"DIY Grid Tied Solar Installation Guide" Do you want to learn grid tied solar installation, do you want to learn the step by step guide of how to install a grid tied solar system. Are you searching for diy grid tied solar installation guide, grid tied solar installation, diy grid tied solar system, diy grid tie solar power system or diy grid tie solar. If yes, Infoguide Ng has brought a complete step by step guide on diy grid tied solar installation. This article document the do-it-yourself installation of a complete, grid-tied solar power system. The project emphasizes the financial savings and provides detailed technical instructions, starting with finding roof trusses and ensuring proper waterproofing via sealant and flashing before installing the durable solar panels. Key components include the Snap-N-Rack rail system and micro inverters, which convert DC power to AC directly at the panels, offering improved safety and reliability even if one panel is shaded. The wiring system, composed of trunk cables and junction boxes, is secured and grounded before connecting to the main electrical panel via a mandatory safety shut-off or knife blade switch. Ultimately, this article confirms the system operational and is expected to pay off the investment in under nine years, while an accompanying app tracks the panels’ real-time power generation and efficiency per module.
This article details the process of installing a do-it-yourself (DIY) solar power system, covering preparation, installation techniques, electrical connections, and the resulting benefits of a grid-tied system, based on a personal installation project.
Durability and Cost Effectiveness
Many people mistakenly believe solar panels are fragile, but they are durable enough to walk on, even though they are made of glass. By choosing to install the system personally, the cost was about half the price of hiring an installer. The solar panels are highly durable and are expected to retain 80 percent of their energy-producing ability for the next 30 years, and will continue producing electricity far longer than that. While installing the solar panels oneself offers significant cost savings. Whether installed by a company or done DIY, the system provides a positive impact on the environment and lowers the electricity bill from the moment the panels are connected.
Planning and Preparation.
Before starting the installation, the perimeter of the panels must be laid out on the roof using a lumber cran and a chalk line to visualize where the panels and the underlying rack would be placed.
Attaching the Racking System.
To attach the racking system, it is necessary to locate the trusses beneath the plywood and shingles. The easiest way to find the trusses is by listening to the sound the roof makes when tapped with a hammer, distinguishing between the loose areas and the solid areas. Once a solid area (a stud or truss) is found, lag bolts are drilled down and attached. The resistance felt by the drill bit confirms that a stud was hit. Since all trusses are typically in the same spots, a tape measure can be used to mark subsequent trusses, usually two feet on center. Before the rails are attached, flashing must be put down. Clear sealant is applied in a U-shape around the hole and also put into the pre-drilled hole itself to ensure water is kept out of the roof. Shingles are lifted, the flashing is slid underneath, and then the lag bolt is inserted through the opening and ratcheted down. The flashing works by allowing water to run down the roof without entering the drilled holes. Additionally, each of the lag bolts has a black washer around the top to further assist in sealing the area.
Rails and Micro Inverters.
The system chosen was the Snap and Rack system. This system utilizes adjustable L feet that move up and down, allowing the rail to adjust underneath the panels to keep them level. The rails click into place on top of the L feet, much like a Lego. For a better look, black rails were chosen to be more aesthetic on the roof. The rails can slide forward and backward inside a channel during positioning, and this channel also serves to hide the wires for the micro inverters. Micro inverters are held in place with small metal pieces that clip into the rail. They were chosen because they are easy to install and safer. Micro inverters convert the power from DC to AC right at the panel. A significant benefit of using micro inverters is that if one panel is covered by snow or a shadow, the other panels will continue working, which is not true for all types of inverters.
Wiring the System.
A roof junction box is required to bring the power from the roof into the house. Typically, if attic space is available, a small hole is drilled. In this particular instance, a larger hole was needed to fish the wire through the wall and pull it up through the top, but the roof junction box is sealed up with clear sealant to prevent water intrusion. The trunk cable connects all the micro inverters together and brings the power down to the roof junction box. The trunk cable is laid inside the rail, connections are covered with electrical tape, and the whole assembly is secured with zip ties. The system has two arrays, meaning two trunk cables come into the roof junction box due to the large number of panels installed. On one section of the roof, the rails were laid out differently so panels could be run horizontally to better utilize the space.
Grounding and Exterior Wiring.
A system ground, which is a copper wire, is tied into each rail using spikes and clips. This wire transfers electrical anomalies, such as faulting or lightning, right into the ground, heading down to the junction box. From the exterior roof junction box, the yellow insulated (indoor) wire is connected to exterior wire. This exterior wire runs through conduit (a gray substance) down the side of the house and into the breaker panel. Since the generic trunk cables are usually not cut to length, they must be chopped, and extra plugs removed before connecting the two trunk cables inside the junction box to the insulated yellow wires.
Installing the Panels.
When setting the solar panels, each one has two DC wires on the back that plug into a micro inverter. Each micro inverter can accommodate four panels at a time. The wires are run down the center line of the panel to facilitate easy connection to the micro inverters on the rail. Crucially, none of the wires can be touching the roof. Wires are zip-tied to eyelets at the bottom of the panel or twisted together to keep them off the shingles. Panels are held in place by mid clamps, which clip into the rail and secure a panel on either side. The panels we used are black on black (no silver frames) to enhance aesthetics and blend into the roof. A key feature of the micro inverter system is that it is totally modular, allowing panels to be added or removed later without limiting the system size set up initially. The Snap and Rack system simplifies installation because nearly every fastener is either a Phillips head screw or a half-inch socket. Once the panels are installed, any excess rail length is cut off. End-clamps slide into the channel and are tightened to hold the panel snugly in place. Plastic end caps snap onto the rail ends to maintain a clean appearance.
Electrical Connections and Safety.
The electrical power from the panels on the roof is brought into two exterior boxes, where the power is combined and then sent to the solar disconnect. The solar disconnect is a safety measure that can instantly disconnect all power coming from the solar panels into the house. When working with the electrical components, it is mandatory to follow local codes and the plan set provided. The disconnect mechanism is a knife blade switch; when turned off, internal metal bars knife away and break the connection. In a grid-tied system, the micro inverters turn off once they stop sensing power from the grid, ensuring no power is running through the solar system. The project involves connecting the two strings of power into the breaker box, where each string requires its own 20 amp breaker (black and red wires go into the bottom, and the ground goes to the side). Thicker gauge wire is used to connect the breaker panel to the solar disconnect. Connecting the wires from the safety shut-off to the breaker panel involves working near live power (the grid), and if the installer feels uneasy, they can hire someone for this specific portion. The solar wires are connected to an empty slot in the breaker panel (one to ground, two to the breaker), connecting the solar system to the grid.
Grid-Tied Operation and Financial Returns.
This system is grid-tied, meaning the solar panels require the presence of the grid (power from the city) before they begin supplying power to the house. If the city power goes out, a battery or generator is required to use the solar panels. After installation, a final inspection is required, and the meter must be changed out to read power flowing in both directions. This process took approximately one to two weeks. Energy generated during the day that is not used by the house flows out to the grid. The utility company acts as the system's battery, keeping track of the excess energy, and providing a 90% credit for the energy used back at night (the company takes 10% off). Based on ballpark estimates, and without any government incentives, the panels are expected to pay themselves off in about nine years. With state and federal incentives factored in, the estimated payoff time is reduced to approximately six years. The panels are expected to continue producing power throughout the owner's lifetime and far longer.
System Monitoring.
An application provides real-time information on energy generation, such as 7,671 watts currently being generated, and 843 kilowatt hours generated over the lifespan of the panels. The app allows viewing daily projections, showing how clouds affect production throughout the day. Users can also view production per module to identify which panels might be shaded by trees or the roof. The installation of solar panels is financially rewarding, and the reduction in air pollution and saving the planet are considered "pretty cool too".
The rapid payoff period for solar panels can be viewed like planting a highly efficient tree that starts providing edible fruit within a few years of planting and continues to produce bountiful harvests for decades, providing energy independence long after the initial investment is repaid.
I believe this step by step guide will help to learn DIY Grid Tied Solar Installation.
Here's a video that explain DIY Grid Tied Solar Installation.
