Seeking Engineer and Installation Company for DIY Hybrid 12kW System in Hillsborough, Tampa, Florida.

[Chad.Roy]

Looking for an experienced engineer to assist with drawing plans, approval, and obtaining permits in Hillsborough County. Also seeking a reliable installation company for a DIY 12kW hybrid solar system using an EG4 18k inverter and 2 x EG4 48VDC 280Ah batteries. Please reach out if you have experience with these requirements.

Any ideas or recommendations are greatly appreciated!

 

[mciholas]

For my plans for a DIY system in Sarasota, I used Ryan Gittens at ECUIP, ryan@ecuip.com. No complaints.

For an installer, we couldn't find anybody. Solar companies want to sell you their equipment (usually microinverters and Tesla Powerwalls), electrical companies won't touch solar, roof companies won't touch anything electrical.

So we ended up being the contractor under the homeowner exemption but had a few hassles with the county. We did hire a decent handyman type person to help us with panels, but if you are the contractor, they don't need to be a contractor. It all worked out in the end.

Finding companies that will install what you want how you want in residential solar is very difficult to impossible from what we can tell.

Mike C.

 

[Chad.Roy]

For my plans for a DIY system in Sarasota, I used Ryan Gittens at ECUIP, ryan@ecuip.com. No complaints.

For an installer, we couldn't find anybody. Solar companies want to sell you their equipment (usually microinverters and Tesla Powerwalls), electrical companies won't touch solar, roof companies won't touch anything electrical.

So we ended up being the contractor under the homeowner exemption but had a few hassles with the county. We did hire a decent handyman type person to help us with panels, but if you are the contractor, they don't need to be a contractor. It all worked out in the end.

Finding companies that will install what you want how you want in residential solar is very difficult to impossible from what we can tell.

Mike C.

Thanks Mike, I appreciate your info... One more question, for your DIY, did you consider installing an RDS system?

 

[mciholas]

RDS?

Maybe you mean RSD, rapid shutdown?

Yes, we have that, code required (sadly). We installed Tigo TS4-A-O optimizers on each of 30 panels, communicating with a Tigo TAP and CCA, the CCA powered by the inverter 12 V output which goes away when the RSD button is pressed. We have an RSD switch on the outside wall.



Our RSD button is unique in that it has a red LED that glows when the system is enabled, and turns off when RSD is activated. This provides clear and positive feedback the system has shutdown. In the picture above, it is on, glowing red, but the photo makes that hard to see in the bright sun. It is more clear in person.

I went with a rotary switch because the standard E stop buttons don't give clear indications of being ON or OFF, the button is either in or out, but that's pretty subtle.

The button has one NC contact that breaks the RSD enable line to the inverter (which turns off AC generation and also the Tigo boxes), and it has one NO line that goes to the batteries which does a shunt trip of their breakers. Flip that button, no PV, no AC, no battery. The only power left is the grid.

Mike C.

 

[quantum`]

Most states now require a RSD device between each panel. Might as well buy them with monitoring as well.

FWIW Tigo optimizers suck in cloudy weather, so avoid those.

I haven't identified the best RSD with monitoring yet.

 

[Solar Guppy]

FWIW Tigo optimizers suck in cloudy weather, so avoid those.

Fixed that for you

Looking for an experienced engineer to assist with drawing plans, approval, and obtaining permits in Hillsborough County. Also seeking a reliable installation company for a DIY 12kW hybrid solar system using an EG4 18k inverter and 2 x EG4 48VDC 280Ah batteries. Please reach out if you have experience with these requirements.

Florida is NEC 2020 so your batteries / Inverter have to be UL9540 listed ( paired ) and meet the capacity and location requirements. You will also have to have approval from your utility for interconnection ( TECO ) and sizes over 10kw come with more rules than 10kw and under, usually the requirement for liability insurance which typically costs more then the value of the energy sent to the grid.

As for contractors, there are no installation only companies, your asking pro's to work at a discount and most won't even answer the phone if your taking away the profit motive ( equipment sales ). Either your DYI or your not.

It can be done DYI with allot of learning about the process of building permits, insurance requirements and electrical systems, but Tampa is not rural location, its about as urban as it gets and with it comes oversight.

For plans green lancer is whom I used to get MY plans wet-stamped.

 

[mciholas]

I haven't identified the best RSD with monitoring yet.

Maybe Tigo TS4-A-S?

Has monitoring plus shutdown, no optimization.

I think per panel monitoring is overrated. I have that now with TS4-A-O and it isn't that useful. I wish I had gone with TS4-A-F instead. Simpler to wire up, less stuff to connect.

If you need to debug which panel is bad, cover them one at a time in the string and/or observe them with a thermal imager. This is more reliable than the monitor because you might have screwed up the position versus serial number chart when setting up the monitor.

If it wasn't so much labor, I'd be happy to swap out the TS4-A-O for TS4-A-F or 2F.

Mike C.

 

[Chad.Roy]

RDS?

Maybe you mean RSD, rapid shutdown?

Yes, we have that, code required (sadly). We installed Tigo TS4-A-O optimizers on each of 30 panels, communicating with a Tigo TAP and CCA, the CCA powered by the inverter 12 V output which goes away when the RSD button is pressed. We have an RSD switch on the outside wall.

View attachment 279281

Our RSD button is unique in that it has a red LED that glows when the system is enabled, and turns off when RSD is activated. This provides clear and positive feedback the system has shutdown. In the picture above, it is on, glowing red, but the photo makes that hard to see in the bright sun. It is more clear in person.

I went with a rotary switch because the standard E stop buttons don't give clear indications of being ON or OFF, the button is either in or out, but that's pretty subtle.

The button has one NC contact that breaks the RSD enable line to the inverter (which turns off AC generation and also the Tigo boxes), and it has one NO line that goes to the batteries which does a shunt trip of their breakers. Flip that button, no PV, no AC, no battery. The only power left is the grid.

Mike C.

Yes, RSD, sorry... Thanks one more time for the info...

 

[Quattrohead]

Call SS, they have a list of installers.

 

[glandpuck]

Hmm, Florida. Do not use microinverters. When the winds blow your panels away, at least an inverter inside the home can survive, microinverters will blow away with the panels. And if you can, mount all of your home's electricals well about the grade. There are many companies that can draw plans and make installation well above grade, even for a generator. So, say 2nd floor or above?