Trenching suggestions?

[Telkwa]

I'm attaching a sketch. We've had a couple solar installers drop by. They had two ideas about how to run wires.

One guy suggested leaving the main feed to the mobile in place. He said a new trench would be necessary to supply power to pumphouse. Connections would be made under the mobile, or on the wall of the mobile. That's the first option on the sketch.

Next guy suggested running new wire from the meter box straight to the pumphouse. All solar electronics would go inside the pumphouse. Then new feed going to the mobile. I drew a second line that's labeled "Solar PV" but I kinda think I'm wrong there.

If anyone's got a minute to take a look and tell me which way seems best? There might be other alternatives?

 

[GuyG]

Need more info. What kind of system, grid-tie, whole-house backup, batteries? Is there space for your inverter/batteries in mobile home? Is the pump house a suitable location for that equipment (i.e., large enough, enclosed enough, cool enough?). Where are your arrays going to be? How much current is needed at mobile home, and what is existing cable size from meter to mobile home and to pump house? Why do you need another cable run to pump house from meter when you already have one?

 

[Telkwa]

Wow OK not sure I can answer all.
I think we want a grid tie with battery backup. Not much space for all that stuff inside the mobile. The first estimator who visited said they'd mount everything to the exterior wall of the mobile. We have a big roof (separate from the mobile) on that side so the electronics would be outside but protected from rain. Arrays on the far end of the mobile because that's the sunnier end. How much current is needed? Not sure I understand. Meter is 200 A, the panel inside the mobile is 200A. 120% rule limits us to about nine or ten panels?
The question about another line to pumphouse from meter?

One estimator, who suggested mounting the electronics on the side of the mobile, said we need to run a new line from the electronics on the side of the mobile to the pumphouse. Pumphouse supplied directly from the meter now, so if power went out the pumphouse would be without power.

The second estimator suggested putting all the solar electronics inside the pumphouse. If we did that, then we have to dig up the existing feed into the house from the meter. Re-trench and re-wire so main feed goes to pumphouse, then comes back to the mobile.

Does any of that make sense?

 

[GuyG]

Wow OK not sure I can answer all.

That’s fine. But without a clear and complete description of your layout, no one here can give you much meaningful advice.

Your sketch of the existing layout shows a meter with one feeder circuit going directly to the residence and another feeder directly to pump house. What else is at the meter? A fused disconnect? Meter-main combo? And what size cabling is already in place on those two feeders? What are the distances? Maybe some site photos would help.

As for current, what are the load demands? I doubt that a mobile home really draws 200 amps. A load assessment of what current you really need, should always be the first step in any solar planning process.

 

[Telkwa]

I'm not conversant with all the terms. I don't know what else is at the meter box. There's a 200A disconnect. And a few circuit breakers for the line to the pumphouse. I googled meter/main combo - if it has some breakers inside, is that a meter/main combo?
I agree, the 200 A is generous for a mobile. But that's the way they do it.

I don't know what you mean by a load assessment. Are there some newbie instructions for how to even start the process?

 

[sumpower]

A meter / main combo is a utility meter panel that has the main 200 amp or 400 amp breaker used for a disconnect in it.

 

[sumpower]

Western Washington? My 2 cents worth! And worth every penny is to install two 6x6 posts and secure framing to mount your inverter and associated solar equipment (Edit: near your trailer). Add a couple posts and make a lean to roof if necessary.
Installing under a mobile trailer in Western Washington would be a no go for me, you would likely have moisture problems with any electrical equipment under the trailer. That is if you live in a high rain area? Which I have to assume you do.

I would recommend not placing any solar equipment in a pump house.
Trench to the pump house to supply the loads in the pump house only. Install a transfer switch so you can run the pump house on grid or off grid? Or a junction box to terminate the existing grid conductors that are there, in case you need it at some point. Have a seperate junction box close to it to cross connect of needed.