SOLAR

I really haven't blogged much about solar.  People are probably thinking Pacific NW doesn't it rain all the time?  Why have solar?  While sunny helps for solar, panels still generate power on cloudy days, and they actually are more efficient when the air is cooler.  A 100 degree day is not good for solar.

Initially we wanted a net zero house with no natural gas and to use electricity for everything and have that offset by solar, but a few design choices led us to having gas powered radiant heat in the basement and  gas powered hot water.  Both are on a tankless system, and with a well insulated basement the radiant heat system should be super efficient.  For the upper level we chose an electric ductless mini split heat pump system that the solar should more than offset and for cooking we chose induction over gas.  While I have not used induction before I've been impressed by the demonstrations, most if not all of my current cookware will work and it doesn't use gas.

Another big reason for doing solar is that before the end of the 2016 the Federal government has a huge incentive.  30% of the cost is paid back in a tax credit, not a deduction but a credit, it's basically like a 30% off sale, since when tax time comes around that amount is taken off of my bill.   On top of that until the year 2020 the local utility company will pay 54 cents for every kwh generated whether or not I use it or put it back into the grid.  OK further research is showing now that value is more like 40 cents due to the number of people taking advantage of it and the utility company having a cap, either way it's a good deal.

So what did we install.  We put up 20 Itek 285kw panels for a system total of 5700kw.   We went with 10 Blue Frog micro inverters versus a serial inverter, they cost a bit more, but the warranty is 5 times as much and they have really cool internet monitoring built in, so you can see how your system is performing, all you do is plug the monitoring device into a wall outlet, it will sense the solar panels and record the data.  The device even connects to the internet over WiFi.

This system should cover 90-100% of our electrical needs.  Check back in a year for an update.

A few other key details.  I will have two electrical meters, a production (solar) and a net (utility company) basically it tracks what I'm feeding the grid versus what I use.  When I generate more than I use like say in July I get credits from the utility company, in February when the situation is reversed the utility company applies the credits  generated over the summer months to cover the difference.

The question I get the most is will you have power when the power goes out.  FALSE.  This is not true.  This is for safety reasons, mostly to protect fire fighting and utility company crews.  If the inverter senses no power from the grid it shuts down and will not deliver any power to the electrical panel.  There is also a shutoff switch on the exterior of my house between the two meters that utility or fire fighters can pull to shut off the power from the solar system.

Here are some pics.

You can sort of see the panels.  I need a drone to get a better pic, suppose I could climb up o the roof too.  Will save that for a later day.

You can at least see the gap underneath them in this pic.

Sub panel to the left is for solar, the power from the panels comes into here first.

Exterior meters, Net, Production and the shutoff

Insulation, Solar, Drywall

Things are progressing.   The insulation crew came out, spray foamed the rim joist, then insulated the garage ceiling and walls, we also had them insulate a few interior walls for sound dampening.  Like the bathrooms, master bedroom, and between the floors

The drywall crew dropped off all the materials and should start hanging tomorrow. This is a day we've been waiting for.

The Solar crew finished putting the panels on the roof and their electrician is close to being done setting up the solar meter and shutoff switch.

Here are the latest pics.

View from the street.  Siding is almost complete, and you can sorta see the solar panels.

Downstairs ceiling insulation between floors, this was also mostly done to reduce noise.

With the low pitch roof it's hard to get a good pic of the panels.

Interior insulation around Master BDR and powder bath, and the drywall is staged.

Garage insulated

Master BDR from the inside.  Mini split on the wall, insulation , drywall staged.  The metal framing on the left is for the pocket door to the closet.

Adding some 10-2 to the electrical panel for Solar.

Passed Inspections, drywall coming soon

I know it's been a few days, and I left everyone hanging with the pending inspections.    Here's how it went.  The city passed, ducting, gas, plumbing, framing.  Woohoo.  On Monday LnI failed electrical, but that was sort of planned.  All of the corrections were minor ( mud plate for the gas line bond, I  missed a wall section that required an outlet, and a requirement for the outdoor outlets I missed ( I had 3, but missed a location detail so now I have 4)  and a few other random easy fixes )  Anyways I performed the required corrections and passed on Thursday.  Now I can run power to the panel.    I haven't figured out the timing of this as I don't think I want power until after the drywallers are complete.

So that covers the inspection piece.  Well I have another one tomorrow for in wall speaker wire.  I didn't know speaker wires required an inspection, but the inspector kindly informed me when I was talking to him about the Cat 6 cabling, actually I've found all of the inspectors to be quite helpful.

The siding crew still has a few days of work.  It's taking longer than expected but they continue to have labor shortages.  3 sides are done and they are now working on the front.

I've been preparing for the drywallers, mostly by tidying up any wiring, making sure nail plates are in, foam insulating the windows, caulking the sip joints and putting up the sip tape.  I've also been staining the soffit boards for the front entry, and miscellaneous cleanup plus dump runs.   Probably a few other things I'm missing like running the coax and ethernet, installing drip lines for the mini splits screening the fresh air intakes.   I'm just happy anytime I check something off a list.

What's next?  Tomorrow I have some subs coming out to spray foam 2 inches of foam around the rim joist.  This is the section of house between the floors.  I'm not sure if it's required by code and I know 20 years ago this generally wasn't done, but IMO it's a good idea.   On Friday the same crew is coming out to insulate the garage ceiling, and the walls between the garage and the house.  Even though the garage is heated this is still a code thing.  They are also going to sound insulate a few walls.  Primarily around bathrooms and the Master bedroom.

Next week should be absolute chaos.  Drywallers on Monday, rain gutters and the solar panels on Tuesday.

Not much that is too exciting in pictures, but here are the latest

Electrical Inspection passed sticker on the meter.   Some coax hanging out of the house and the mini split refrigerant lines.

Random wiring picture

Electrical panel.   Notice the green inspection approval sticker.  8-)  

More random wiring pics.  I hope I remember what's going on in this box.   Kidding.  I actually wrote it down.

Siding complete on the East side and North side.

Ethernet ( cat 6 ) and coax panel

Staining soffit boards