They didn’t quite finish today, but all that’s left is some trim, wire termination, and a little roof repair.
Here they are installing the first solar panel:
Here’s what it looked like with several panels installed:
And here’s the finished job:
Here’s a close-up, looking up the array:
And here’s a close look at one of the clamps holding the panels down:
33 panels, each providing a peak of 240 Watts, yielding a theoretical 7920 watts (clear day, sun shining squarely on it, not too hot, etc., etc.).
9 responses so far ↓
1 Don // Nov 9, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Is there a battery storage bank too or is it completely self contained?
2 Don // Nov 9, 2011 at 6:21 pm
And did you have to get it approved by the neighborhood?
3 Daryl // Nov 9, 2011 at 6:47 pm
We had to submit and get approval from the HOA, but it is just a formality. They are required by law to allow solar energy installations, though they can request a minimal visual impact, etc.
I don’t have any batteries; the power company serves as my batteries. If I produce more than I consume, the excess flows back to the power company and is deducted from my bill.
Going “off the grid” with batteries is a lot more expensive and complicated for a large house like this. Richard can do it with his trailer, but I think I use a little more electricity than he does.
4 Richard // Nov 10, 2011 at 6:15 am
Looks good. My system is 800 watts, so yours produces 10 times as much power. Of course, space on my roof is limited.
Have they turned it on yet? Can you monitor what is happening with the system?
5 Mom // Nov 10, 2011 at 10:47 am
To look at it from a distance, is it shiny? Would any observer recognize it as a solar roof?
6 Daryl // Nov 10, 2011 at 11:15 am
They said it will probably be about 2 weeks before they can turn it on. The city of Tempe was here today and already approved it, but the utility company usually takes about 2 weeks.
I will have a full monitoring system, even accessible from the internet, showing power generation by hour, day, week, month, year, etc.
Mom, it is not shiny — the solar panels are designed to absorb light so there is not much reflection. But it is obvious that they are solar panels. However, because of the location of our house and the trees in front, it is hardly visible at all. You have to stand where I took the pictures to see it.
7 Donna // Nov 10, 2011 at 2:28 pm
I see Arizona Public Service is “hot” into solar power, too. Timely that you’re both turning the panels on about the same time.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/28/arizona-solar-power-plant-goes-online/?test=eim
8 Dale // Nov 12, 2011 at 5:40 am
Are they covered by your homeowners insurance in case of a disaster like what happened to many roofs in Donna’s neighborhood?
9 Daryl // Nov 12, 2011 at 11:08 am
Dale, that’s a good question. I assume yes, but I need to talk to my insurance company to make sure.