Site Analysis, Engineering and Installation

Site Analysis

The first steps in assessing your site for a potential photovoltaic (PV) system installation is to understand both your energy needs and the solar viability of your location. 

We will pull a report from PG&E that will show the last two years of your utility electricity usage.  This report is important for us to understand how much energy your property uses and during what time of year.  Once we have a handle on this data, we can design a solar system that will meet your specific energy needs.  Your electricity usage data also allows us to accurately outline your expected utility cost savings per month, the percentage of your energy usage which will be offset by your solar system and your return on investment on the installed system.

The physical site assessment is obviously a very important part of qualifying your property for a solar system installation.  Your site should have somewhat clear, unobstructed access to the sun.  Buildings, trees or other vegetation should not shade your site, though some shade can be worked around within the design of the system.  We use a digital shade analysis device which helps us understand which sections of your site will be shaded at certain times of day and year.  PV systems facing southeast to west deliver optimal production.  Several factors such as tilt, sun exposure, and location also affect energy production.  If a rooftop is not available, your PV system can also be mounted on the ground.  American Solar can find a solar solution for almost any site.

We also will examine and map out your home AC distribution system.  The energy produced by the solar system back-feeds to your home’s electrical system using the same type of breaker that is in your current breaker box.  We need to verify that there is space in your main breaker box (or AC subpanels) for this breaker, and also confirm a good location to mount your inverter, which can be inside or outside.

It is also helpful for us to determine the structural dimensions of your roof rafters, which the solar racking will be mounted to.  We will also figure out where the electrical conduit, running from the solar system to the inverter, would be best routed. 

Of course we must pay good attention to the condition of your roofing surface.  Because a solar system is meant to be installed and in place for 30+ years, it’s important that if any roofing repairs are needed, that they occur before the PV system installation.

System Engineering

We will design and engineer your PV system to maximize the amount of electricity it produces.  It’s best to prioritize any south-facing roof surfaces when designing a PV array, then west-facing, then east-facing, all while minding any shading that may occur on those surfaces.  We make sure that the wiring of the solar array is respectful to any shading that may occur throughout the day, so as to maximize the inverter performance.  The pitch of the array with relation to the sun angle is also important to the PV system performance.  On flat or minimally pitched roofs, we may consider a stand-off system to boost the system production.

We also keep in mind the distance of the wiring runs from the array to the inverter, so as to minimize power loss.  The inverter location is also important.  It’s best to locate it in a shaded, cool location.  The cooler the inverter is, the more energy it produces.

System Installation

Once a Service Agreement is signed by American Solar and our customer, the work begins promptly.  First, we like to make sure that our initial PV system design is exactly perfect.  Then we start with creating our electrical drawings for permit submittal, and begin the CSI rebate application process.  Once we have permits in hand we will get your project on our installation schedule. 

The first step in the installation is affixing the solar racking to your roof.  We take our time to make sure that our penetrations are secure and very thoroughly waterproofed.  We understand that our customers are very concerned with the potential of roof leaking due to our installation.  Trust us, we’re as concerned, if not more so.  American Solar issues a 10 year warranty on our installation labor, and we stand by it.  Nothing is more important to us than making sure our work is done right the first time.

The solar array racking installation takes 1-2 days for an average residential PV system.  Once the racking us up, we will begin with the solar panel installation.  This takes about a day typically.  With the array fully built, the next step is the electrical integration of the solar system.  The array wiring is run to the inverter in metal conduit, then from the inverter to the home AC system back-feed breaker.

That’s it, the PV system is installed.  We will make sure that all of the necessary labeling is applied, and then we’re ready for inspections.  We will coordinate and be onsite for all of the necessary inspections.  Once they are complete, PG&E will come out and install your new net meter and the system can be commissioned.  Once it’s initially turned on the entire system is automated.  The inverter will ‘wake up’ the PV system in the morning and turn it off in the late evening. 

Maintenance is very low with a PV system.  On occasion, you will want to make sure that your system is on and operating when it should be by glancing at the inverter.  You also want to visually inspect the rooftop array from time to time to make sure there isn’t dirt build up or debris accumulating.  That’s about it.  Sit back and let your PV system produce clean, renewable energy from sunshine for the next 30+ years.