What non automotive projects and repairs are you doing?

[Chuck W]

Will you provide more details for your system and why you chose what you did? I want to add solar panels in the future.
volvolugnut

Nothing elaborate, really.

It's a grid-tied system that I installed myself. We had some funds set aside, so I bought what we could afford at the time.

I bought a "kit" that consisted of the panels, the micro-inverters and cabling, the cabinet, racking and their mounting brackets, etc. The price included plans and such for permitting purposes and kind of installation instructions. They also helped with coordination with the utility interconnection for PTO (Permission to operate)I'm comfortable with this kind of stuff, so it wasn't a really big deal to install. Just rough due to the cramped quarters of our attic. I started the install the first weekend in July and finished it up the last weekend of Aug, working entirely solo.

I needed to get permits (structural and electrical). Where I live, normally only licensed electricians can pull an electrical permit. However, the area has a program that homeowners can pull their own electrical permit if they can pass a short test and and interview with code officials on the project. Again, not a real big issue for me. Things may be different on permitting in your area.

I'm probably going to start with a couple of batteries and charge controller for storage and work from there. That will help lessen the consumption when the panels aren't producing. The utility pays for power sent back into the grid, but at a reduced rate. It will be better to forego a little of that extra returned for less (higher-priced) consumption later.

The system isn't a "sun out-lights on" kind of system (it needs to see power from the grid to allow the system to feed the service panel), but we haven't had much trouble with power-outages here, so emergency back-up is lower on the list, currently.

The 8 panels are east-facing, and the 2 west-facing. If I add more, I have a south-facing section I would like to install them on.

[volvolugnut]

Will you provide more details for your system and why you chose what you did? I want to add solar panels in the future.
volvolugnut

Nothing elaborate, really.

It's a grid-tied system that I installed myself. We had some funds set aside, so I bought what we could afford at the time.

I bought a "kit" that consisted of the panels, the micro-inverters and cabling, the cabinet, racking and their mounting brackets, etc. The price included plans and such for permitting purposes and kind of installation instructions. They also helped with coordination with the utility interconnection for PTO (Permission to operate)I'm comfortable with this kind of stuff, so it wasn't a really big deal to install. Just rough due to the cramped quarters of our attic. I started the install the first weekend in July and finished it up the last weekend of Aug, working entirely solo.

I needed to get permits (structural and electrical). Where I live, normally only licensed electricians can pull an electrical permit. However, the area has a program that homeowners can pull their own electrical permit if they can pass a short test and and interview with code officials on the project. Again, not a real big issue for me. Things may be different on permitting in your area.

I'm probably going to start with a couple of batteries and charge controller for storage and work from there. That will help lessen the consumption when the panels aren't producing. The utility pays for power sent back into the grid, but at a reduced rate. It will be better to forego a little of that extra returned for less (higher-priced) consumption later.

The system isn't a "sun out-lights on" kind of system (it needs to see power from the grid to allow the system to feed the service panel), but we haven't had much trouble with power-outages here, so emergency back-up is lower on the list, currently.

The 8 panels are east-facing, and the 2 west-facing. If I add more, I have a south-facing section I would like to install them on.

Thanks for the details. East and West facing panels are not generally recommended. Have you found their performance satisfactory? I have South facing primary roof I could use for panels, but also East and West for additional panels if they are useful. How did you haul the panels up to your roof?
I will also need to get permits and work with inspectors. Both the city and the utility will want inspections.
volvolugnut

[Chuck W]

Thanks for the details. East and West facing panels are not generally recommended. Have you found their performance satisfactory? I have South facing primary roof I could use for panels, but also East and West for additional panels if they are useful. How did you haul the panels up to your roof?
I will also need to get permits and work with inspectors. Both the city and the utility will want inspections.
volvolugnut

I questioned them on the panel locations and there are numerous reasons for the E/W panels. *shrug* If I add more, they will be on the south-facing section.

Still waiting on them to set up my monitoring account so I can track performance. The system I have up is potentially good for 40-50% of our annual usage, so we'll see. Again, no loans to pay off, so any power we produce is "ours".

My method to getting the panels on the roof would definitely not be OSHA-approved.
I had a table with a chair on it at one section of the roof. I picked the panel up to the table, leaned it against the gutters/roof overhead. Pushed it up while stepping up onto the chair. I had a big section of cardboard on the roof to protect the panels and the gutters/etc. Once it was on the roof, I walked over to the ladder and walked around to pick up the panel and carry it to its location. Plugged the panel it and set it onto the racking. Held it in place while I got the hold-downs secure to keep the panel located. Did that 10 times.
Like I said. Did all of this solo. Almost called in a friend to help lift/stabilize, but I was on a mission.

My roof has a fairly shallow pitch, so it wasn't as bad as it sounds. Still I was beat.

I'm only supposed to have a final inspection, but they gave me no indication of WHEN that will happen and didn't care if I turned the system on.

[abscate]

Interesting electrical fault. Stuff has always flickered on my circuit in the family room East wall,rarely used. Finally noticed a fan ran at reduced speed.

Good 120 ish volts AC to ground.

Hot to neutral, only 90 VAC!

Traced it back to resistance at the neutral bonded at the fuse box. I like electricaltroubleshooting because it follows simple rules.

[volvolugnut]

Several years ago I purchased a large, commercial type MIG welder from a pawn shop. It never made good welds, even for flux core wire, after I got it set up. I thought it was operator error.
Recently, I started research on internet. I found that MIG welders on single phase power use large capacitors to smooth the voltage. I have known for years that capacitors fail early and often in electrical devices.
So I removed the capacitors and tested them as best I could. All eight 8,300 micro Farad capacitors failed my test. Now I need to find replacements at a reasonable price.
volvolugnut

[volvolugnut]

Interesting electrical fault. Stuff has always flickered on my circuit in the family room East wall,rarely used. Finally noticed a fan ran at reduced speed.

Good 120 ish volts AC to ground.

Hot to neutral, only 90 VAC!

Traced it back to resistance at the neutral bonded at the fuse box. I like electricaltroubleshooting because it follows simple rules.

I have found a couple outlets in our 40 year old home that had bad wire connections. They would occasionally trip the breaker. Tightening the wire screws fixed the problem. Worse part was finding the correct circuit on the electric panel. It was never completely labeled.
volvolugnut

[Sveedy]

Breakers themselves have a life span. As they get older, they will trip more easily.

[abscate]

Breakers themselves have a life span. As they get older, they will trip more easily.

Just like people …

[Chuck W]

Several years ago I purchased a large, commercial type MIG welder from a pawn shop. It never made good welds, even for flux core wire, after I got it set up. I thought it was operator error.
Recently, I started research on internet. I found that MIG welders on single phase power use large capacitors to smooth the voltage. I have known for years that capacitors fail early and often in electrical devices.
So I removed the capacitors and tested them as best I could. All eight 8,300 micro Farad capacitors failed my test. Now I need to find replacements at a reasonable price.
volvolugnut

I've had to replace the caps in my welders a couple times. I think DigiKey was where I found something suitable.

I was burning away on a project and the cap went in a flurry of thick, acrid smoke.

[abscate]

Be careful with those big caps. You should ground them with a wire bridging the terminals. They can self charge tow high enough voltage they can kill you