Reply #10: First batch of pics for your amusement - These cover the first two days of work, 4/2 and 4/14/2011

[slackmaster]

400 My south-facing roof before installation began, 4/2/2011.



401, 403, 404 Installation technician uncrating Sharp solar panels.







402 Installed cable clips for grounding wire.



406 Technician locating roof mounts with flashing.



408 Installing aluminum mounting rails.



409, 410 Panels going into place. They each weigh about 47 pounds.





416 Inverter mounted on exterior wall, near 1964 vintage GE 100-Amp distribution panel with modern "smart" meter.



417 Inverter with documentation.



419 Array fully mounted, grounding wire hanging loose. The inverter I bought can handle up to four more of these panels in case I decide I need more power some day.



426 Old distribution panel de-energized, stucco being chipped away, 4/14/2011. Note lack of available breaker slots. I had maxed it out by adding several circuits. Because the service upgrade was needed for the solar project, I'm including that cost in the capital investment eligible for the 30% federal tax credit. We'll see how that flies a year from now. Be sure to consult with your tax accountant before embarking on a project like this.



428 Lineman cutting the second hot wire. There's no turning back now!



430 Technician inside my garage, working old cables loose.



434 Lead installer and technician as seen through gaping hole left by removal of old distribution panel. They are a father-and-son team.



439 New 200-Amp Cutler-Hammer panel in place. The electrical upgrade, per current code, required two 6-foot grounding rods driven into the soil. My old panel was grounded to the cold water pipes via a piece of aluminum wire.



443 Spaghetti. When I did my previous branch circuit upgrades and additions, I was mindful of the need to get a service upgrade some day and left plenty of slack to avoid complications. (I am a master of slack, after all.)

One of the circuits I had added previously was a 220-volt line in EMT conduit for my milling machine. The solar guys had not anticipated that, and didn't have their conduit tools. They managed to connect my old pipe by gently bending it with their bare hands.



449 New service entrance wires in place on new weatherhead - but not so fast! Inspector "Monty" showed up for an initial check, and immediately noticed that installers had used #2 wire here. That would be correct for a 125-Amp installation but not 200. Installers had to go back to the electrical supply place and wait in line for more than an hour to get 2/0 size wire, and new 1-1/2" conduit and fittings to replace existing 1-1/4" pipe which is too small for three pieces of 2/0 wire. Monty made them reconnect the cold water ground from my old service panel, and buy me all new circuit breakers too. BUSTED! Seriously, the inspector added a great deal of value to the project for the few minutes he spent on site. He may have saved my house. Thanks, Monty!

The installers' confusion came from lack of experience with service entrance upgrades. They made a bad assumption - That #2 stranded copper wire would be OK because SDG&E's overhead wires are #2 stranded aluminum. Copper wire has about 50% greater ampacity than aluminum wire of the same gauge. However, SDG&E's drop is in open air. Service entrance wiring resides inside metal conduit, so heat can build up. It's all about the heat. The gentlemen should have consulted a table in their code book, or asked an expert (e.g. the person at the electrical supply store.)



453 Some of the "Alternative" lighting I used for the night I spent with no AC power, 4/14-4/15/2011. There were no standard utility candles to be found in South Park that evening. I had to settle for Mexican-style prayer candles, and the store had only three clear ones so I consented to allow Jesus and the Virgin of Guadalupe to participate in the project. I'm Agnostic. My Catholic girlfriend was amused. Maybe they kept the food in my refrigerator from spoiling. I really don't know. (If I did know, then I'd probably be a Christian or an Atheist.) ;-)



I'll pick up the second and final part later today.