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Solar options for just single unit in a condo?

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wallst234

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Sep 3, 2022
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Hello,

I'd like to understand what options I'd have for leveraging solar power in a single unit of a condo. Just to clarify, I'm not looking to implement solar power for the entire building and I do not have any rights to roof access. What I do have is a small 3rd story deck that gets plenty of sunlight. I'm not sure the exact directional orientation, but my deck gets direct sunlight 6-7 hours per day during the summer months. The deck isn't very large but my hope is the optimal location off-sets the small space - perhaps my setup is more efficient than another with 3-5x the area but not as much sun.

I have an electrical outlet on the deck with 2 receptacles. One them is currently used for a security camera. I don't have any rights to drill any holes from the outside in, so the outlet which is tied to my breaker box is my only "conduit" in if you will.

Is my only option to use panels on the deck to store power into a battery also stored on the deck? And then periodically bring this battery indoors and connect devices to it to consume the power?

Is it possible to leverage the existing outlet wiring to somehow feed power into a storage battery indoors? And then this storage battery could be hard wired indoors?

I'm a techie/gadget type person. So even if I'm not saving significant amounts of money from the electricity bill, as long as I feel it's worthwhile I'd get some utility (hey is that a pun?) from the for fun aspect of it as well.
 
wallst234 said:
Hello,

I'd like to understand what options I'd have for leveraging solar power in a single unit of a condo. Just to clarify, I'm not looking to implement solar power for the entire building and I do not have any rights to roof access. What I do have is a small 3rd story deck that gets plenty of sunlight. I'm not sure the exact directional orientation, but my deck gets direct sunlight 6-7 hours per day during the summer months. The deck isn't very large but my hope is the optimal location off-sets the small space - perhaps my setup is more efficient than another with 3-5x the area but not as much sun.

I have an electrical outlet on the deck with 2 receptacles. One them is currently used for a security camera. I don't have any rights to drill any holes from the outside in, so the outlet which is tied to my breaker box is my only "conduit" in if you will.

Is my only option to use panels on the deck to store power into a battery also stored on the deck? And then periodically bring this battery indoors and connect devices to it to consume the power?

Is it possible to leverage the existing outlet wiring to somehow feed power into a storage battery indoors? And then this storage battery could be hard wired indoors?

I'm a techie/gadget type person. So even if I'm not saving significant amounts of money from the electricity bill, as long as I feel it's worthwhile I'd get some utility (hey is that a pun?) from the for fun aspect of it as well.
Click to expand...
I'm in the UK so we have quite different regulations but I seriously doubt you could legally/compliantly use the actual wires in your electrical outlet socket to get your power from your solar panels on your deck into a battery inside your condo, even if you totally disconnect that socket from your electricity supply (which you can't do as you use one of the sockets). You may be able to utilize the hole in the wall where the socket is to poke your solar panel cables through to the inside, but again as this would involve tampering with the socket structure it won't be legal and again as you're using one of the sockets it would be well dodgy!!

What windows/doors do you have? You could feed a cable through a cracked open window. Or have the battery permanently fixed on the deck along with the panels as you say, and a second battery that you use inside to charge/run whatever items you want, which you periodically charge up from the outside battery using a DC to DC charger rather than keep disconnecting the outside battery and bringing it inside. This also allows your outside battery to make full use of any sun at any time on any day it occurs rather than relying on there to be sun on the one day you need to charge it up again.
 
As far as the outside outlet wiring goes - my intent wasn't to hack it or go against any code. I just know it's physically attached to my electrical panel so didn't know if makes it feasible to send power back in some how - really just throwing it out there but figured it was a long shot.

I watched a YT video where a person with similar situation to mine has his own personal staircase leading up to the roof. He placed 2 panels on the rooftop. I don't recall if he discusses it, but, you can clearly see in the background he's just running the 2 wires from the panels into a window that is cracked open.

There's absolutely no way I could do that long term - rain, insects (mosquitos, moths, flies).
 
You could do a "solar generator" set up - either a factory built one like the Bluetti/Jackery/etc or a DIY build (more techy-fun) and move the physical unit indoors for use, outdoors for plugging into a solar panel or two. Use MC-4 connections will make it easy to connect quickly. I would suggest you ensure solar panels are well attached to something, so they don't become airbourne on a windy day.
OR
you could ask for permission to have a dedicated path created for solar cable to enter the building space. (or not ask but then that may not be the best path).
 
The outdoor outlet MAY be able to configure a transfer switch system... but the wiring will likely be #12, and could easily be connected to bathroom, etc.
Can it be done? Sure... is it easy? Maybe yes maybe no...
 
Why can’t you reuse the penetrations for the receptacle? In the US you can put quite a few conductors into that hole before you derate the circuits to an unacceptable level. Because small conductors of AWG 10-14 are forced to carry less ampacity to provide more safety margin. You can easily put in another circuit.

Did you assess how compatible the place you want to put panels would be with listed racking hardware?

Also you didn’t mention code compliance nor liability. In a multi family property I am generally very wary of these things. Detached home, sure, YOLO all you want.
 
wallst234 said:
Hello,

I'd like to understand what options I'd have for leveraging solar power in a single unit of a condo. Just to clarify, I'm not looking to implement solar power for the entire building and I do not have any rights to roof access. What I do have is a small 3rd story deck that gets plenty of sunlight. I'm not sure the exact directional orientation, but my deck gets direct sunlight 6-7 hours per day during the summer months. The deck isn't very large but my hope is the optimal location off-sets the small space - perhaps my setup is more efficient than another with 3-5x the area but not as much sun.
Click to expand...
The best way to find out is by giving it a try.

wallst234 said:
I have an electrical outlet on the deck with 2 receptacles. One them is currently used for a security camera. I don't have any rights to drill any holes from the outside in, so the outlet which is tied to my breaker box is my only "conduit" in if you will.
Click to expand...
You can run a cable through there, personally I would drill a small hole through the wall from inside out on a downward slope. Only cable you need to run inside is the cable from the solar panels. The battery and inverter will be inside.

wallst234 said:
Is my only option to use panels on the deck to store power into a battery also stored on the deck? And then periodically bring this battery indoors and connect devices to it to consume the power?
Click to expand...
Don't leave the battery outside.

wallst234 said:
Is it possible to leverage the existing outlet wiring to somehow feed power into a storage battery indoors? And then this storage battery could be hard wired indoors?
Click to expand...
You can charge the battery with a cord that plugs into the wall outlet, don't modify the house wiring and keep things portable, unless you want to deal with regulations. Make sure your panels can't get wings...

wallst234 said:
I'm a techie/gadget type person. So even if I'm not saving significant amounts of money from the electricity bill, as long as I feel it's worthwhile I'd get some utility (hey is that a pun?) from the for fun aspect of it as well.
Click to expand...
I feel the same way, I started of very small, found out what it could do and now I am powering my "garden office" (shed) with solar. In summer I produce way too much and I have installed some window airconditioners in the house to use up the excess power, in December and January, I January I don't produce enough to heat the shed and have to top up the battery nightly when power is cheaper.

Have fun tinkering.
 
A grid tie microinverter would probably work, (no battery) as it takes power from the panels directly and plugs into your existing receptacle. Don't expect miracles from it, to get the 1000 watts from this one you would probably need 2kw of panels, and I wouldnt run it near top end anyway. I have one and its running about 1.2kw back into my power use every day, but its only hooked to 400w of panels. Probably about all you could get away with in a condo.
 

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Hogheavenfarm said:
A grid tie microinverter would probably work, (no battery) as it takes power from the panels directly and plugs into your existing receptacle. Don't expect miracles from it, to get the 1000 watts from this one you would probably need 2kw of panels, and I wouldnt run it near top end anyway. I have one and its running about 1.2kw back into my power use every day, but its only hooked to 400w of panels. Probably about all you could get away with in a condo.
Click to expand...
This will work but it may even increase the utility bills if the meter is not configured to count bidirectionally. It requires power company approval and is detectable by the meter.
 
If you have any usage at all during the day it will offset it. Yes, If you stack them I suppose you could exceed your use, which in most cases will add to your bill, so some basic calculations and a killawatt meter are a good idea before undertaking this. I was just suggesting something that could utilize his existing outdoor recept and provide some usage offset at the same time.
 
zanydroid said:
Why can’t you reuse the penetrations for the receptacle? In the US you can put quite a few conductors into that hole before you derate the circuits to an unacceptable level. Because small conductors of AWG 10-14 are forced to carry less ampacity to provide more safety margin. You can easily put in another circuit.

Did you assess how compatible the place you want to put panels would be with listed racking hardware?

Also you didn’t mention code compliance nor liability. In a multi family property I am generally very wary of these things. Detached home, sure, YOLO all you want.
Click to expand...
The issue lies with number of current carrying conductors and sqin of the box, along with the yokes etc.
 
Supervstech said:
The issue lies with number of current carrying conductors and sqin of the box, along with the yokes etc.
Click to expand...

Yes, all of that, but I think the main constraint would be the penetration based on how the problem was set up, for which the constraining issue would likely be number of CCC or size of hole. In most cases you should be able to squeeze a 12/3 or 10/3 through.

For the other issues you can stack a box extender or adapt single gang to two gang.
 
I have the same question, but in the context of emergency use to power the fridge, a light, laptop and cellphone charger. Almost the same situation as the OP, so a small area with good direct light several hours a day. Since this would be for emergency use, power cable could run through the open porch slider.

Condo association does not like gas-powered emergency generators... even in emergencies.
 
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