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

[HX_Guy]

Heh, thanks for the comments aliris. No second thoughts...it's been a surreal experience over the past couple of years. That crazy, frustrating, educational, rewarding ordeal turned into a company that will do over 6mW in sales this year.

[aliris]

HX-Guy: thank you. Clearly, you're quite a character, in all the good senses of that term. Yup, you could have hired a competent person from the get-go, using real-live money. You could have sent this joker packing. You could also have gotten offended at how some have dissed your 'style', the hiring choices you made, etc. But it seems to me you've demonstrated patience and kindness, creativity and generosity in flipping this to your own monetary advantage as well as to the greater common public good as an object lesson and incredibly in-depth learning tool. Not to mention enjoyable read. Your persistence has reamed good from disastrous, and a lot of people are better off for it.

Do you have second thoughts now about the whole labor-sharing collective that originally bound you to this guy?

[HX_Guy]

The punchline in this one is that the customer (HX_Guy) learned so much correcting all of his contractor's mistakes that he started his own solar business afterwards.

Crazy how that turned out isn't it? Talk about a silver lining. We've done over 2.5mW since March 2015 with 1.3mW in the last quarter alone.

[ncs55]

Thanks for saving me silversaver, sensij, now I can go on and learn something new and maybe help others along the way. I was going to dive into this tonight, now I do not have to. And even though we sometimes disagree, I still think you guys rock!

[ncs55]

Unreal, TY.

[silversaver]

The racking appears to be Unirac and should have a proper stanchion made by Unirac for this racking system to avoid failure and warranty issues. I have attached a picture of what was used there, which is common for installing pool heating collectors and should be stainless. The flexible conduit should be metallic but which ever is used it cannot exceed 6 ft. in length by code. Just lazy not to use EMT there. Also note that it is unsafe and not code to use THHN THWN type of wire under an array without it being in conduit. And zip ties? really? where are the wire management clips? A sad but true fact is that the inspectors will not travel up on the roof anymore so obviously he plans on that strategy for passing the fire code setbacks. You should have a separate qualified contractor write up a report for the issues there, (one that will be willing to go to court with you). If this is California, Call up the CA CSLB and report everything to them first, they will guide you on proper legal procedure and start an investigation of the license being questioned. The building dept cannot help you, nor do they even care. If you were in my area, S.D. I would help you remove this person of their license through and with the CSLB because I see stuff like this all of the time and the contractor has usually has gone out of business when the incorrect installation becomes a failure. I did not read the whole thread before replying, probably should have. I just hate seeing this sort of stuff going on.

Don't waste your time on this thread. OP is trying to saving $$$ by looking after a F-rating installer and use the so call "business barter group" to pay with exchange service to save even more money. Later trying not paying the installer with the fark up job he received. Basically a great example of "I'll out smart you and try not to pay you."

[sensij]

I did not read the whole thread before replying, probably should have. I just hate seeing this sort of stuff going on.

The punchline in this one is that the customer (HX_Guy) learned so much correcting all of his contractor's mistakes that he started his own solar business afterwards.

[ncs55]

As you guys probably saw in my other thread, my installer seemed to be pretty lazy/cutting corners from the start. It has only gotten much worse and now I'm in the thick of this and not really sure what my options are.

I'm not even sure if what he is doing is correct and or legal. A few things...

He is completely not following what we agreed on for the system design or what was approved on the permit.
We agreed on a layout that was mostly landscape panels in a particular arrangement, and he completely changed it without notice.
In changing this, he did not follow the fire setback code at all (which is 3' from the ridge, and that what is shown on the permit). There are spots where he left 0 setback and others where he left 2'.

He is not using the wire gauge specified on the permit, which calls for 4AWG. He is using 6AWG and 8AWG. Also not using the specified conduit thickness, which affect the fill and that was approved for a certain amount.

The permit calls for 6"x2"x2" posts for the racking with flashing and sealant. He used only lag bolts, directly through the tile and through the paper and caulked both with silicon, no flashing of any kind. The racks feels flimsy, they easily shake if you move them...can just lag bolts hold up hundreds of pounds of panels?

So now what I'm not sure. How he expects this to pass inspection I have no idea, especially the wire thickness which can easily be checked by an inspector or especially the fire setback.

The racking appears to be Unirac and should have a proper stanchion made by Unirac for this racking system to avoid failure and warranty issues. I have attached a picture of what was used there, which is common for installing pool heating collectors and should be stainless. The flexible conduit should be metallic but which ever is used it cannot exceed 6 ft. in length by code. Just lazy not to use EMT there. Also note that it is unsafe and not code to use THHN THWN type of wire under an array without it being in conduit. And zip ties? really? where are the wire management clips? A sad but true fact is that the inspectors will not travel up on the roof anymore so obviously he plans on that strategy for passing the fire code setbacks. You should have a separate qualified contractor write up a report for the issues there, (one that will be willing to go to court with you). If this is California, Call up the CA CSLB and report everything to them first, they will guide you on proper legal procedure and start an investigation of the license being questioned. The building dept cannot help you, nor do they even care. If you were in my area, S.D. I would help you remove this person of their license through and with the CSLB because I see stuff like this all of the time and the contractor has usually has gone out of business when the incorrect installation becomes a failure. I did not read the whole thread before replying, probably should have. I just hate seeing this sort of stuff going on.

[azdave]

(And, 80 pages? I just see 54 from where I sit now.)

Due to recent forum layout conversions and personal display settings, the page count may vary from person-to-person. The number of replies is accurate (809 including this one).

[smily03]

Wow, what a read...but seriously, thanks for sharing with us all! Glad it all worked out pretty well in the end...! Hopefully it keeps producing for you many, many years down the road.

(And, 80 pages? I just see 54 from where I sit now.)

[oilerlord]

Update on the system? It's doing great! It's produced 11.23MWh so far since install.



And some "feel good" info.



As for the new solar venture, that's doing great also. We've done over $1.2M in sales, sold 37 systems, have a team of 12 guys and looking to expand...so I guess in the end maybe the whole experience was a blessing in disguise.

That's awesome! A real success story.

I (and I'm sure others) have learned a lot from your trials & tribulations, and have shown others that DIY is possible but not necessarily recommended. To that end, and with some of my own sweat equity, my project came in at about CDN$2.17/ watt. I procured all of the equipment on my own and hired a small solar start-up for the install. You helped me avoid a ton of mistakes, but more importantly, helped me ensure it was done right.

https://easyview.auroravision.net/easyview/index.html?entityId=7466210

During installation, side view of our west facing "solar wall", this was a big challenge but it turned out great. The goal was having it appear as a row of 2nd floor windows:

pic4.jpg

Overhead view:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0404kj6nyltuub9/DJI00169.JPG?dl=0

Thanks again!

I've reccomended my vendor to a few people. I never say they will be the cheapest... I describe them as providing a good value..... with excellent workmanship.

[Alisobob]

As for the new solar venture, that's doing great also. We've done over $1.2M in sales, sold 37 systems, have a team of 12 guys and looking to expand...so I guess in the end maybe the whole experience was a blessing in disguise.

Life is funny like that....

Good job!

[HX_Guy]

He had such a great time, he's gone into the business. Seriously.

Wouldn't exactly say I had a great time...but sure did learn a lot!

[HX_Guy]

Did the new venture do the install?
Inquiring minds want to know!

Do which install?