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Utility solar manager sent the solar inspector out to see what I had. Said the existing CB disconnect, next to meter, was OK but a second needed at the solar building and grid tied would be approved pending final inspection.. He did pull the meter and confirmed three lugs, one going directly...

Next door neighbor has what I want, he claims electric bills have only the meter charge (now $27) for the last six years and shows zero grid consumption. He doesn't remember panel watts but looks like four strings of 12 panels. His inverters are two Sunny Boy SMA 6.0s, I want today's...

No, counted total both sides. So a double 100a counts 100 for each side? Total of 11 doubles out of 16 breakers. Counting again, left side 285a, right side 340a. Left dbl 50, dbl 20, 5 single 15s Right dbl 30, dbl 20, 6 single 20s, dbl 100

Older panels have ~50 Voc and Isc ~11 amps. Newer panels reverse that with ~38 Voc and 13+ Isc. Bluesun 415 has a 14.02 Isc. Will the new Growatt with a MPPT Isc limit of 27 amps be able to manage two 14a strings?

I want to add 14K of panels and inverter to a 50'x60' metal building that is 150' from the utility meter. Original owners started with an apartment in the building so it has a small 125 amp CB panel and under ground power line. House was added ten years later, closer to the street, and the...

Discussing grid tied inverters and AC amps out, Hedges wrote about the 120% rule and breaker choices. Liking the Growatt 11.4 grid tied, 48 amps AC out means an existing 200a breaker needs to be changed. My meter has three lugs wired to three 200a panels. One 200a panel connects to a 100a sub...

400 amps in with each 200 amp house panel getting its own feed from the meter. The third feed comes off of the meter, and not house panels, and went to out buildings through a 100 amp panel. That was changed to 200 amps for the addition we added. So at least 400 and maybe 600 amps. No idea...

On May 14 James from Signature wrote on EG4 18 string size and the newer, higher amp, M10 panels. "Canadian solar 540W m10 This is a 13Amp panel, so 1x string on the small inputs and 2x on the large (26A vs 25 is safely under the 1.2 x clipping recommendations) That leaves us with...

I have been searching NEC underground and most links discuss depth, does current code allow wire rated for direct burial to be used that way? While lots of places to spend the conduit $$, my main concern is conduit amperage derating and required increase in wire size and cost. 240v/200amp...

MY electric co-op has a line diagram with the following: A Visible Lockable Labeled AC Disconnect (VLLD) must be located between the Company Meter and all member owned electrical equipment including all sources of Distributed Generation. The VLLD must have a fuse or breaker with an external...

Been awhile so I pulled the 100 amp panel's breaker cover and found the incoming mains are 4awg copper and not aluminum. Old panel label says 100a but a 125 main was installed before I got here. 12 breaker slots, some filled with 1/2 breakers, other with double wires - this panel is going...

Thank you for the replies. Hopefully to clarify Hedges - no mention of a grid feed limit until Tariffs where under 50kW get credited against grid input. Net zero on a monthly bill. Next tariff level is greater than 50kW but less than 10MW. How does a 225a panel with a 200a main breaker allow...

Going through the same comparisons, Bluesun 460s 'older' style, ~10 lbs heavier, 40.87" wide, has higher Voc with lower Isc than newer M10 44.7" width. So older better for inverter string amp limits, Voc 50.8v and Isc 11.5. M10 Talesun 400's Voc 37v and Isc 13.78 puts a S-A 26 amp self limiter...

When we did the addition for a mother in law apartment the County asked for a septic engineer's report that the current system could handle an additional bathroom. It could but, before we drain line covered, a County septic person came out, checked the drain connection for proper slope, and...

Previously robbob suggested another look at the 18kPV manual wiring. It still shows CTs used in all five diagrams. Signature has said the same. It was a good idea so I pulled up the S-A 15 manual and in section 4: Grid-Tie and No Battery Install Tips (Passthrough mode) 1. Check the “🗹 No...

As suggested I looked at Growatt and liked them. Does the MPPT 16.9 amp short circuit limit allow one, or two, strings of Isc 13.8 amp panels? I know the four MPPs can have two strings each whether max amps is for each or both isn't clear to me. Tried SS but they didn't understand the...

To keep life interesting ... I have settled on wanting a 14K install and asked for a quote. They came back with 48 Hyundai 305s yielding 14.64kW, total $37K and change, $14.6k for 'install', plus the usual mounts, wiring, switches and stuff. Don't know if install charge is for just panels or...

Just went through Ebay and QOM2s, 125-225 amps, can be had for ~$80 and up. Prices overlap. Getting the hom3060L225PGCVP panel for the 100 amp line as it will take 200a if I need a line upgrade. Can't decide between QOM2s 125, 150, or 225. 225 for future needs and never need to change, 150...

Amazon has 250 ft of cat6 for $30-$45 including direct burial. Thanks for the adjacent electrical caution, planning on upgrading the 100a panel to 200a by trenching and burying heavier wire. Thought to run the Cat6 in the same trench, what spacing should it have?

Ask S-A the impact of nine. They allow 5% over the published 3250/string limit or 3412W. I don't know if the 9 string's extra 143W will be clipped or if it can cause future damage. Agree with higher voltage for the long run but would add four more panels so the third MPPT has a full string...

Signature used to have a list of installers, perhaps they have a current one. Roof vs ground mount? I have a metal out building and not messing with the house's composite shingles. Metal roof mounts for ~34 panels $1200-$1400. Those with ground mounts can better estimate that cost. Roof...

I don't claim to fully understand the 120% rule but one definition referred to the main service panel capacity. I appear to have three main service panels each connected directly to the meter. Two wired through the back of the meter panel, through the exterior brick, and into the back of two...

I have the Square D Q22200NRB next to and fed from the meter. Lots of confusion as the utility specifies external handle, non modular which I thought meant blade type. After several emails they sent their solar guy out to review what I had. He said the 222 met code and I just needed a second...

I would love to drive over to Sulphur Springs and load the trailer but the boss says I am too old to run around roof 20' off the ground. I think she is really worried about cleaning out the shop if I take a dive :). Got a few more numbers to call but this last estimate was from the best...

NNC has wire on sale. I need a 1/0 to 3/0 underground run and debating how much extra to order. Would I use this size anywhere else - battery connection/rack?

Staying with the 120% rule. Counted breakers in the two room addition's 200a main panel and they total 585 amps. That includes the double 100a feeding the shop panel and a double 30a dryer breaker but no dryer.

Utility wants a disconnect switch, no problem except my meter has three outputs. OK, find a 400 amp disconnect panel big enough to add dual three lugs out. Just talked with an electrician and he said a transfer switch is also needed to switch from grid to inverter source. With the grid...

Started planning hybrid over a year ago with batteries in the future . Sol-Ark was a simpler option than Schneider and had a string planning calculator. EG4 was attractive but either cost more than $5K. The utility's solar inspector approving grid tied but hybrid requiring changes, later...

And the points go to teal95. Actually paused when using SR but thought talking about sun position and morning sun vs afternoon sun ... Many days here start clear and, by noon, cumulus clouds (Cu's) start showing up, grow with the afternoon heat, and are gone by sundown. If the pvwatts...

When the house had its composite shingles replaced they used a ladder, a Harbor Freight winch, and a home made wood frame to haul bundles up the nine ft side. While my metal building has 15 ft sides, the peak is 18 ft so easy to work on once panels are up. Definitely liking the 50 lb panels...