Thanks for the reply Hedges, I am not sure about the max breaker size my panel can handle. I plan to use the Sol-Ark 12k and the manual wants me to connect to two 50a breakers in the main panel. I will research this further.
I adjusted my picture to try and show 3' of clearance. The horizontal panels might be a problem. I think it might be ok as long as there is 3' on the other side of the ridge or hip. I will find out.
I was trying to use multiple angles. I'd like to get as many as possible facing south but I have limited roof facing south.
The panel will take as large a breaker as is available in the model line. For instance, 125A breakers in the case of my Square-D panels.
The panels are rated (have busbars for) 225A, 125A, 100A, 70A.
Problem is NEC, what regulators decided to permit.
With a 225A panel, typically there is a 200A main breaker although sometimes 150A.
If two, 100A PV breakers were installed at the far end, panel would be fed with up to 200A from one end and up to 200A from the other end, but regardless of what breakers were installed for loads, no point in the busbar would ever carry more than 200A. Current supplied by PV breakers subtract from current supplied by main breakers, don't add to it. (If PV breakers were installed adjacent to main breaker, then current would add and busbar could carry 400A, would burn out.)
So even though there is nothing wrong from a physics or electrical engineering perspective with installing large PV breakers at far end of the panel, code placed a smaller limit on it (as well as requiring they be placed at far end.) The limit is main breaker plus PV breakers can't exceed 120% of busbar rating. That way, if someone rearranges the breakers, busbar will only be overloaded 20% and will still be safe.
If your panel has main breaker centered in busbar, with branch circuit breakers on both sides of main, then main + PV breaker is limited to 100% of busbar rating (neither end of busbar accomplishes the goal of subtract, don't add current.) What you can do is a "supply side tap", connect PV to wires between meter and main breaker. Utility may offer an adapter which fits under the meter for that purpose. PG&E does, with 40A limit.
If you have a Zinser panel, replace it before your house burns down.
If your panel has main breaker at one end, read the labels to determine rating of busbar. In some cases, 200A breaker and 200A busbar, so you're allowed 40A of PV breaker. Limit PV system to 32A so breaker is 25% larger, avoiding nuisance trips. If 200A breaker and 225A busbar, you're allowed 70A of PV breaker. Limit PV to 56A. For more than this, either reduce size of main breaker or do a supply-side tap.
"Sol-Ark 12k and the manual wants me to connect to two 50a breakers in the main panel"
Sure that isn't one two-pole 50A breaker? At 80% (40A) make PV delivered to grid 9600W max.
Continuous AC power to Grid (On-Grid) | 9000W 37.5A L-L (240V) |
Looks to me like one, two pole 50A breaker. So you need the 225A busbar, 200A breaker situation for this. Otherwise, 40A breaker if you can program a lower limit or if not too many panels (as I mentioned earlier, multiple angles reduces peak current.)
As I indicated earlier, this limit is NEC's rule, a concession to allow PV which appears to exceed busbar rating but doesn't really unless an idiot installs/rearranges breakers. In which case it keeps the system idiot-proof.
Our rules do allow the 3' clearance to be either side of a valley or split between them (e.g. panels on each side of the valley, 18" away from it.)
The rules do NOT allow panels < 3' from ridge, even though other side is clear. Reason is fireman decides which side of ridge to hack a hole based on wind direction, wants to let heat out without wind blowing heat & smoke back in.
Hip may be OK to split clearance (provide walking path either side) because heat inside will rise along the hip to the ridge.
East may be more valuable than South. Power per panel is reduced, but more power is consumed by A/C later in the day and time of use rates are higher. South will do more in winter.