Anyone from jersey here who did his install/application mostly himself?

[darkyputz]

Hello...

After hitting a wall from installer quotes that would never repay themselves, i was thinking of doing my system myself..
now i am looking for experience exchange and try to learn from someone
hope to find input here.
Webpage for application and such is known and looked at

System is going to be kinda this:

- 6-7kw SMA sunnyboy inverter
- 16-18 400 watt panels
- Ground mount of some sort...not sure yet how and if it needs to be designed by professional
- POCO is Jcp&l / first energy (thx SunEagle for the tip)

...
thx for any input

[SunEagle]

You may have to tell people who your POCO. Also your local code enforcer may be someone for you to talk to in case they want something specific in you application docs.

[darkyputz]

Thx for the hint. I updated my OP

[bcroe]

Here is one version of a 6KW array which has withstood all
the wind and ice storms since 2018, 42 deg Lat in IL. The tilt
is easily changed because it is balanced, just take out 6 brace
bolts. The 24 250W panels are mounted landscape with a gap
to minimize snow clearing efforts, and the 40 in ground
clearance means no obstruction by snow piles. Lets the grass
grow too. Yes it follows the 10 percent ground slope, the sun
does not care. Bruce Roe

TiltPV2.JPGArray20Rear1.JPG

[SunEagle]

Hey Bruce. Again you did a great job with your system. Although some of the cities in NJ are PIA's when it comes to a DIY system. Hopefully the OP does not live in one of those.

[darkyputz]

Cool system...Did you need any engeneering for it or just a solid plan what you had in mind?
And what is a PIA

[bcroe]

Cool system...Did you need any engeneering for it or just a solid plan what you had in mind?

It is what you get when an electrical type like me tries to design something
mechanical. Probably another engineer would say it used too much
material, in an effort to be strong enough. And took quite a while to
erect. There are no slots to give way, most holes accurately jig drilled
or on a drill press. If I build another it will be 2 sided, more results for
my efforts, and to fit into my general PV scheme. good luck, Bruce Roe

[SunEagle]

Cool system...Did you need any engeneering for it or just a solid plan what you had in mind?
And what is a PIA

PIA = Pain In the backside.

Unfortunately I lived up there in Morris, Union and Bergen county about 35 years ago. I am glad I left.

[J.P.M.]

PIA = Pain In the backside.

Unfortunately I lived up there in Morris, Union and Bergen county about 35 years ago. I am glad I left.

North Jersey's a great place to be from.

[bcroe]

Woo, it look very complex, why no choose the professional design company? they will teach you how to install

I did ask some solar suppliers about design and materials, but nothing
they offered met my standards. The design I came up with used up a
quantity of 6061 aluminum I already on hand, less than half was
additionally ordered.

One difficulty was that the longest piece I could have delivered was 25
feet long. Maybe just as well, I do not have heavy equipment for lifting
stuff. I do have a mini back hoe used for the very substantial foundation
(77 bags of concrete and 240 feet of rbar). And a trencher to bury wiring.
Certainly a welded structure could have been simpler, but I do not weld
aluminum, and there would be an issue of corrosion of the weld.
Bruce Roe

[Will792]

Check if NJ has publication for residential solar installations. I am in CT but heavily used NY publication while planning my system 3 years ago. Unfortunately discovered that CT had different setback requirements from NY and had to redistribute panels on the roof to create 2 6” wide clear paths to roof peak on each plane.