One point about DIY install. Once you get a grid tied system set up and the
meter is programmed, you can probably get away with outrageous guerilla solar
install increases and modifications. The new meters around here seem to be
programmed "initially" so that the meter counts up the kw, regardless of the
direction, so if you put in a big solar install and don't reprogram the meter,
it will actually increase the bill until they program the meter to account for
reverse power. I guess it's to discourage guerilla solar installs.
The meter appears to be programmed optically with some contraption that shines
some LED's into it with a pattern. It didn't take long.
But once it's programmed, with a single meter, the power company doesn't know
the mix, and doesn't care. They see 1kw of use at the meter and don't know if
it's 1kw of use, or 10kw of use and 9kw of solar. So if you permit and install
a single 100W panel, they program the smart meter, but after they leave and go
home, you can probably pull out 10kw out from behind the bushes and install
them and no one cares for years. Don't ask me how I know.
I eventually got 24+kw ground mount installation permitted so I could sleep
easy.
IMHO doing a tiny installation isn't that bad. You figure how to jump through
the hoops, get to know the inspector, figure out which people are a pain in the
ass and how to avoid them and go right to the people you need. I had a
particularly invasive land-use-type bureacrat who wanted all sorts of
construction permits and surveying and a super nice electrical inspector who
had a lot of common sense and a power company who really just wanted the
sign-off from the electrical inspector, so, to be honest I just got the
electrical permit and didn't bother with the construction permit or siting
permit which was a bunch of baloney anyway.
So jumping through the hoops is not "that" big of deal, but if you want to play
it safe go for a small install first, get to know the inspector and what he's
looking for, do a good joband don't argue. After that, the sky's the limit.
On Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 04:09:48 PM PDT, (-Phil-) via EV
<[email protected]> wrote:
Luckily in CA, at least in my county, they allow owner-install with a
permit. I installed my own 9kW system with no issues and it passed
inspection first try. I'm an EE but not a licensed Electrician or Solar
installer.
On Wed, Apr 23, 2025 at 4:06 PM Roger Daisley via EV <[email protected]>
wrote:
> That would be a big code violation and likely a very big fine by L&I in
> Washington State. In WA, your volunteers can not even mount racking, even
> with a Journeyman electrician "supervising." (Racking is considered
> "electrical equipment.")
> If a volunteer even so much as touched a wire, L&I would probably go for
> the Death Penalty ... After they drained their bank account! If a licensed
> electrician was on-site and helped in any way, he/she would also likely get
> their bank account substantially lowered.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: EV <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Cor van de Water via EV
> Sent: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 7:11 PM
> To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List <[email protected]>
> Cc: Cor van de Water <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: [EVDL] Dumped by two solar providers.
>
> Hi Lawrence,
> The non-profit Sunwork.org specifically targets the solar installations
> for people that have too small energy bills to be interesting for the big
> installers.
> Not sure if they will do installs in the city, most of their projects are
> around the south bay area, but it can't hurt to ask them.
> Their model is that you buy the system outright, they charge their cost
> while their manhours are reduced by doing the install with volunteers,
> supervised by one of their staff, who also does the design, permitting and
> signoff.
> Full disclosure: I am a volunteer solar installer, trained by Sunwork and
> participated in several of their local installations.
> Cor.
>
> On Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 6:59 PM Lawrence Rhodes via EV <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> >
> > First Solarsesame backed out. Then Tesla did. The Tesla reason was we
> didn't have the room for 10 panels. Who can do a challenging installation
> for a good price using permits. I just got hit by State Farm just for
> having a messy yard and storing wood under a staircase. Lawrence
> Rhodes....Got my insurance back and a clean back yard.
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