11 Important Steps when Installing Solar

[LazyLion]

Here are some important steps to follow when installing a solar system.

• 
  Use a power meter to determine the consumption for your property to accurately determine the size of the PV system.
  The roof should be measured and assessed to determine the space requirements. Also make sure your roof is able to handle the weight.
  Use qualified electrical engineers to design the system, electricity is dangerous.
  Use qualified electricians to install the system, the electrician must issue a CoC on completion of the installation.
  Check the warranties for the panels and inverters.
  Check the international photon test results to determine how your panels and inverters compare to the rest of the field.
  Have quality checks done at the end of the system installation and get sign-off from the company installing.
  Ask for photos of the installation.
  Ask for all technical documentation, drawings, warranties, etc. This will be useful for service checks if you decide to use a different company from the installing company.
  Thermal imaging will give an in-depth view of any issues that may not be visible. This will show hot-spots on the cable or a defect in a panel.
  Check the credentials of the company you are choosing, make sure they have been in industry longer than 3 years. Make sure that the design and engineers are credible.

Email [email protected] if you need any more advice.
http://carteblanche.dstv.com/11-important-steps-installing-solar/

 

[Compton_effect]

The roof should be measured and assessed to determine the space requirements. Also make sure your roof is able to handle the weight.

I found out a interesting fact this weekend.
If you have a roof and you put a second covering over the existing - ie: Corrugated iron covered with roof tiles - you need to get a engineer's certificate that your structure can handle the additional weight.
Looks like solar on your roof will be handled exactly the same - it will affect your insurance as well as any future real estate valuations.

Ad if you are fitting gas for your stove - make sure it complies with the standards.
Worth doing now - to save you headaches in the future.

 

[itareanlnotani]

All good points.

Also extremely important and not mentioned is the legality of connecting up in the different area's.
Each municipality and Eskom have different connection rules (and fee's!).
It is essential to look at those first to see what install options are available to you, as this impacts the install the most.

eg, in some area's you can legally grid tie, in others not. In some area's feeding back costs you money with daily fee's, in others not.

What you can / can't do impacts heavily on the install.

 

[richjdavies]

Wow - how does one get featured on Carte blanche like that -- good effort guys!

Use a power meter to determine the consumption for your property to accurately determine the size of the PV system.

Couldn't agree more!
Even more importantly -- use that Power meter to reduce your load and usage before you install something. Lots of Solar guys (water more than PV) over-estimate how much they'll save you. After all, once you start being conscious of where you can save you start making savings outside of the installation they sell you. So people think it's the solar water heater that saved them half their bill, but actually a big chunk of that saving is down to them being careful about energy use elsewhere (switching off lights etc.).