Possibly to help develop perspective and understanding of a Solar Installation, I am sharing some of the details of my System and the Installation. Coupled with an Electric Vehicle, this is an outstanding Investment. Conducive with most Home Improvements, taking the task upon yourself offers significant savings. More importantly, there are various options to retrofit a solar system to your home, some more productive, that are not generally offered through highly advertised Installers.
Let me make it clear, the lowest priced Installer I found quoted a price of $18,000.00 for a Three Kilowatt System. So far, I have acquired the components of a more advanced system, that is easily expandable, more productive, and safer. I have been sitting-on my Panels for slightly over two years. Mainly due to an injury that held me back, shy of a year.
I purchased my Solar Panels through a Distributor I found on Ebay. Then, after some research I decided to use Enphase MicroInverters. A key component to an expandable and more productive system. Each solar panel is wired (Two Wires) to a small inverter which thereby inverts the DC generated Electricity to AC. The installation using this layout is obviously much more intense and timely than wiring all the panels In-Series and installing a costly Large Capacity Inverter that could handle the entire system (3 Kilowatt Inverter). But the flexibility is invaluable. In the future, one can expand the system easily. For example, another two panels and MicroInverters can be wired to the, "Main Feed". The alternative does not offer an easy expansion. An entire new 3.5 Kilowatt Inverter would need to replace the 3 Kilowatt Inverter, or an entire new Branch Circuit added to the Electric Panel of the home, used for a Half Kilowatt Inverter. That would be expensive and timely because an entire second, "Main Feed," would need to be run through Conduit to the additional Panels. This is not practical on many levels.
I acquired the MicroInverters through Amazon for $1,800.00. Ironically, this was less expensive than most large capacity Inverters. Another advantage of the Enphase MicroInverter is that each Panel is independent. Large Capacity Inverters (The Alternative) have a Minimum and Maximum Input. If exceeding the Maximum, "Clipping," occurs. This simply means your panels are generating more than the Inverter can handle and the excess is lost or clipped. On the other side of the spectrum, the Inverter will not start producing when Sunlight is hitting one or two panels. "Low Side," clipping occurs from shading of trees and Sunrise and Sunset. Those factors are eliminated when using MicroInverters. Each panels production is instantly inverted to AC, Independently thereby reducing many factors of clipping.
It was decided to use IronRidge Rails. They offer a valuable Layout tool on their Website. I printed Engineer Stamped Plans for submission to the local Construction Department.
On a personal note, I have a robust and extensive background in Heavy Construction. A job like this is fairly straightforward and simple in my mind. I've laid foundations for skyscrapers, Railroad Tracks for Freight Trains, and even done extensive maintenance on Suspension Bridges. Installing Flashing beneath Shingles and attaching Rails that will support Solar Panels! Childs Play.
To make this more concise, I have submitted the Printed Plans using IronRidge Design Assistant. However, my Local Inspector (Whom I value greatly) has reached-out and failed my Plans. He wants a New Jersey Licensed Engineer to certify my Roof for the Installation. This delay will likely push the Installation to Spring of 2019. Likely a couple hundred dollars and look by a Licensed Structural Engineer. Hopefully this will help a like-minded individual installing their own system. If you're in NJ, it's probably a good idea to have an Engineer Certification by a Locally Licensed Structural Engineer before submitting your Plans!
I am overly excited by the entire investment. The components combined with an Electric Vehicle, the idea of future expansion, and up-front savings have my mind fueled by future expansion and savings for everything from Transportation to Hot Water and Home Energy! I will take photos and share details through my Blog going forward.
