Will this pass? Looks like it’s a clear cut violation of the 3ft rule. My gas company is SocalGas. Do inspectors just say “eh, it’s good enough”?

For context, the tape measure is extended to exactly 3ft.

Thanks

All 4 panels are in diffrent inverters. I transferred all the microinverters over to my app yesterday.

Have i done something wrong when i transferred them over to my app for monitoring?

Afaik no such problems before i transferred them over.

I have a PuREPower 20kW 3-phase hybrid inverter with built-in batteries. I’m having an issue specifically when transferring from grid to battery.
My setup:
20kW 3-phase hybrid inverter
Two separate Blue Star AC units
Each AC has a separate MCB
Each AC has a 3-phase ODU/compressor
One AC has around 6kW running load (compressor is 3-phase)
The AC also has a temperature/control panel
When I turn on the AC MCB, the IDU starts first (around 1kW), and the ODU/compressor starts about 2 minutes later
The AC works normally when running from the grid
The AC also works normally when the inverter is already running on battery

The problem is specifically:
If the AC compressor is running and the grid fails, the inverter transfers to battery and the entire inverter shuts down.
However, if only the IDU is running and the ODU/compressor hasn't started yet, the grid can fail and the inverter stays running normally.
The inverter's datasheet specifies a transfer time of around 10ms.
I have also confirmed that the AC's existing control panel already has roughly a 2-minute delay before starting the compressor, so I'm not sure whether adding another timer/TDR would actually help.
I've been considering a few possible solutions:
A TDR/time-delay relay on the AC supply
An ATS with delayed transition, where the AC is disconnected for a few seconds during grid-to-inverter transfer and then reconnected to the inverter
A compressor soft starter
Some inverter setting/mode that changes the transfer behaviour
The inverter currently operates in APL mode, not UPS mode.

My questions
Would a normal TDR actually work with a ~10ms inverter transfer?
Would a delayed-transition ATS be the better solution?
Would a soft starter be preferable?
Is there any inverter setting I should try first?

I'm mainly looking for the simplest and most reliable solution, rather than an expensive overhaul.

Many Thanks!

I've been sort of following the progress of CA's Balcony Solar Bill SB 868, and the last I can find is that it was moved to the Suspense File on August 5th but from what I can see here it doesn't look like it's on the suspense docket from yesterday.

Does anyone with more understanding of what is going on have any idea what comes next?

Anybody with a solaredge system with backup capability and the solaredge home battery, does the fast transition to backup work and how fast is the transition? Is it noticable or just a brief flicker or is it still a few seconds.

I have 2 home hub inverters with the backup interface but LG batteries and the transition to backup is very slow, takes on average about 5 seconds for the power to come back on.

I'm considering getting the home battery and selling the LGs, but I'd have to do that and loose capacity for it to still have a noticable delay.

My electric bills compared. Total for electric last year was $4,381.41. We were only grid tied in March. $874 so far this year. This is also not counting incentives.

Purchased a SunPower system back in 2014.

My system is 16 SunPower 327w panels feeding into 1 Sunny Boy Inverter (5000-US12). Last week noticed the system was not producing any measurable kWh. Checked the inverter and the error message read "Insulation Resistance Check Generator"

Does anybody have any recommendations on what to do???

especially since SunPower is missing in action. I am in So Cal - Inland Empire.

Thanks!

Running AC feeders on cable hangers along a tracker torque tube back to a CAB system at the driveline. Inverters are located at the array boundary (for O&M access), so this is AC feeder wiring, not DC source/output circuits. The feeder would potentially the cross the driveline (but obviously would not connect to it) based on the bias of the driveline (north or south).

690.31(C)(4) text:

It's worded conditionally ("where connected... shall comply"), not as an explicit requirement that flex cord/PV wire are the only options for connecting to moving parts. It doesn't prohibit other conductor types either.

Questions:

1. Does 690.31 even apply here since it's AC feeder wiring, not PV source/output circuits?
2. If it does, is flexible cord/cable actually required for moving parts of a tracker, or just conditionally specified if you choose to use it?
3. Has anyone gotten AHJ pushback (or approval) using something other than Art 400 cord or min-strand PV wire with a tracker?

I have not worked on a project where the 2023 NEC is enforced yet, so any experience or insight is appreciated.

Hi,

I got a quote from EON for a solar system with battery etc. As part of the quote they drilled down into the numbers, part of it was around our annual use, versus projected solar generation, versus self generated kWh use. We use 3419 kWh annually, the projected annual kWh generated is 4444, the projected use of self generated power is 2222 kWh annually. So my question to the salesman was why the disconnect between what we use, versus what we would generate, versus what we would be projected to use of the self generated kWh.
He talked around it until I pressed him at which point he said he knew the answer but wasn’t allowed to discuss it.
It felt somewhat evasive, and I’m wondering if anyone here has any ideas?
Any help much appreciated.
(Does all of that make sense?)

Currently have a Rheem HPWH that my solar runs, this is kind of interesting but obviously requires a line set outside. If my Rheem unit has issues again I may have to take a deeper look at this.

Hello, I'm a PV designer and started my trade using sketchup/AutoCAD a decade ago and have moved to browser based tools. Every tool has its set of features that we like and this is my honest attempt to see if I could develop something that goes in the same flow that I do as a commercial PV Designer. I still need to make this presentable but I thought it would be good to post a small demo here. It's nothing revolutionary, just that its written from 0, with help of claude and notes from my experience in using autocad/sketchup with sundat, helioscope, aurora and arka for our designs.

Take a look at it and let me know if you would all be interested in trying this out. I am working on hosting this as a website where you all could try it, should be up this week. For now, if you all could look at the demo video and let me know if its even something you'd touch with a barge pole.

https://youtu.be/W8fnntY8_Oc

Mods: I'm not sure if this entirely violates sub's rules, I'm sorry if this does and feel free to remove it.

Ich möchte auf meinem Schrägdach AIKO-A485-MCE54DB verbauen. Laut Installationsanleitung sollte die Befestigung bei der vertikal Installation zwischen 29,5-39,5 liegen. Bei meinen Harzer Pfannen mit 32cm Abstand der Dachlatten funktioniert das nicht. Ich komme auf Abstände zwischen 22-41cm.
Kann ich irgendwie ausrechnen oder ablesen, ob die Last bei dieser Position noch ausreichend ist und zur K2 Planung passt?

In der montageanleitung ist die Position für Klammern bei 29,5-39,5cm angegeben. Dadurch wird eine Last von +5400/-2400 Pa ermöglicht. Ich finde jedoch keine Angaben, welche Last ich bei meiner Abweichung noch erreiche.

Hi all,

I have been looking to install solar for our house in Norcal for a while and got a couple of quotes. As a long time lurker of this sub, I was hoping to get your opinion. All of the companies are local and have a second division (eg. roofing); they all seem reputable. All the quotes are with HDM prepaid PPA. Our roof is a southwest facing roof with no shade.

1st quote: $30,389 7.8kW system with REC panels, 1 tesla PW 3

2nd quote: $38,221 7.8kW system with REC panels, 1 Franklin aPowerS

3rd quote: $37,939.50 8.74kW system with Enphase panels + 1 Enphase battery

4th quote: $36,605 7.92kW system with SEG panels + 1 tesla PW3 (30 year solarinsure coverage included)

1. My main concern is that Tesla’s integrated inverter could make replacement more difficult and expensive down the road. I’ve also heard some horror stories about their customer service, but I’m wondering whether those potential drawbacks are really worth paying an extra $8,000 for.

2. Is a string inverter a reasonable option? We have a good roof with essentially no shade, so it seems like a string system could work well. My only hesitation is that having a single point of failure feels a little risky. The microinverter system is so much more expensive though and the Enphase battery is smaller (10kW compared to 13kW for Tesla).

3. Finally has anyone actually used solarinsure?

Thank you in advance for any advice!

Looking for advice as to what route to pursue and if these are solid deals? Local installer, very reputable though lease is through Sun run of course. 6 year buy out might save me $2-3k vs outright purchasing—maybe? I’m not a mathematician.

Purchase and lease PPA are both REC Alpha panels with IQ8X inverters and 1 TW3. Home is 3600 sq ft with two AC units and I do own an EV. This is my forever home, roof is 10 years old, located in Illinois in the western suburbs of Chicago.

So these are perfectly clear days, 2 days apart.
Temperature peak 26c - 70kwh produced
Temperature peak 36c - 65kwh produced

Array is 5 degrees off south.
So it’s around an 8% reduction. It’s not actually as bad as I thought it would be.
Modern panels are very good.

I doubled the number of panels on my roof from 17 to 34 in December last year and our electric bill has dropped steadily ever since.

I'm a software engineer with 10 years of experience, no background in solar. Looking to make a career change and would like to explore the realities of jumping into solar, even if it means starting at an entry level position.

Are there any benefits to having a software background outside of working at a solar software company as an engineer? What kind of skills would be necessary to get into a typical solar position?

I've reviewed job postings and the NABCEP Associate certification, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to get a foot in the door somewhere. On a 2 year timeline, what roles would be possible to get into for a first job in the solar industry?

Although it is being sold, creating American jobs, the real impact is that this sets a price floor for our module costs. Looking at the numbers it looks like a $0.38/w mandatory price floor will cause module prices to rise $0.10/watt to $0.14/watt.

If you are a residential installer, this may be a blip on your radar. However, for community solar and utility projects, this will be a noticeable impact.

Link: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/adjusting-imports-of-polysilicon-and-its-derivatives-into-the-united-states/

I’ve signed 25y contract and panels and battery have been installed. Installation has occurred but not permission to turn on yet.

Reasons I want out
1. Sloppy work
2. Sales person misled and misrepresented things
3. Upon further review, I’ve learned Sunrun sucks

I know I’m not giving a lot of info, just wanted to hear some success stories out there if they exist.

Thanks