Installing PV (solar panels) on my house.

[five.five-six]

I had been considering it for years and my wife has been getting quotes. On the one hand it’s a 2 story house with tile roof 4.5:12 pitch which iw workable but not my happy place so having someone do it is appealing.... on the other hand I’m a licensed C-10 electrical contractor with over 30 years experience and I know the materials are about 1/2 he price of the quotes we are getting... but the engineering and paperwork for net metering and permitting are pretty intimidating. Well, I decided to do it about 2 months ago. I have been reading and took a coupple classes and found an engineering firm to do my drawings, structural and single line diagram. Just got those documents 2 days ago and began my permit application today. Hopefully I can have my authorization to operate within a few months.

 

[ElusivePeon]

How much do you think you'll end up paying, per watt, once it's all said and done?

I have a quote for LG 365 panels + Enphase MicroInverters for $2.82/watt. Seems to be a good deal from looking at other companies; curious to see how much better you do installing them yourself.

 

[five.five-six]

How much do you think you'll end up paying, per watt, once it's all said and done?

I have a quote for LG 365 panels + Enphase MicroInverters for $2.82/watt. Seems to be a good deal from looking at other companies; curious to see how much better you do installing them yourself.

Funny, I didn't get a notification that you posted. I think I will end up doing a substantially better job at a better price.

I'm at about $2.50/watt with solar edge inverters and optomizers on a tile roof tax and labor included.


I think you would find the quality of work when they guy that owns the business and the reputation and warranty is on the roof will far exceed what you get from some guys slamming panles paid piecework.

This showed up on Tuesday.

First step is to install the hooks/posts to mount the rails on.

First I remove enough tiles to properly flash the mounts.

Then mount the base, attach the hook, install the flashing.

After that I install new 30# felt over the existing underlayment.

Once that is done I notch the tiles so the will fit over/under the hooks and replace the tiles.

Here is what I'm doing tomorrow.

 

[Theaalex]

Great job so far, I'll be keeping a close eye on your progress as we are very interested in solar as well.

How are your securing yourself on the roof as you are working on top of it? Be safe!

 

[five.five-six]

Great job so far, I'll be keeping a close eye on your progress as we are very interested in solar as well.

How are your securing yourself on the roof as you are working on top of it? Be safe!

I secure myself to the roof with my cat-like reflexes.

J/K I use standard OSHA approved fall arrest PPE (harness and lanyard)


It’s actually a lot more work than I had expected. Next system I do I will pay more attention to reducing labor in the design.

 

[five.five-six]

Once all the supports are installed, the rails and modules go up really quickly though it is a 2 man job to install the panels. I’m doing this work in the evenings and weekends and with the heat, I really only have about 2 hrs in the evenings and 4-5 hrs in the mornings on weekends.

Wednesday, got the last support installed

Thursday installed 1/2 the rails and optimizers (roof wiring)

Friday installed the other 1/2 of the rails and optimizers

Saturday lifted the 26 modules (panels) on to the roof and installed 13 of them

Sunday, installed the other 13 modules and unboxed the inverter


My 9-year old made an unboxing video of the inverter

 

[five.five-six]

Here is our latest unboxing video. Thanks for all the likes on the first one. They made my son’s day