My build thread

[Checkingout]

Hey Tim, "23.7kw roof mounted solar so far"(?) - why do you need so much power?
And 2) did you not prefer distancing them for airflow/cooling?
And 3) Do you have enough solar-only power year-round, day and night?
(I have only enough day and night during summer, and enough day-only during winter IF sun)

 

[timselectric]

Hey Tim, "23.7kw roof mounted solar so far"(?) - why do you need so much power?

Fully electric property. And planning for 2 EV's.
I'm surrounded by tall trees.

And 2) did you not prefer distancing them for airflow/cooling?

They get plenty of air flow. 3" gap from roof.

And 3) Do you have enough solar-only power year-round, day and night?

Summer, yes.
Winter, not yet.

(I have only enough day and night during summer, and enough day-only during winter IF sun)

I can make it through about 3 days of bad weather, Currently.

 

[VacaMooAirport]

Update
Finally finished the solar on the house roof.
And redone the first part, on the other side. View attachment 117394View attachment 117395

If you have to service one panel in the middle, can you walk on top of them to get to it or how do you do that? Won't the glass break?

 

[shadowmaker]

If you have to service one panel in the middle, can you walk on top of them to get to it or how do you do that? Won't the glass break?

I don't recommend it though.

 

[wattmatters]

If you have to service one panel in the middle

What service will it need?

 

[timselectric]

If you have to service one panel in the middle, can you walk on top of them to get to it or how do you do that? Won't the glass break?

Yes, I walk on them.
Usually stay on the frames.

 

[OffGridForGood]

What service will it need?

Not out of the question that one could be hit by a baseball from the neighbour's children, or a tree branch in a wind storm, or hail stones? Life happens sometimes!

 

[littleharbor2]

Not out of the question that one could be hit by a baseball from the neighbour's children, or a tree branch in a wind storm, or hail stones? Life happens sometimes!

Microinverter issue.

 

[OffGridForGood]

Microinverter issue.

I don't believe Tim is a micro-inverter supporter...me either!

 

[littleharbor2]

I don't believe Tim is a micro-inverter supporter...me either!

Comment was for all readers

 

[Lt.Dan]

I mean even most people on this forum are probably against microinverters as well.

All my friends that get solar before they talk to me about it, always get sold on Microinverters, and they always end up rebuilding their system

 

[timselectric]

I don't believe Tim is a micro-inverter supporter...me either!

I do have 17 (got a good deal) in a box somewhere.
And they will be installed on the garage.
But don't tell anyone. I have a reputation to keep up. lol

 

[robbob2112]

It kinda sounds like you are saying that friends don't let friends use microinverters.

 

[OffGridForGood]

Comment was for all readers

This is a good comment - if the PV panels are tight togther, then microinverters would be an issue to access.

 

[robbob2112]

So, under what circumstances would you use microinverters? Asking for a friend.

 

[wattmatters]

So, under what circumstances would you use microinverters? Asking for a friend.

Grid tied rooftop PV where there is a roof design unsuitable for constructing viable strings.

 

[robbob2112]

Grid tied rooftop PV where there is a roof design unsuitable for constructing viable strings.

Can you expand on that? What is a viable string.

 

[timselectric]

So, under what circumstances would you use microinverters? Asking for a friend.

If you already had a grid-tied system with micro inverters. And wanted to upgrade to a system with battery backup. You could choose a system that is capable of AC coupling. And still be able to utilize them.

 

[Danke]

Can you expand on that? What is a viable string.

All the same voltage at the same time. I.e. no. of panels, with shading, facing the same direction and angle/tilt.

 

[wattmatters]

Can you expand on that? What is a viable string.

GT string inverter MPPTs have a minimum operating voltage. If you have a roof facet which can fit some but not enough panels to generate sufficient voltage for the MPPT, then that roof space is not suitable to be used by a string inverter unless there is another section of roof with the same orientation onto which more panels can be installed.