http://earthskystars.net/blog/2009/01/18/my-solar-power-hits-a-snag-the-electrical-inspector/feed/ 0 Sanyo solar modules arrive! http://earthskystars.net/blog/2009/01/06/sanyo-solar-modules-arrive/ http://earthskystars.net/blog/2009/01/06/sanyo-solar-modules-arrive/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:16:25 +0000 Bill Clugston http://earthskystars.net/blog/?p=83 The photo-voltaic (solar) power system is now sitting in my garage! Hopefully, when the weather breaks on Thursday, Dave Cozine and crew can get them installed. Here’s a photo of the modules.

Sanyo 200 watt modules arrive

Sanyo 200 watt modules arrive

For each of the 10 modules (200 watt x 10 = 2,000 watts) there is an Enphase grid-tie inverter. Unlike most systems where there is a single, central inverter, the Enphase converts 32vdc to 240vac at the solar panel. If you lose an inverter you only lose the output from one module. Here’s a photo.

Photograph of Enphase grid-tie power inverter

Photograph of Enphase grid-tie power inverter

]]> http://earthskystars.net/blog/2009/01/06/sanyo-solar-modules-arrive/feed/ 0 PV (Photo-Voltaic) System install — roof completed http://earthskystars.net/blog/2008/11/06/pv-photo-voltaic-system-install-roof-completed/ http://earthskystars.net/blog/2008/11/06/pv-photo-voltaic-system-install-roof-completed/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:59:18 +0000 Bill Clugston http://earthskystars.net/blog/?p=41 Well the old roof is history and the new roof is installed — clearing the way for solar modules. Jeremy and Sean, of Puget Sound Solar, came by to do the site assessment. They cranked out a report with their site assessment tool (a Compaq handheld hooked to a fish-eye lens). Dave Cosine from Brothers Electric came by later to look things over. Both have sent estimates as of 11/05/2008. Looks like 2kw will run us around $17k. Worth it if the solar array slows Global Climate change!

The next step is getting approval from the Homeowner’s Association. Stay tuned.

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