It’s almost as if the folks at the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) knew that we recently posted on Do-it-Yourself Solar. In this month’s SOLAR TODAY magazine, on page 66, the headline is: “Is PV a Do-It-Yourself Option? You may understand the physics of your new photovoltaic system. That doesn’t mean you should bolt it together.”
Authors John Wiles and C. Byron Winn provide a list of 10 questions which will help you decide if DIY solar is the right option. Here’s what they say:
“If you can answer the following questions easily, you might have the skills to install a PV system on your own home, providing, of course that it is legal for you to do so.
1. Are you familiar with volts, amps, and watts?
2. Can you find the tangent of 22.6 degrees?
3. Can you determine the maximum open-circuit voltage of a PV module at your home?
4. What size lag screw will resist 350 pounds of up force in fir lumber?
5. What do the symbols THWN, USE, and RHW mean?
6. Are you a skilled do-it-yourselfer with a wide assortment of hand and power tools?
7. Have you bent and installed EMT?
8. Do you have a torque screwdriver?
9. How do you seal l roof penetrations that will last for 40 years?
10. Can commonly available DC-rated circuit breakers be used at 600 volts?
If you found any of these questions challenging, then it might be best to look for a PV professional to do the design and installation. It is never a bad idea to educate yourself in as many details of the design and installation as you can assimilate, since that will help to ensure that you are getting what you want.”
THWN? And finding tangents? I haven’t done that since 12th grade. Looks like I should stick to blogging.
Are you in California and interested in solar for your home? Call us at 877.SUN.MOJO or visit our website to learn more.
