Completed DIY 4.3 kWh solar power

[thoughtJungle.com]

Hi all,

I've been lurking for some time and finally got the time to build my system.

Details of my installation (work in progress)

I'm trying to document the whole process and create some calculators on my site to make calculating things like return on investment and correcting string size for temperature really easy.

I ended up getting a 4-year-old SMA sunny boy 6000tl for $400 off craigslist and found a local supplier that got me mew Trina panels for $0.51 a watt. The total installed cost ended up being about $1.28 per watt before tax incentives.

To deal with all the rapid shutdown requirements I paired my sunny boy with the Tigo TS4 modules and Rapid Shutdown Signal Generator. This worked pretty easily but I had a hard time getting the modules to accept the signal before the panels were grounded (I tested it out on the lawn first, with 2 panels).

It's been generating about 26kWh per day so I'm calling it a success. Eventually I might add some more panels. I still have a free MPPT input on the Sunny Boy. Let me know what you think.

Return on Investment Calculator

 

[Solar1]

Well, by golly just jump right in there. Looks great! I would definitely say it is a success

 

[thoughtJungle.com]

Thanks!

I gathered a few more images. Enjoy!


Connection to the main service panel


Getting the mounts down. I did the re-roof DIY as well a few weeks ago.

Mounted the inverter inside the garage. To keep it cool.


Attic fun...


Junction box from the roof to the attic


Rails up!

Really I had a blast doing this. I was able to get all the work done between myself and my wife.

-Matt

 

[gnubie]

Very professional looking.

 

[JoeHam]

So, once inside the attic you used THHN inside the metal conduit?

What size wire and conduit??

Very nice job BTW.

 

[thoughtJungle.com]

Thanks!

You're correct. On the roof I used 10ga PV cable (+,-) and 6ga solid copper for ground. Then at the junction box I have terminals where I switch to run three 10ga THHN conductors (+,-,G). 1/2" EMT conduit is used in the attic.