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It is bizarre that the voters that vote in the craziness complain about the craziness they support and created. And when these crazies move into different areas to leave their craziness, they then complain about how conservative their new neighborhood is. Sadly, this is first hand experience...

Wife stir fries most food so do that off peak. Same with washing dishes. Have a hot water heater timer set for off peak. Use wood for heat, locally source wood for free. AC t-stat set at 83* in summer. Use air fryer instead of large oven. Follow the wife around at night turning off the lights...

My PV system with SMA 5kw inverter and 14 Solarever panels was approved and just a couple hours later PGE provided NEM2 PTO. A quick thank you to this forum. And BIG thank you to Hedges and Zanydroid for personally answering questions throughout the process. They made the install much easier...

Burning this morning in Nor Cal. This showed up yesterday afternoon.

Update. The final size is 15 455w panels, 6.82kw with a Sunny Boy 5kw inverter. Their were two extra panels per the SS order and one could be mounted on the end. A few pics including an inverter shade barrier. It is removable by simply pulling it straight up. Larger diameter tubes are set...

2 years later and theirs this: "Growatt 48V 6000T 6kW MPV (250V Solar Input) We no longer support this model due to potential Autotransformer issues feeding back to Utility."

Did solar install last summer in Auburn California, Placer County. CPUC requires solar equipment be on their approved list. If youre hiring some one for design/planning they should be aware of this. https://solarequipment.energy.ca.gov/Home/PVModuleList Take your time buying anything. It may...

Another option, not sure of it was mentioned, are concrete piers, metal standoffs and cross bracing. More work and cost than just sinking posts in concrete or rock. One other consideration is the OP's age. At my age, anything that will last 20+ years has a good chance of out living me. Even if...

Not to start a war but theirs this. Nothing is certain in this world. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Schneider-ElectricTM-Recalls-1-4-Million-Electrical-Panels-Due-to-Thermal-Burn-and-Fire-Hazards?fs=e&s=cl Depends when one installed the QO given the recall... Sold them and it paid fo...

Thanks everyone. It took a combination of science (bubble level, string with clamps) and art (what looks right, visual check on rails being parallel). I can not say it is perfect but can say it is very good. Rails are almost perfectly identical/parallel the entire span, and this is with my...

Thats my neighbors system that was professionally installed. I also could not find any good examples online. He was very kind and let me go on his roof to take pics. I did use a metal junction connecting two strings with conduit. I bent the conduit myself,. It took several hours and it turned...

Yes, bent needle nose plyers are in the video I posted. The guy tried different tools and bent plyers are the ones that work the best.

I uploaded the 3 pages Placer County "Building Permit", last page has solar signoff signature. I think signed page is good. Two hours later PGE sent email stating PTO is good and they are tracking solar generation.

Finished the install and the black rails look good. Used the clear/alu color panel fasteners/clamps to match the panel frames and they look good also. As some one mentioned, no one will notice. Thanks everyone!

Update for anyone that stumbles upon this in the near future. I never spoke with or got a call back from the county bldg dept despite leaving messages nor did I have time make a visit. In fairness to them, this short notice NEM debacle has inundated them both in the office and site...

Got a quote for a 4kw system, facing west, they claimed it will produce 9kw for only $26k. And, they wanted to install it on my unpermitted barn. I asked what happens if the inspector for Final asks about barn permits and engineering calcs for the PV system weight. Their reply, they may not...

All I can say is I am glad I changed mine. The alu bus bars also looked good. The breakers and overall condition did not. And the 1974 permitted install was interesting;)

Please note I did not read this entire thread... For my SMA inverter 5kw-US-41 strings do not have to be the same size or voltage or amperage or orientation... if on separate mppt's./inputs. The panels on each string should be the same though. If paralleling strings refer to others comments. No...

SMA Sunny Boy are quiet, no fan transformerless, for 10k you could to use two. Or, they can be safely over sized. 7.7kw inverter is rated at 12.3Wp. The new 7.7 hybrid 15.4 Wp. They may be hard to get right now and may have to be back ordered.

SMA stores historical data via internal memory or external memory can be added. https://manuals.sma.de/STP50-40/en-US/865676043.html https://my.sma-service.com/s/article/SMA-Inverter-Web-User-Interface-Exporting-Data?language=en_US

Our thinking is very similar. You mentioned one of my concerns and something others have mentioned. The Panels I listed on the NEM 2 app over a month ago may not be available any longer or not at the price point when the application was submitted over a month ago. Once the application is...

Installed many 4x4 pt fence posts in cement on 5 acres that are well over 20 years old and all look very good. The tops show some wear due to sun and rain but nothing structural an inch or two from the tops. I was very close to doing a ground mount and after pricing metal posts/pipes the plan...

Good question. Contacted sources not on this site and read some papers on the subject. After all that research south remains to be the safe choice providing best production yield. Installing some panels south with others ssw or sw was recommended as a good option also. I recently decided to...

Thats my plan. Also thought about making a connecting wire with mc4 connectors and literally wire the VOM in series with the panel leads. My VOM clamp is less accurate then testing amps with the vom cables.

Renvu has a good easy tool also that I have been using a lot for diy install. You can input the actual panel and tool populates the values or simply change the panel dimensions. YOu would have to measure your roof. My roof is all hips like yours and that makes it a bit more challenging if youre...

Installed solar only as an investment. With the energy tax credit it will pay for itself in just a few years at todays utility rates. Given increases are inevitable it will pay for itself sooner. If some one wants to call me wealthy I say - thank you:))) "The top 1% of taxpayers — those who...

Start with a call IronRidge. They are very helpful.

So eye balling the top and bottom rails from the ground to verify the rails are parallel with each other?

Are you saying off grid pv systems in California do not require permits, inspections, expense? Sure, less bull*** but one can argue that PGE is easier to work with then the Govt. That being said, Placer County Bldg Dept has always been very reasonable and easy to work with over the years when...

Self serving bump. Sent pics to SS and waiting to hear back from them. A couple people said dont worry about the frame sealant leaking. The EVA/POE... layers are what keep moisture from ruining the panels. And if possible problems arise check PV+/PV- to frame for voltage leak.