Solar panel siting

[CRXPilot]

I like the idea of solar panels to supplement/replace electricity coming in from the grid. Never had them so I have a few questions.

We currently have a 3000 sq ft home with a roof covered in crazy angles. I'm not fond of mounting panels on the house. I have a 23'x36' flat roof carport in the back yard that I'd be much more willing to mount panels to. It's 30' from the north side of the house and gets 100% sun during the day. (because Lubbock)

What considerations do I need to make for siting besides just the panels? Can the panels be pretty far away from any of the other electric hardware? Does a grid tie solar setup have a lot of hardware beyond the panels?

Before you answer with, "ask an electrician" I'd just like to hear what you think and what your experience has been. What components make a residential solar setup work and how common is it to have it mounted away from the house? Thanks!

 

[Git]

Does a grid tie solar setup have a lot of hardware beyond the panels?

You have a couple of choices when it comes to inverters. If you go with Micro Inverters, usually mounted to underneath or attached to each panel, they convert the DC Output from the Panel to AC. Then, in a nutshell, that runs to a disconnect near your main panel and from there into the panel.

If you want to get a rough idea how much output you can get from your location, go to this website and enter your address

https://pvwatts.nrel.gov

As you go through the web pages, you get to the 'system info' page and to the right you will see "Draw your System". Click on that and it should bring up a satellite pic of your house and you can proceed to draw rectangles on your roof (click and it makes points). If you have more than one roof, do each roof separately. Use premium, fixed roof mount and then add your azimuth (which way the panels would be pointing in degrees and you will also need the pitch of the roof. You should then get a rough idea how much electricity can be generated from panels on that roof

 

[CRXPilot]

Great info! Thanks!

 

[nadogail]

IF you are near a reputable solar provider I am sure that they will be happy to provide a proposal on a system for your needs.

After you get their proposal you might decide to do the job your self or hire it done.

I have 26 panels on my home and there is no way that I would attempt that job myself.

 

[aventino68]

Check any local town requirements, over the border here they're forcing people to get solar panels mounted further and further way from your lot boundary.

 

[WisJim]

I've done all my own solar installations, starting with a basic off-grid system in 1982 and later a couple of grid tied with microinverters. Look at the Renvu website which allows you to get prices for components and can give you a list of almost everything you need for the system

 

[cvairwerks]

Need to run a Solar Pathfinder on the proposed site first. That will tell you the amount of shading that you will probably have over the year, based on current conditions. THe amount of shading will greatly affect your panel's output.

 

[vavet]

We had a 10kw system installed earlier this year.Other than the conduit running down the outside of the house, the only hardware are two boxes mounted on the side of the house. They're about 18x12 each.

As long as they can wire into your panel, I think you can place them just about anywhere.

 

[99LeCouch]

Mind the DC runs. Keep those fairly short because DC voltage drops with distance. AC doesn't over those distances.

Check the carport construction to make sure it can support the dead weight of the solar panels and the racking hardware. Plus the additional wind load, since the solar panels will be spaced off the roof for ventilation. The panels will be pulling up on the roof in any strong winds.

The pro is your carport should be a bit cooler with about 20% less energy hitting it, and the solar panels making an air gap between themselves and the roof.

 

[dcg9381]

What considerations do I need to make for siting besides just the panels? Can the panels be pretty far away from any of the other electric hardware? Does a grid tie solar setup have a lot of hardware beyond the panels?

The compass orientation and tilt are the primary considerations... You can be about 45 degrees either way of south before you start to really degrade, but the tilt angle is more sensitive. Even if your roof slope isn't optimal, you can still tilt the panels.

Panels provide DC current (unless they have microinverters) - I've never had any trouble with induction to or from other electrical hardware.

Typical Hardware:
Inverter (single inverter or microinverters at the panels)
Exterior DC disconnect (pull lever)
Exterior AC disconnect (pull lever)
Surge/lightening arrestor
Conduit/cable


DC disconnects are no longer required in some areas that recognize rapid shutdown technology.

Note, 20 panels add about 800 lbs of roof load but it is spread evenly.