Solar PV Panel Installation
Here is the hardware. It's Stainless steel and aluminum, mostly, along with some galvanized steel.
These are the Enphase D380 Micro-Inverters still in the box.
This is the cable in that will connect the inverters to the AC circuit on the roof.
The 12 SolarWorld PV panels were stacked on the porch till the rack installation was complete.
It's time to start the work on the roof. It will take 2.5 days to install the rack and inverters. The panels will take another half a day.
This is the bofore shot.
I can't tell you how many trips I made up and down this ladder. My corded phone hung out on the roof too. These were some very hot days on the roof. I actually burned my thigh on the roof.
This is the before shot.
Roof shingles have been cut to accommodate the flashing. The standoffs were screwed onto the flanges under the flashing. The L-feet were bolted to the standoffs.
This is the garage roof. It was actually done first.
The extruded aluminum rails are bolted to the L-feet.
Anti-seize is applied liberally to all stainles steel hardware.
Preparing a bolt in the rail slot.
In this heat the anti-seize seemed to get everywhere.
Stainless steel is soft. A torque wrench assures that the rail is bolted securely bot not stripped.
A closer look. It is all plug & play.
(These D380 inverters began failing after a few years. Enphase replaced them all at no charge. Each was replaced with two M190 inverters.)
Plug the AC cables together and tighten the threaded connectors.
The DC connectors snap together with the leads from the panels.
The micro inverters are installed.
There are 2 inverters in each box.
(These D380 inverters began failing after a few years. Enphase replaced them all at no charge. Each was replaced with two M190 inverters.)
Installed inverters on the main roof.
Some of the HS tech crew showed up to help with the panel installation but I didn't have a deep socket. Better luck next time.
This is the junction box on the roof of the garage.
This is a longer view of the junction box on the roof of the garage.
Here the inverters are installed and wired on the main roof.
Molly Harper, a tech crew alumnus and current college student, helped install all the panels. This was a huge effort for just the 2 of us. Thanks so much, Molly.
We would set a panel on a little shelf on the ramp. Then we would climb up on the roof and haul the 50 pound panel up.
The garage is done. Now here is the first panel on the main roof.
The bottom row is almost complete.
Molly holds a panel while I move the ramp.
The temporary block of cardboard helps keep the panel from slipping down the rack while the clamps get bolted on.
Another view of the cardboard block.
We hauled the panels up from the other side of the house for the top row.
Torquing down a clamp.
First panel of the top row is in place.
Oops. I forgot to peel off the inverter barcode stickers that need to be applied to the inventory chart. The chart is sent to Enphase so the tracking system can identify each individual panel. I am hanging on for dear life at the bottom edge of the roof.
Wooo Hooo!!
Molly & Scott and 12 installed panels!
The new digital meter installed by PSNH
The completed 12 panel installation.
This link will let you see the history of the power generated by these panels.