The Leading Electrical Brand in China
The Leading Electrical Brand in China
Installing solar panels on your roof allows generating clean renewable electricity to power your home and reduce energy bills. While hiring professional installers is recommended for large home solar systems, DIY installation of small solar panel kits is certainly feasible for the motivated homeowner.
GRL prepared this guide to provide a step-by-step overview of key considerations in planning and installing solar panels safely yourself, including required parts, wiring, costs, and ongoing maintenance. Contact us if you have any questions.
Proper planning helps ensure a smooth solar installation.
Research and obtain necessary permits for solar alterations on your property.
Conduct a shading analysis and survey roof size, orientation and age. This determines ideal panel location and quantity.
Select quality crystalline silicon panels from reputed brands rated for home use. Consider total solar output needed.
Choose durable aluminum/galvanized steel roof mounts or ballasted footing mounts.
String inverter for multiple panels or microinverters for each panel. Check rated wattage for panels used.
Copper wiring rated for outdoor use at 600-1000V like 6-10 AWG solar wire. MC4 connectors join panels.
Essential equipment like harness, ropes, boot, gloves, eyewear for roof work.
Follow good practices during the installation steps:
Based on roof type, attach tower mounts, rafter mounts or ballasts per included instructions.
Carefully mount panels onto racks using appropriate clamps. Do not drop or damage panels.
Securely fasten inverter to wall near electrical panel with lugs facing downwards. Protect from weather.
Connect panel MC4 leads into parallel using snap connectors and home runs to inverter. Use included trunk cables.
Attach inverter AC leads to dedicated breaker in the electrical panel. Follow local codes.
With all connections completed, power-up system and check inverter for energy generation. Inspect for faults.
Some DIY maintenance aspects are:
Periodically clean any accumulated dirt on panels with water and soft brush. Check for debris, overhanging branches causing shade.
Check inverter dashboard from home energy monitoring system. Watch for alerts and drops in production.
Inspect panels, wiring, mounts regularly for any damage, loosening or corrosion issues and address immediately.
Adjust panel angles seasonally for maximum sunlight exposure. Ensure roof vents and chimneys aren’t shading panels.
DIY solar installation helps save on project costs through:
Sourcing panels, inverters, mounts yourself costs less than contractor-supplied parts.
Completing the basic installation work yourself avoids added professional labor fees.
Tax credits, rebates and incentives for home solar further offset total costs.
Be aware of these factors before a DIY solar project:
Consider roof condition, expected lifetime and ability to handle panel loads before installing panels.
An electrician is recommended to connect the solar system inverter to your home electrical panel.
Homeowner associations may have restrictions regarding visible solar panels installations. Check prior to starting.
With careful planning, safety preparations and attention to details, DIY solar panel installation can be a manageable and cost-effective project for the committed homeowner. Follow equipment instructions closely and leverage online resources for wiring diagrams, troubleshooting and tips. But also understand your limitations and don’t hesitate to hire contractors where necessary. Staying safe while reaping electricity bill savings will make the effort of a home solar installation worthwhile.
For a DIY homeowner able to work comfortably on the roof, handle basic wiring and follow instructions, installing a small solar system with microinverters is quite manageable with proper planning.
Standard tools like drills, wrenches and screwdrivers. Safety equipment like harness, ropes, head protection. Voltmeter, crimping tools. Use non-conductive tools for electrical work.
Panels are mounted on racks attached to rafters for sloped roofs and ballasted footing mounts on flat roofs. Leave space between panels for access and ventilation.
Determine your home’s energy usage, factoring in future electric vehicle plans. For most homes, a 3-8 kW system with 12-25 panels sized 250W to 400W is typical for DIY capability.
Microinverters for each panel simplify install but cost more. Single string inverter requires properly sizing and series wiring panels but is cheaper.
Leave at least 3 inches between panels and 6 inches from roof edges for ventilation. Follow manufacturer spacing guidelines based on mounting type.
Use MC4 connectors to snap together panel leads in series to create a string. Parallel connect strings to combiner box feeding the inverter input.
For home solar, 10 AWG is recommended for panel wiring runs, 8 AWG for trunk cables to inverter, 6 AWG inverter AC output to breaker panel.
Use a harness anchored to roof, non-slip footwear, gloves and eye protection. Rope off work areas. Isolate circuits. Work with a partner for emergencies.
It typically takes 2-3 days for a DIY install – 1 day for mounting system, 1 day wiring panels and inverter, 1 day for testing, inspection and repairs if needed.
Typical sequence is permits, site survey, install racking, mount panels, run cabling, connect inverter, AC wiring to panel, testing and inspection, paperwork submission.
In most jurisdictions, structural permits are required for roof mounts. Electrical permits are needed for connecting to home supply. Check local regulations.
Unshaded south facing sloped roofs are ideal. Avoid aged roofs needing replacement soon. Flat roofs can work but require ballasted mounts secured from high winds.
DIY cost for a small 1-3 kW system can range from $4000-$8000 including equipment. Hiring installers typically starts from $15000 and up.
Periodic cleaning especially after storms, snow or heavy pollution. Inspect mounts, wiring for corrosion/damage. Monitor inverter, trim foliage for unshaded access.
It is highly recommended to hire a licensed solar electrician to safely connect the inverter output to home electrical panel and handle permits.
Inverters are wall mounted near the main electrical panel in clean, sheltered spots like garage, utility room or basement to allow short cable runs.
Proper orientation, tilt, clean panels, high quality equipment, sunny climate, tracking mounts where possible maximize solar electricity generation.
Options like low profile mounts, panels matching roof color, clean cabling against walls, screened ground mounts can improve solar system aesthetics.
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