Solar install turning out really bad - looking for some help/advice please.

[Alisobob]

When I saw your first post with the conduit ratsnest.... I had a fear it was all going in this direction.



So... what to do now?

Tell him to STOP!!!!

I'm a contractor in California, and have seen plenty of jobs go sideways.... very few ( if any) ever straighten out with the original contractor.

I would find a construction lawyer in AZ who specializes in solar immediately!!!

Better to be proactive on this now... than continue to drag in out over who knows how much time.

Sorry to hear of your situation...

I still think this was good advice, from 12-11-14 . You would be done by now.

[control4userguy]

Don't bother notifying him- he is still stringing you along. Fix #6 to read "Contractor installed incorrect conduit". Don't pretend he actually did something right anywhere in your filing. Also, don't let him back onsite once you have filed. That will slow your already slow progress. You can't expect anything good to come from him so why repeat the same mistake by letting him touch things.

[HX_Guy]

City said no amended permit was dropped off with them yesterday or today. They checked with the office staff and in the "pending" pile (ones that haven't been entered into the system yet) and they do not have it.

Given that, I've filled out a formal complaint with the ROC and am filing it tomorrow.
These are the complaints I outlined and followed up with detailed explanations.


These are the "further explanations" if anyone wants to take a read. There's probably more than just these but I feel this tells the story well enough.

Explanations for Complaint - PDF

I'm just wondering if I should send him an email and copy of the complaint, something to the effect of...

"Please be advised I spoke with the City and they stated an amended permit was not submitted to them for his project as you confirmed earlier today. I am submitting a formal complaint to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. I apologize that it has come to this but I have given you fair warning multiple times."

Yay on that or screw him and just file it and don't contact him again?

[sdold]

Yeah, #3 would be my ideal situation. Brining a lawyer into it would drag this on so much longer...weeks, months even maybe.

I don't think anyone said to hire a lawyer, we just said to go see one for an hour or two and get some advice so you don't make any more bad choices.

[HX_Guy]

Maybe there's still hope???

Called the installed just now and he answered the phone. Whoa.

And he was "nice". Whoa x 2.

Called him, fully expecting him not to answer, but he did. I asked him if he can give me a status update and a definite day of when they would come out to fix the items needed.

Seems he in the meantime he figured out that the work doesn't need to be redone, the permit can be changed to match what has already been installed (which was an option I was saying on here too). Said the permit was submitted with the city yesterday and they told him since it's just a small change, it should be ready to pick back up on Monday. So he figures Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest they will come back out and fix the other small items that are needed (two things really...run the wire up on the roof through conduit...about 6' worth that exposed and touching the roof tiles and add a bond bushing inside the inverter).

Keeping my fingers crossed!

[HX_Guy]

Yeah, #3 would be my ideal situation. Brining a lawyer into it would drag this on so much longer...weeks, months even maybe.

I did hear back from the ROC saying that once a formal complaint is filed, an inspector will come out to assess and verify the complaint and then the contractor will be given 15 days to complete the job. So I do have that leverage. Plus I can still have the payment I made to him reversed.

As for brining someone in to inspect it afterwards, I guess I could, but I also feel confident I could self inspect it as well. Luckily there aren't that many connection points where there could be potential problems...really on the roof it's just the MC4 connectors that he assembled and the combiner box, which I worked on myself so I know it's good. Then on the ground you have all he connections between the inverter, the meter socket, the disconnect and the service panel. Those are all very easy to check for tightness. Any missing grounds or other code items on the ground the city inspector seems to have caught already and I'm sure will look even more closely the second time around.

[Volusiano]

The situation is so screwed that I can't even fire the guy apparently. I've reached out to the Registrar of Contractors to get information on how the process of a formal complaint would work and I'm waiting on an email back but I was told by another electrians that I can't bring in someone new to finish the job at this point. I have to file a formal complaint with the ROC and also give the current installer written notice of my intent to fire him and bring in someone new otherwise I risk being sued for not giving the installer a fair chance to correct whatever problems there are...as if I haven't given him plently of chances and been more than patient already.

I think if you want to fire the guy then you should consult a lawyer like other posters have suggested.

But if you think you can't fire the guy because 1) nobody else would be willing to come in to fix a mess and 2) the installer holds the current permit and back to (1) nobody would want to start a new permit with a job almost done already, and 3) you just want it to be over it soon, then I guess you'll just have to bite the bullet and let him make the necessary repairs to pass inspection then pony up money for somebody else to check on the workmanship and fix any issue for you in the end (or do it yourself).

[silversaver]

I have #2 wires from main to sub, the 3/4 conduit is hard to pull wires through and had to replace with larger ones.

[Alisobob]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDoIM1dRzGo

[HX_Guy]

I am surprised the contractor and HO still have a relationship, and this job is as close to completion as it is.

That's what blows my mind too. I would love at least an explanation from him, or from anyone, of what the heck is in this guy's head.

Why the hell wouldn't he just get this over with already. I mean it's so close you'd think he would just come out for a couple of hours (at most) and fix the issues quickly and move on. I really don't understand where his head is...does he like being pestered every day about it?

Even more confusing is why he keeps doing things wrong, , when he knows it's wrong, its so weird.
Like I gave the example earlier about the conduit. I made him change this...



To this...



He knew from my verbally telling him, and telling him by text message, and the fact that it's listed right on the permit, that the new conduit needed to be 1". I saw him with a 10 ft piece of 1" conduit after he removed the plastic flexible conduit.

Then he installed 3/4". *head explodes*

Like seriously WHY. Was he trying to prove a point thinking the inspector would pass it with 3/4" and then he could shove it in my face that he was right? I really don't get it.

Using undersized wire I can at least see why...it's way way cheeper, like 1/4 of the cost. He was probably confident it would pass with that smaller wire so why spend more. But the conduit? It costs virtually the same, maybe $2-$3 more for the whole 10' of conduit. And he already had the piece there.

[Living Large]

That's good documentation, but I still think an attorney would be a good investment because making a wrong move could really screw things up.

I agree 100%. I have been involved in a civil lawsuit, and local zoning issues. If you want it done right, bring an attorney. They aren't cheap, but if you want to win they are indispensable. As to whether the HO here needs one and/or a court of law, I don't know. I am surprised the contractor and HO still have a relationship, and this job is as close to completion as it is.

[Living Large]

Never mind how hard yanked; it would be impossible to pull out if properly crimped. An
examination of that or any of his crimps will reveal they are well below standard. Bruce Roe

I am aware it shouldn't pull out without extreme force. The question is, exactly what else is the HO going to get out of this installer before the doo starts really flying. I'd hate to see him end up in court, but being at the insurance company office filing a claim for a burned house is worse.

I was just trying to point out where the installer's head might be - aside from the obvious place.

[sdold]

That's good documentation, but I still think an attorney would be a good investment because making a wrong move could really screw things up.

[HX_Guy]

But I don't think a small claims judge would believe an installer that says "Your honor, he musta gone on the roof and undid all my good work and did his own!!!"

But he'll believe your installer, because you really did go up there and re-do much of it, and which part is the judge going to think you did? The part that was done professionally, or the part that looked like it was done by a homeowner?

What about this part?

I think all the photos, emails and text message conversations I have will be proof enough to show that he is in fact to blame if it comes down to that."

Here, I'll even put up a screenshot from my text messages with him right after the roofing thing happened...



I also have texts that specifically talk about him using the plastic flex conduit instead of 1" EMT and about using 6AWG instead of #4 and #2 where specified on the permit.

[sdold]

No doubt he's a liar but if he's going to go that route, he could have blamed me for it even if I never touched anything.

But I don't think a small claims judge would believe an installer that says "Your honor, he musta gone on the roof and undid all my good work and did his own!!!"

But he'll believe your installer, because you really did go up there and re-do much of it, and which part is the judge going to think you did? The part that was done professionally, or the part that looked like it was done by a homeowner?

Edit: The Professional part of the install I refer to is the work you did, just want to make that clear, I think you did a great job.