Smith Electric Company

A Little Quiet

It might get a little quiet here for a while. The solar equipment is installed, inspected and approved. We're just waiting for the PSE&G (electric utility) to approve the interconnection to the grid. That could take 6 weeks or so (1 week down now).

Here's what I plan to do in the meantime:

1. Create an index page to the installation process and pictures - a one-stop page for people who are looking for information that skips the "still waiting" posts.
2. I may not have mentioned it here, but I'm a student pilot (airplanes). If I have a lesson flying in the right direction, I want to take an aerial photo of the panels, and I'll post it here.
3. I'll try to keep up with solar news and other installations, especially in New Jersey.

Thanks for looking in, and keep checking for more news!

Inspections

Today, we are scheduled for inspections by the township building department, and the NJ Clean Energy Program. The township inspection is required before filing the PSE&G Interconnection Agreement and before the NJ Clean Energy Program will release the rebate to my installer.

Stay tuned for results!

UPDATE: 10:15am - the Building Inspector has come and gone. He approved us. He used to work for my company a long time ago. He was really interested in the whole solar thing so I gave him the nickel tour.

UPDATE #2: 11:15am - the Electrical Inspector has come and gone. His first question was "Where's the transfer switch?" (there is none - and he inspected another system a few weeks ago nearby.) I explained the function of the system, showed him the original electrical drawing, and the inverter manual. I think he decided that he didn't know as much as my installer and approved us. The yellow permit card has now been removed from the window.

I'll be filing the PSE&G interconnection agreement this afternoon.

UPDATE #3 5:00pm - The NJ Clean Energy Program inspector was here a few minutes ago. He also passed us. He did a more thorough inspection than the township inspector - actually counted the panels, checked the DC voltage at the DC disconnect switches, and turned off the exterior A/C disconnect switches to see the meter speed up (it was running forward).

I mailed the PSE&G interconnection agreement paperwork today at the post office - they should receive it on Thursday. My installer estimates a 6-week wait for the new meter and the ability to turn the system back on again - for now it will sit dormant.

Final Cost Roundup

We've made the last payment to our installer - the only remaining cost as far as I know is the PSE&G interconnection fee.

For those who are interested, here is the final cost roundup:

$52,893 Installer's Total Cost from Contract
-$37,025.63 Final Rebate Amount from State (70% of total)
----------------
$15,867.37 Our cost from the Installer
$118 Permit Cost (paid directly by us)
$100 PSE&G Interconnect Agreement Fee (paid directly by us)
----------------
$16,085.37 Our total cost

The system produces 6.825 kWh at peak. That means $7.78/watt total cost, or $2.36/watt our cost.

We expect an approximate savings of $716/year (estimated 2/3 of our power usage), making the payback about 22 years based on straight savings and assuming no increase in electric utility rates. It's probably more like 17-18 years assuming a reasonable increase in the cost of electricity. My cost for the system will never go up, but electrical rates will almost certainly go up - at least as much as the inflation rate.

There is a rule of thumb that your property value goes up $20 for every $1 in utility savings. In that case, we will increase our property value $14,320, or most of the cost. Combine that with 2 years of energy savings and the system is paid for. I should note that my installer feels the increase in property value is a little higher - somewhere between the $16,000 that we spent and the total $53,000 - more like the low $20k's.

An additional available source of revenue is the sale of green tags or Renewable Energy Credits (REC). I'm investigating that now. It means that you sell the "greenness" of your system to a broker who ultimately sells it to a company that is required to produce a certain amount of energy from green sources. For example, utility company B could purchase my green tag and therefore have covered 6.825 kWh of their green energy requirement for the life of the sale. It appears that this could provide $400-500 of income per year to us, but at the cost of the actual environmental benefits of our installation (since somebody else is avoiding pollution less than they "have to").

Of course, money isn't the only benefit here. We have the benefit to the environment - after about 2-3 years the system has produced enough energy and environmental benefits to cover it's manufacture. We're reducing dependence on oil and natural gas for electric power - most of which come from foreign sources. We're also doing more local generation than before - reducing stress on the electrical infrastructure in our area (less current has to travel over the wires from the power plant when our system is injecting it locally).

Township Inspection Scheduled

The Township inspection has been scheduled for next Tuesday, May 25. My installer will be trying to schedule the state BPU inspector to come the same day (or he might just choose not to inspect).

After that, the PSE&G paperwork goes in, which might take as long as 6 weeks. It might be mid-July before we're truly live full-time.

UPDATE: The State BPU inspection is scheduled for the same day. The inspector will be coming by on his way home out of Trenton - we're conveniently located!

Electrical Installation Complete, All Installation Complete

The electrician is here working today.

UPDATE: It's all done.

Inside the Basement

This is the wall in the basement before anything.

This is the blank wood before installation of components.

The inverters (top) and DC disconnect switches (bottom) are installed.

Here are the inverters with their covers on, and the switches partially wired.

Here's the completed installation in the basement. The inverters are actually running in this photo, though the sun is on the opposite side of the house and it's a little cloudy - so we're only getting about 1000 watts right now.

This is the label from the side of one of the inverters.

Here's the open electrical panel, showing the new breakers at the bottom on both sides.

Here's the completed panel, including warning label.

Outside at the Meter

This is the initial installation of the wires. The conduit was installed last week and just extended into the house today (he did a really nice job there). The yellow wires are A/C in and out of the exterior disconnect switch for the utility's use.

Here are the disconnect switches partially installed.

Here is the completed product - utility disconnect switches - outside (except for required labelling).

And here are the required labels on the disconnect switches.

All work is complete! YAY! The system is operating in test mode until we get the local inspection (probably in about a week). Then, we apply for the PSE&G interconnection approval, which apparently can take as long as 6 weeks. The system will be turned off between the inspection and PSE&G approval.

The meter REALLY DOES turn backwards. We had to turn off the Air Conditioner to make it happen with the little bit of sun today, but tomorrow we'll be selling electricity all morning.

Upcoming Events

On Tuesday, May 18, we will be installing the electrical portion of the project. The day should end with the system operating in test mode. The system will continue to operate in test mode until the inspections.

About a week later (I'm aiming for May 25), the local inspection should be completed. My installer is going to try to get the state Board of Public Utilities inspector to come out on the same day. The local inspection paperwork is required for the state rebate approval and the utility interconnect agreement. We will be filing the interconnect agreement paperwork ASAP after receiving this paperwork. The rebate approval will release the rebate payment.

After we file for the interconnection agreement with PSE&G, they will process it. I'm guessing that this will take 2-3 weeks. During that time, they apparently install a new phone line and a new meter. The phone line is connected to a modem attached to the new meter. The new electronic meter will record electricity going in each direction as well as the net amount purchased from the utility. Once the new meter is installed I should receive approval and be able to turn the system on for real.

Roof Work Complete

Today, the last of the roof work was completed. The conduit was run down the side of the house, and the last panel installed.

Here are the real final roof pictures.

Here's the front view. Note that the steppers are gone. (NEW picture taken without the sun behind the house.)

Here's the side view - shows off the panel color really well. (NEW picture taken without the sun behind the house.)

Can you see most of the conduit from the street? I don't think so .....

That's because they hid it behind the gutter. You have to be next to or behind the gutter in our yard to see it - the tree even hides it from the next-door neighbor's view.

We can even paint it later.

I'm looking into the order of events for the rest of the project. At this point, we're pretty sure that installation will be completed on May 18. However, we have a few rounds of inspections after that.

Panels on the roof!

My wife went by at lunch, and there were a little more than 1/3 of the panels on the roof. By the end of the day, all but one panel were installed.

The Finished Product

This is the finished product.

This is the end of day picture from another angle. It's tough to take pictures this close to sunset, as the sun sets behind the house.

I think they left the last panel off so that they can finish the wiring when they come back on Monday. No work until next Monday, and it looks like they'll finish then.

Work in Progress

This is the house as it appeared at lunchtime.

The men at work.

More Hardware Pictures

Here's what the back of a panel looks like.

Here's the label from the back of the Sharp NT-175U1 panel.

This is a better cross-section of the upper rail (the one the panels are mounted on).

Schedule

On Monday, they should run the conduit down the wall (behind the downspout) to the basement. Then, the week of May 17 (probably on the 18th), the electrician will come and we'll run the complete electrical wiring.

Installation - Day 3

Today, a few "getting ready" steps occurred before the panels were installed.

Holes were drilled in the mounting rails for brackets and wires.

The ground wire was installed, linking the rails. The rails will eventually be tied to the house ground in several places.

The brackets for the panels were installed in the rails, to be relocated when the panels are installed.

Tomorrow, they expect to install panels.

This is the house on day 3. Note the wires and brackets sticking out of the rails.

This picture shows a close-up of the rails and wires. The loops of wire are loose and we're about to get a thunderstorm - I hope they stay on the roof!

I believe that the copper-colored wires are the ground, tied to the rails underneath the rail.

More to come tomorrow!

Today's Installation Progress

My wife stopped by at lunchtime. They had a few of the mounting rails installed. If I remember correctly, they will be installing wiring after the rails are installed. Tomorrow or Thursday should see the first panels installed.

By the way, the "before" pictures are found at this location: Before Pictures.

Update 6pm: It appears that they've finished installing the mounting rails. Tomorrow, they should be finishing that and installing the in-track wiring.

Here are some pictures.

This is a picture of the house with the rails in place. (Sorry about the sun glare)

Here are the guys installing the rails.

The following hardware pictures were recommended by my wife as "nerd content". She did agree that it takes one to know one! Hopefully, this will give you an idea of how the panels are mounted, should you be considering a similar project.

This is the lower rail. These are installed perpendicular to the mounting rail and are attached to the roof with a lag screw into the rafters. Asphalt sealant is used to prevent leaks.

This is the upper mounting rail in cross-section. These are the long rails. The open side is mounted facing up.

The thingie on the left is the inter-module clip. It is inserted into the upper mounting rail (the flat part at the bottom slides in) and the top is tightened against the panel itself. The thingie on the right is used to lock the upper rail to the lower rail. It slides over the top of the lower rail, and a nut and washer are bolted through a hole in the upper rail. The lower rail prevents the upper rail from shifting from side to side, and the bolts along the length of the upper rail prevent it from shifting up and down along the lower rail. The suspension above the roof allows for airspace below the panels for cooling and to prevent unwanted wind effects.

More pictures tomorrow - maybe with the first panels in place.

Another One Nearby

The Burlington County Times (NJ) has an article on a home in Westampton with panels on the roof. Not a bad article!

(NOTE: The link will probably expire at some point - sorry if you found this too late.)

Homeowner's Insurance and PV systems

Yesterday, I contacted my homeowner's insurance company - New Jersey Manufacturer's Insurance - in order to let them know that I was installing a solar electric grid-connected system.

Clearly, I've run into another educational gap. The poor representative that I spoke to had no idea what I was talking about.

Back in January, I called them to see if I needed to do anything with my homeowner's insurance. At that time, I needed to explain the system for a few minutes and I was told that I didn't need to change my policy in any way - I just needed to call back to let them know that I was installing the system.

Yesterday, I called back. The representative that I got took a little information (not much beyond "solar electrical system") and went to talk to her supervisor. About 10 minutes later, she came back. She needed a semi-detailed explanation of how the system works (panels to inverter to main breaker box, and she needed LOTS of info on utility interconnection). She wrote down every word that I said and went back to her supervisor. After another 5 minute wait, she came back and told me that I was approved (whatever that means), and that I didn't need to do anything else. She also said that she and her instructor thank me for help understanding the system.

We need a pamphlet, or a class, or something

I think I've come to the realization that there are two holes in the NJ solar educational process:

1. Local Inspectors/code officials - mine thought I needed a transfer switch for a grid-connected system
2. Insurance - they don't know what to make of it

Once my system is completed and approved, I think I may write a letter to the NJ BPU, with these suggestions:

1. When a new application is approved, in addition to sending the approval to the applicant, a copy is sent to the local planning department/building department/etc. Included is a letter offering to assist with the evaluation of the permit application and/or an invitation to a training session. Some local folks may be annoyed by this ("I know how to do my job, I don't need any interference."), but hopefully the others will understand what they are asked to approve before the permit application appears.

2. The BPU should put together a pamphlet with the basics of PV grid-connected, stand-alone, and battery backup systems. This should be sent to the appropriate person at all homeowner's insurance companies doing business in the state.

I know that this would add expense, but the BPU and industry are already working to increase the number of trained installers (see my previous article). It makes sense to me that they have to beef up the rest of the installation infrastructure - and that they should start with municipal building departments.

Installation in Progress

The installation has begun. Right now, they're just unloading the panels and mounting hardware, and we're all hoping that the rain is done for the day.

This is a single Sharp NT-175U1 panel. We'll have a total of 39 of them.

Update 3pm: We're done for the day. They were able to put steppers (to allow them to remain on the roof without falling) up, and assemble most of the mounting hardware. They tried to start installing the mounting rails, but the roof is too wet and wouldn't even take a chalk line.

Installation will continue tomorrow and probably be complete next Monday. They only work through Thursdays. We have set a preliminary date of May 18 for the electrical work, to be confirmed when the electrician gets home from vacation.

I won't be working at home for the rest of the physical installation, but weather permitting I'll try to take a picture every night and summarize the work.