Solar panels Up and running

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tadashi @ Sep 12 2007, 09:30 PM) [snapback]511691[/snapback]</div>

Well if it isn't the original location when the house was built in 1922 it's the location when the house was remodeled in 1949. The reader goes on the balcony of the apartment next door and reads both the electrical meter on the house and the gas meter on the garage will a little telescope. Mine is not the only house in San Diego which SDG&E does this. They've been doing it for the 20 years I've lived there. Even when I didn't have dogs. But now with the PV they are a lot fussier. The SDG&E guy told a story about drug dealers in Clairemont who had PV installed and grew marijuana with hydroponics and grow lights at night. No one had a clue because no one knew how much electricity they were using.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tadashi @ Sep 12 2007, 09:30 PM) [snapback]511691[/snapback]</div>

Well I have a detached garage. And the original circuit breaker box is in a closet in the kitchen. So they'll have to run conduit from the attic of the house to the garage and then to the northwest corner of the garage. While the side of the kitchen where the meter and shutoff currently are will be cleaner to look at with all of that removed, I'll have many holes drilled in my siding that will have to be patched and painted over, plus a hole straight up in the soffit through the roof. I just had the roof done in 2001 with 50 year rated architectural shingles. So the roof is going to have to be patched. Patched all over. I am pissed because if the meter had been corrected relocated when the service was switched from 60 to 125 NONE of it would have happened.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tadashi @ Sep 12 2007, 09:30 PM) [snapback]511691[/snapback]</div>

I would advise anyone thinking of doing this to yes, contact the net metering guy to get any info. I would also get him and the City Inspector out to look at your project before any work is done at all. They can say up front what they want and you can make sure that that is what they get when the work is done. None of this trying to fix it after it's WRONG.

Found out from my Chiropractor today that she has friends that had grief from Borrego Solar too. And she says NEVER buy Pella Windows. She went through hell with them.

 

Godiva,

I feel for ya sistah. The nano-consolation is that your experience has provided other people (including me) with information about some of the pitfalls to this kinda thing. I'm planning to do a solar installation at some point. We're trying to figure out if we're gonna move or stay put. Once we've made that decision (and act on it, if necessary) we'll start getting serious about it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tadashi @ Sep 13 2007, 08:02 PM) [snapback]512246[/snapback]</div>

I haven't heard yet. End of day two. No phone message or e-mail from Borrego Solar morons. Ken from SempraEnergy did e-mail me back. He suggested I give them a few more days. Says he can't recommend anyone (against company policy) but will talk on Monday when he gets back. He's going out of town.

I'll be building a gate this weekend and installing in on the identified fencepost. If I can't manage, I know a guy I can hire to do it.

I am also calling the electrician that did my panel upgrade. He did a fine job; did exactly what he was supposed to do. Who knew it was in the wrong place. I'm going to have him add an outlet in my little kitchen closet next to the water heater closet in preparation for the installation of a tankless installation. I'll be calling a few companies to get bids. Hopefully that will not be the disaster the PV has turned out to be. But I know a LOT more about plumbing than I know about PV code. Once I choose a plumber I'll be scheduling that installation.

While the electrician is there I'm going to talk to him about the move, whether he could do it all and how much he would charge. I know he can do the service, not so sure about the shutoff. But...if he can and Ken can supply the exact specifications that need to be met....he's my guy.

Borrego Solar can BITE ME.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tripp @ Sep 13 2007, 09:50 PM) [snapback]512291[/snapback]</div>

I get the feeling quite a few solar companies take advanatage of their clients.

1. Know how much system you need and the size of the inverter.

2. Check with your city inspector to see if your service can provide whatever the inverter size requires. The service is NOT determined by the size of your array but the size of your inverter. If you purchase a larger inverter that can accommodate more panels in the future, you may be required to have a service that can accommodate those future panels even though they are only a pipe dream.

3. Check with the netmetering guy with your local utility to learn about any special accommodations that need to be made. Such as having the meter and shutoff accessible 24/7.

I would suggest doing all three above before even having a company out to look over the system and give you a bid. As with everything else, the more you know, the better you can judge who knows their stuff and who doesn't. And you can STILL get burned.

Oh, and document EVERYTHING. I'd also insist on having copies of all permits or any documents from the city inspector and the utility company. Some of my problem was I was trying to set up an inspection for a project and I didn't even know the permit number.

If possible, I'd also be there for the entire thing to supervise their work AND absolutely to be there for every inspection. I would have known about my service being inadequate if I had been there for the rough inspection. Of course, if I had had both the city inspector and SDG&E out to inspect my property before any work had started, I would have known my service wasn't enough and it was in the wrong place. I would have had to pay for the entire upgrage myself, but at least it would have be placed in the right area to begin with.