Can I install solar myself?
On this Solana4U page:
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How can I save money by installing solar myself.
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What can I install myself, and what is better to do by an electrician?
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Net metering application; can I do this myself?
The short answer to Solana4U is ‘yes’, but there are some challenges doing it on your own. Installing solar panels isn’t exactly as simple as hanging a painting on the wall. Installing your own solar is definitely cheaper and gives you an enhanced knowledge of your installation, which is an enormous advantage when it comes to troubleshooting.
Being able to install your own solar depends on:
• Your DIYer skills.
• Electrical knowledge.
• The size of the system.
• The type of the system.
• The “prefabrication” (pre-termination) of breaker boxes, etc.
• Availability of a hands-on installation manual.
• Customer support of the supplier of the solar components.
• The difference between installing now and 5 years ago.
• Life wires & safety.
• Preparation.
• Local laws and regulations.
• Electrical knowledge.
• The size of the system.
• The type of the system.
• The “prefabrication” (pre-termination) of breaker boxes, etc.
• Availability of a hands-on installation manual.
• Customer support of the supplier of the solar components.
• The difference between installing now and 5 years ago.
• Life wires & safety.
• Preparation.
• Local laws and regulations.
Your DIYer skills. This first thing is a no-brainer. If you are used to working with tools, a large part of the solar installation can be carried out by yourself. After all, ….. A large part is not electric-related. Mounting railings and panels on the roof, running conduit piping and mounting inverter and breaker boxes requires more common sense than electric skills.
Electrical knowledge. If you are uncertain if you have enough electrical skills, you can ask an electrician to work on the electrical part of the installation. This falls into three parts:
1. Practical expertise in electrical installation
2. Theoretical knowledge is important to calculate breaker and wire capacity
3. Legal knowledge to make sure that the system complies with the country’s electrical code.
System size. Obviously, this is a consideration. Bigger systems tend to be contracted by companies. But there are compromises. Systems are always a multiple of inverter sizes. For example, … a 20kW single phase system consists often of 4 sets of 5kW. You may decide to let the first 5kW to be done by a contractor, look how he does it, and then do the remaining 3 x 5 kW yourself. For residential I would 1kW below classify as small, 1kW-7kW as medium and 7kW and above as big installations. That’s for residential.
System type.
• Single phase. There is a general misperception that grid tied systems are complicated and off-grid battery systems are not. It is actually the other way around. The system design (breakers, wire sizes etc.) is much easier in a grid tied system than with batteries. Also, the number of components, the number of breakers etc., are less in a grid tied system.
• Three-phase. Normally these systems are not suitable as DIY. They will be done by an installer or own-hired electrician.
The “prefabrication” (pre-termination) of breaker boxes etc. One of the challenging parts are often the protective devices and their termination (wiring). In some solar companies you can buy these “pre-terminated” and then the only challenge is to mount this pre-terminated breaker box close enough to the inverter. These are often straight male/female connectors which makes everything simple; especially in a grid tied system. Installation manual. Some solar companies supply a hard copy along with their DIY packages. This can be very useful. Often it is an “eye-opener” for the inexperienced DIY-er and makes them realize how simple it is to install. (in particular grid tied systems)
Customer support. An important catalysator to give the customer confidence to actually engage in DIY. Customer support can be site-visits, giving technical advise where to place the panels and inverter, how to run the conduit-piping and wiring. It can ultimately also include commissioning, energizing the system including works on the life-wiring.
Difference between installing now and 5 years ago. In 1879, about 150 years ago you had to be a professor like “Thomas Edison” to switch on a lightbulb. Nowadays a 3 year old child can do it. The take-away from this statement is that the solar industry develops fast, knowledge becomes more available, packages more user-friendly for DIY. Solar is a relatively young and dynamic industry, constantly adapting. Where 5 years ago specialized skills were required to install solar yourself, the bar is set a whole lot lower for today’s DIY-er.
Life wire & safety. As a DIY a responsible installer should point out the danger working on/near life wires. Normally this part of the installation (often the final tapping) should be carried out by the installer himself. Educate yourself on the dangers, both physical and electrical before works.
Preparation. Educate yourself on the sequence and possible hazards; the installation manuals of the various components; the routing of cables, location of tapping point, breaker boxes etc. Make sure you have the proper tools and equipment to carry out your DIY. Watch YouTube videos and try to discover the challenges others overcame before you.
Local law and regulations. Last but not least, the installation should comply with local law in regulations. Knowledge is required to make sure of the technical requirements. There are perhaps permits to be applied for and maybe approval and/or supervision from an Electrical Engineer.
