Follow up from previous post about solar battery system working properly

Hey!

I run a local solar energy website in Europe. My website has managed to dominate the niche, and currently, I am bringing in a minimum of 25kW per month(this is the contract I signed with my partner).

This month, I have closed 125kW + a quote for a 1MW solar farm.

My work method involves collaborating with one good installer and supplier. I handle the leads, qualify them, and then the installer closes the leads.

For bringing in a minimum of 25kW per month I charge 2500EURO/monthly + 15% commission when the deals are closed

Do you think this is fair?

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I’m looking at getting these batteries: https://es.eco-worthy.com/products/bateria-litio-lifepo4-48v-50ah plus a Victron SmartSolar. But do I need something else to interface with the batteries? I believe they have some internal circuits for protection but not sure what’s required.

It's time for my roof to be replaced but also I want solar, so how do I navigate this? I'm guessing if I tell the roofing company that I'm interested in solar, they could help make my roof more compatible with solar? But also what would happen if I went to a solar company and told them I need a roof replaced as well?

As an outsider, I would like to know which battery system is best for my PV, I have 9kW aprox with SMA Inverter, I am considering PW3, Enphase 10P or Franklinwh a Power. Would like to hear some comparison from the experts. I just want to make sure there is Power when grid off and save some bills.

I would like to install solar panels and a battery in a hybrid configuration so that power only draws from the grid when there isn't enough output from the panels/battery and backup power is also available when the grid is down. This seems straightforward with Enphase, Tesla, etc.

The one tricky part is a I have 2 gang, 2 meter main panel with one meter for the house and one meter for an ADU/guest house. Is it possible to wire the system so that both branches can use the solar/battery as needed and then if they need excess grid power each one will pull it via their respective meter? The ADU does not need to have backup power when the grid is offline.

Cables run, battery and inverter commissioned. Just need to get the panels on the roof. The byd product is nice quality

Hi, I have a few connections in solar sales and they all say the potential income is crazy high. I was in sales before and would love to help boost green energy production and help homeowners become less dependent on their municipality's grid.

SunRun seems like THE place to make a lot of money in solar sales, and they dominate the market, but the stories I'm reading online are horrible. After talking to a few sales reps, they have a lot of ways to deflect believing/admitting that their product is anything less than a completely life-changing experience for their customers. I have an opportunity to train with one of the top offices in the region, and I don't mind the trouble of door knocking, but the last thing I want is a past customer calling me about a headache that I can't fix for them.

There are a couple of smaller companies around that are more reputable. One of them provides energy audits of homes in addition to solar, and their business practice seems to be around improving energy consumption in general (as in, they *actually* invest in helping people). It'll be a lot easier annoying homeowners in door-to-door sales if I know that it's for a reason that could help them. This office says their commissions are pretty high as well, but it's hard to verify.

Any advice or insight regarding how to choose a solar company to work for?

Does anyone know if I can install battery only (no solar) and just charge at the super off peak EV rate in San Diego? I’ve heard it’s illegal but not sure where to fina that info.

I just bought a house in grass Valley California and am researching installing solar. Wow, there is so much to consider, so now I am confused. I know there there have been some changes to Net metering recently and some solar companies have gone out of business. I understand that moving forward having a battery to store any excess power produced seems to be the way to go. Also sounds like PGE rates are going to continue to rise.

My questions what is the best source of good information to become familiar with the most current information on what system I really need, and to keep up with future changes ?

Using EG4's recommended Feeder Tap setup to build this from my 12kW of solar panels. Link to wiring diagram: https://i.imgur.com/hqkEIZh.png

I wonder if there is a cheaper and smaller double throw switch. Additionally, I need a bonding bar at my first new mains circuit breaker can anyone recommend this? I see lots of installs with wiring "raceways" underneath the mains breaker and meter panel but not sure I need that here? Just planning to put everything in rated conduit etc.

This feeder tap setup is such a mess. I'm going to have 3x 200 Amp Circuit breakers in a line by the time this is done. You'd think we could do better with electrical code/ingenuity.

One quote currently lists IQ7+ inverters, another IQ7A inverters. Quote prices are within $10 of each other (got one installer to match the other)

The panels are the same -- 10 QCELL Q.TRON M-G2+ 425W -- spec here: https://us.qcells.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Qcells_Data_sheet_Q.TRON_BLK_M-G2_series_405-430_DA_2023-12_Rev02_NA.pdf

The Enphase website supposedly claims that clipping will happen more with the IQ7As per this image:

https://i.imgur.com/GNs1ATw.png

Is this true or is that a miscalculation/error on the Enphase website?

Approximately how much less kWh/year this would entail? For reference, I'm in the Northeast, approx south-eastern facing roof, no other obstructions.

Happy to get an explanation based on the panel/inverter specs as well and what parameters may matter. Thanks!

Edit: The reason to go with 7 series is I already have an installation with IQ7As and REC 445W panels and still space to put breakers on the existing combiner.

https://i.imgur.com/hqkEIZh.png

So, I need a 200 Amp main service breaker, need enough room after that to place the inverter taps on the L1/L2 cables, and then need another 200 Feeder Tap Breaker on the other side. Why isn't there a breaker box that I can easily do this with? I guess I have to do this in a raceway - but what type of 200 amp breakers can be screwed into a raceway?

I’m looking into solar in Virginia. I have talked to three vendors (Tesla, Solar Energy World, and Dominion), and I’m getting conflicting information. If you have a system with batteries and you’re on a net-metering utility system, does your house pull from the battery at night and when it’s cloudy, or from the grid? I thought the whole idea of the battery was to let you power your house when the panels are not producing, but now I’m hearing that the batteries only come online when there is an outage on the utility grid. So at night, when it’s cloudy, etc. you’re still pulling from the grid, even if your battery is sitting there 100% charged. Is that right? Batteries are only for power outages?

Hi guys,

It is possible to connect a battery maintainer(110V AC) to an off-grid system(PV + controller + battery) to be redundant. A big shadow during the afternoon is causing problems. If not, what element (relay or contactor, etc.) should I add to charge the battery with both options (AC 110V or PV)?

Thanks in advance

We have had our grid-tied 5.20 Kw system (13 Q-Cell-400 panels) for about 2 years now and really like it. Our home power usage is going up slightly has been working from home more and the little ones are now a bit older with their own TVs etc. We thought it would be a good idea to add a few panels to our system in order to future proof our increasing power needs.

My question:

1. Has anyone ever added to an existing system? How many panels did you add and what was the cost?

2. Did you have to work with the original installer, or you shopped around?

3. How did you decide how many panels to add? I'm guessing that determines whether it's a good investment or not.

Looking for your setup pics and suggestions, thanks

I have an existing solar system that I want to expand as a DIY project. I am in the early stages of strategizing. I am in California on NEM2 and planning for the allowed 1kW expansion on top of my existing NEM2 agreement and then whatever else I can do as a non-export expansion.

Existing array is 16 Q.Cells 405W panels connected to Enphase IQ8M microinverters, 1.35A per inverter totaling 21.6A of output.

I do not want to run additional conduit back to the panel, so I am limited to the existing #10 copper THHN run.

My questions for the group:

1. Can I use a 40A breaker on the circuit using the THHN #10 rating or am I limited all the way down to 30A per NEC 240-3(d)? (or maybe I can do 35A?)
2. Based on the above, do I need to further de-rate the circuit to 80% of the breaker. e.g. 32A with a 40A breaker or 24A with a 30A breaker. Leaving me with 10.4A or 2.4A of additional microinverters. Or can I build out solar all the way to the breaker rating.
3. If I really only have 2.4A of additional capacity, can I exceed the breaker rating with micro-inverters and limit total output using Enphase's "Main Panel Upgrade Avoidance" feature without changing the breaker. (I appreciate this will cause clipping, but I don't have excellent sun exposure so I think it is still worth it as I can add a south-east roof to get more morning production.)

(attached is an image of output from the most recent sunny day, 4/20/24)

https://preview.redd.it/sibh9jwmkhwc1.png?width=623&format=png&auto=webp&s=215fe0802de2c7cb1da0f1d5e0766758b6f2b6c3

Thinking of getting solar and instead of having them on my roof or an area of my backyard I would like them to be an overhang above my backyard deck/patio area to shade it off. It's a perfect spot for getting sun but I have no idea if this is even a "thing" in the solar world.

Am I crazy?

I am a project manager for a solar company and have been for awhile. i have a problem with my solaredge i’m hoping someone can help me with or have advice on what to do. i have reached out to solaredge and they were unsure of what my problem was and were no help whatsoever. I have a customer with two inverters, and 60 panels. i went in and typed all the panel serial numbers in and assigned them to the right panels as i have hundreds of of times before. well when i went to assign them to the inverters, 30 on one and 30 on the other, they all assigned to one inverter. so i have 60 on one and 0 on the other and i cannot for the life of of me figure out how to get 30 of the panels onto one inverter and 30 onto the other. ive tried deleting the panels to see if that works and it did nothing. i was wondering if anyone had any idea on what to do. i’ve never had this problem before

Hello, I am under the Residential Service Solar Time of Use rate schedule (South Carolina) and had a question about the minimum bill charge on my most recent electric bill.

My understanding from the minimum bill section on their website is they say Basic Facilities Charge + Energy Charge + Riders Charge can't equal under $30.

Doing the math it comes to $13.09 (Basic Facility Charge) + $4.78 + $3.06 + $7.39 (Customer and Distribution costs) + $3.39 (Rider adjustment) which comes out to $31.71 which is more than $30. I'm curious as to why there is still a minimum charge if these add up to more than $30. I am sure there is something here I do not understand. Any help here?

https://preview.redd.it/n589yb810hwc1.png?width=932&format=png&auto=webp&s=a6a1bd74e0c14e87dce45b362d24071dfa35c266

https://preview.redd.it/0qb0xmclygwc1.png?width=685&format=png&auto=webp&s=cc6da1e40f6c8caf49495904e7113ab8d04c43dd

We moved into our home a 1.5 years ago and at first I tried to get solar for our home but the misses rejected it based on the initial cost for the buildout. So instead we got a 18kwh whole home backup generator. Now that we have an EV and I'm thinking about circling back on getting Solar to either limit or completely eliminate grid electricity. Any thoughts on how solar can be integrated along with keeping the generator in place?