Installation Complete

After mounting the solar panels, hooking up the wiring and configuring the enphase solar power monitor on the network, I threw the switch and electricity began to flow.  Each solar panel reports it's production numbers onto the internet for viewing with a web browser.  Data is stored on a website for viewing and reporting.

Installed and generating Power!!!

MicroInverters

Under each 300 watt solar panel is a microinverter.   This box accepts the 36Volt DC leads from the panel and converts it to 240 volts AC for use in the house.  Waterproof connectors are used in both the 36 volt panel attachment and the cabling to microinverter 240 volt AC attachment.

One Microinverter ready for a panel over the top

First two panels mounted and plugged into microinverters

Panels bolted to rails with stainless clamps

Wiring

Once the panels were moved to a temporary location on the roof, it came time for wiring using the enphase microinverter cabling system.

The cabling terminates in a waterproof PVC junction box which is attached to waterproof conduit

Waterproof conduit goes to the master disconnect switch

Master disconnect with Midnight Solar surge supressor

Raising Solar Panels

After considering various schemes I decided to hoist the panels up the ladder using a come along.  The come along was fastened to a roof rafter by drilling a hole in the siding and passing a nylon rope through from the outside.

First panel attached to the cable ready for hoisting

The panel is pretty stable at the top of the ladder

A 2x4 nailed to the roof edge serves as a guide to easily slide the panel over the edge

The Renogy 300 watt panels arrived by truck from California.

Delivery of Renogy Solar Panels

The Panels came on a pallette which the driver pulled up the driveway with a hand truck.

Panels stacked in the garage

After unboxing the panels and storing them in the garage, the next job is to figure out how to move them to the roof.  Each panel is 77 inches long, 39 inches wide and weighs 51 pounds.  They are glass with an aluminum frame so care must be exercised in order to not damage them.

Solar Panels

I have been looking at panels, specifications and possible mounting locations for a solar panel installation for over a year.  Last week on July 23 I finally ordered 4 panels from Renogy Solar of 300 watts output each.  I also ordered 4 enphase microinverters, enphase cabling and a mounting rail system from various eBay vendors.  

I went on the roof early at 8 AM before the sun heat up the asphalt which would make it too hot to work with.

First stage was to mount the railing feet under the  asphalt shingles.

Mounting Feet with Mounting Rail Attached

The Mounting feet are screwed into a roof rafter and sealed with silicon sealer. The rails are mounted to the feet with stainlss steel hardware.

Completed Rails Mounted to the Mounting Feet