Solar power install with deer: pole-mounted PV array

pole-mount (ground-mount) solar PV system, what it looks like during construction, and some information on the wiring and solar in general.

All solar PV panels generate Direct Current ("DC") in the daylight, converting the energy of the sun into the movement of electrons. DC current is like a cattle drive, where all the electrons are moving in one direction, to the load, then they move back to the source. Thus, DC current is one steady flow of energy born by electrons in motion.

The DC power goes to an integral DC cutoff, which enables electricians to cut off the flow of DC power TO the inverter when servicing it. This DC power is the most pure you can imagine, it's great for welding, and you can easily strike an arc with it. These high-voltage inverters run at about 400v, and generate about 5 kW, or about 12 amps to use if you wanted to weld with it. I've struck an arc with DC from a 80v 3 kW system, which had thus about 40 amps.

The DC power goes into the INVERTER, which changes it to standard house current (Alternating Current, or AC). AC current is like a long line of cows doing the Texas Two Step, one step forward, one step back. AC is best for power transmission, but almost all household appliances use DC via internal inverters. Ironically, almost all appliances could run off the DC power from solar panels, the solar system inverter turns it into AC then the appliance turns it back to DC again.

From the inverter the AC power goes to the AC cutoff and the performance meter, which gives a double-check on how much power the solar system produces.

This "grid-tied" system operates like a stream flowing into a river -- it just merges with the utility power, filling up the house first, then, if there's an excess, running the main meter backward and helping the utility meet peak demand.

A battery-backup system runs exactly the same if the grid is up; but the inverter is a different model. Power flows into and then out of the battery-backup inverter; but if the power in fails, or is out of proper range, the inverter (like the grid-tie) islands from the grid. But the battery backup inverter goes to its battery pack, and continues supplying power out to the load based on the batteries. Of course, if you, as I do, have a solar system, the solar refreshes the batteries on the next sunny day, and you can just go on indefinitely, really "off the grid". The battery backup inverter is smart enough to start and use a generator, if you don't have a solar system. Really, installing a battery-backup doesn't require a solar system, it's just a wiring thing, and doesn't even go into your home wiring.

Pole-mounted systems lose the advantage of roof-mounted systems which actually cool the house, lowering the need for air conditioning. Under the panels, it's shade, and it protects the rooftop.

These holes had to be 48" deep, and were filled by 3.5 yards of 5-bag concrete delivered to each hole by a cement truck. The system was wired up according to the prepared Wiring Plan, inspected and approved less than one week later, and is now in operation.

The company is EESolar, Energy Efficiency Solar, of Pomona, CA.

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[liveoilfree]

The first thing that people who go solar usually do, is watch the meter go backwards! Visible proof that they are becoming part of the solution!

[SatwaMan]

I love you Doug, you're videos are an inspiration for many others. THANKS !

[liveoilfree]

Thanks for the words...we had to go 48" deep on that concrete, we were all exhausted and anxious until the pour. Then, just exhausted.

[awomansworld123]

Nice video, thanks for sharing

[CAJUNNSC]

Nicely done. I've recently entered the photovoltaic industry. I appreciate the leg up by those of you willing to help us newbies....thanks. Very well explained, laid out and filmed.... And I must agree those interested are most certainly very special people!

[liveoilfree]

LOL, Linda's husband Howard went through the same progression:  he discovered he could buy a RAV4-EV for what it cost him to gas up his Navigator. Then, he went solar...

[liveoilfree]

If you could charge an EV for your driving, your payback would be even sooner -- and then, the feeling when you drive on clean power you make yourself, is priceless.