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Get an extra few inches incase I can't reach my microinverter. MC4 extensions it is then!

Is that middle junction box swappable with one of the other junction boxes? I see it has some thing that resembles tabs but I don’t wanna go prying at it if they’re not made to be swappable. I’d hate to tear up a brand, new soap, panel and wreck the thing. I read the instruction manual for...

I'm connecting EMT into the plastic junction boxes and my understanding is I need to use grounding bushings because the box is plastic and the EMT needs to be grounded. Problem is I don't have enough neck on the Raintight connector to screw the bond bushing on. If I take off the lock nut then...

This will be AC. It’s the 10awg wire from micro inverters to the 10awg thwn-2. What do you think of these butt connectors. They’re cheap enough and UL listed...

Yea it's for 10awg AC connections. Sounds Like I'm just overthinking it then. I'll stick with wire nuts. Ha, yea I was seeing a good deal of those which got me wondering if I needed to use terminal blocks.

I've got a microinverter setup I'm installing. It has two 30 amp branches. For splicing in j-boxes are terminal blocks on DIN rails the way to go? Any code requirements for the splicing method to keep in mind?

What racking hardware did you use? Iron Ridge says only one grounding lug per subarray is required (and may not be required at all w/ enphase). So I could basically put a ground lug near the j-box and run the #6 from the lug into the j-box. Seems like that would look pretty goofy but would...

Thanks for the detailed info. This was very helpful. I was losing my mind with all the stuff I was reading on GEC which I see is now outdated with microinverter installs.

I've been doing a lot of reading and have realized there are different types of grounding requirements and I may be getting stuff mixed up. Is there a "standard" method for grounding a rooftop array with microinverters (hoymiles HMS-1600-4T) that have a ground wire in the trunk cable ? My...

Another way of putting my question is: What conduit bodies can I use with EMT in wet locations? I think I found one here that meets the requirements. My plan is to use EMT conduit. The boxes, connections, fittings needs to be listed for wet areas Per 314.15 I was having trouble finding...

I’m shopping around for my 3/4” EMT conduit parts and could use some help sorting out what I can and can’t use for conduit bodies. My inspector wants the fittings to be rain tight. It seems like all the threaded conduit bodies are rigid. Can I use those with EMT tubing and RT fittings or are...

This install will be with microinverters and SnapNRack ur-40 rails. Looking at the SnapNrack install manual it appears I'd run #6 copper to connect the rails. then the grounding wire from the microinverters would be the connection to the grounding rod. Am I reading this correctly? If that's...

Correct. It's to ground the array and related racking hardware and then run to the service panel grounding which ultimately runs to the grounding rod.

I have plans with 3 different arrays on 3 separated branches. Grid tied with microinverters. For grounding the racks I'm planning to use #6 bare copper and then transition to thwn-2 in junction boxes into conduit. I'd need to do a few transitions, something like this...

I have 3 circuit branches and solar panels on 4 different roof sections. I'm trying to plan out the details of the junction boxes, conduit runs, and wire transitions and could use some help! Attached are a few images showing what I was initially thinking with the conduit runs. The junction...

Second hand they seem more reasonable $300 - $400. If they save me a ton of time then buying second hand and re-selling when I finish would be worth it. I‘ve got 3 roof sections. Two of those roofs are closed, no attic access.

Anyone have a scanner they could recommend for use on an asphalt roof to locate rafters? How accurate are the Bosch D-Tect series, the Hilti PS 38, or other scanners on a single layer asphalt roof?

I have a roof plan with Hoymiles microinverters and I was planning to have two arrays on separate wiring. Each would need a 30 amp breaker. I'm having a little trouble figuring out the combiner box. For permitting, do I need to have a UL listed box specifically for PV systems? When I'm...

What was your experience with Unirac? Was it a service you paid for or was it part of an equipment purchase package.

Ugh yea. I need to see if they have a new copy.

Just got off the phone with the permit office. I had a hell of a time understanding the guy through his accent but if I understood correctly he basically told me to ensure my plans: showed the spacing and size of my rafters (e.g. 24 O.C. 2x12), a copy of the tables, and a note on the plans...

Does anyone have experience submitting plans using the rack manufacturer's engineer letter? I submitted my building plans with the snapNrack letter and got it rejected with a comment saying all building plans are "missing seal and signature by professional engineer." I didn't include the span...

I had a nice conversation with a potential inspector on my project however we did come across one stumbling block. He was calculating the 120% rule based on my bus bar rating regardless of my main breaker size. My understanding is the code is pretty straight forward “Bus or Conductor Rating...

Still available?

Multiply your maximum output amps by 125% and round up. So for example if you have 11 IQ7's on one branch and each microinverter output is 1.45 then it would go like this: 11x1.45a= 15.95a 15.95a x 1.25 = 19.9375a So you'd need a 20 amp breaker for that circuit. The manufacturer data sheets...

Partial shading issue at the install site. That’s the primary, if not entire, reason. I haven’t really looked at a string inverter w/ optimizers. This stepped approach w/ AHJ is a good idea. I like to have the worst case scenario in mind before I start, to try to calculate total costs and just...

Hm. So something like this with the 2 breakers and going to a disconnect. Are there products that simplify this so I don’t need to do two boxes? If the breaker box is outside and accessible that may be considered the disconnect. I guess I’d need to check with my POCO / AHJ.

As I’m looking at disconnects I’m realizing I’ll probably need to combine the branches before I get to the disconnect. I have two branches each need to be on its own circuit. All the combiner boxes I’m coming across seem to be made for DC. How does the Hoymiles disconnect work for the...

Aaand I got way better pricing shopping around online with a materials list. Cost for SnapNrack is now looking more like $2k or less for all the rack, mounts, and clips.

I think my POCO interconnection agreement does require a disconnect outside. With my AHJ I think the microinverters cover the rapid shutdown requirement but I'll check back with them. I mainly wanted to make sure there wasn't an additional breaker box that was needed for safety or function...

For running wire from the microinverters to the backfeed breaker can I just run straight to the backfeed breaker? For permitting purposes I don't need a rapid shut down, the microinverters cover it. For functional purposes can I just run all my wires to the needed junction boxes, into the...

Yea I'm gonna stick with the stuff that will save me permitting headaches or the need to hire an engineer. The cost savings would get burned up real fast if I ran into trouble. I used the Unirac and Ironridge builders. The PE stamped letters are great. My county will issue a builders permit...

These are interesting. So you were able to use these with your snow and wind load requirements? With your project did you need a structural engineer stamp?

Thanks PVGirl this is a treasure trove of information! The PE stamp is one of the hurdles I'm sorting out right now. I've looked at IronRidge and their layout tool so far. Are there some tools from other manufacturers and design services that can get an engineer stamp that you recommend...

I'd love to get some feedback on my current electrical planning & permit diagram. Plans are for (30) 400w solar panels with (15) AP Power DS-3 microinverters. A 30 amp breaker can take up to 9 DS-3 micro inverters. I'd derate the main breaker to 175 and putting in (2) 30 amp breakers. Do I...