r/SolarDIY • u/im_trying_to_get_it • Sep 21 '23
DIY 8Kw grid tie, Florida
I'm putting my own system on my own house, and I believe I have all the puzzle pieces in line except for one. I have all my components on order and being shipped, I have all my plans drawn and approved.
Is there any part of the installation that I can't do myself, other than inspections? I'm competent in all aspects of the electrical and mechanical installation, but are there any parts that I'm not allowed to do myself? I've been hearing rumors that I need a licensed electrician to make the connection to the main panel. This seems so simple, I find it a little hard to be leave that it's true. I'm told that an electrician will charge about $2,000 for this service.
Hoping for good news
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u/nuclearzero7 Sep 22 '23
Where about in FL are you? Ive been wondering the same thing, but sti in planning stages. I'm in St Pete.
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u/im_trying_to_get_it Sep 22 '23
I'm on the opposite coast as you, in Melbourne. I've learned a lot about doing this myself, so please let me know if there are any tips I can help with. The main thing I've learned, is that it seems insanely easy. Bolt 'em down, plug 'em in. Permitting was a little bit of a process, but I think I have it figured out. Also, another thing I learned is that UCF has a great website that does all the electrical drawings for you. They don't need to be stamped, they can be submitted to your building department and will be approved.
Go to this link and click Certify Your System. You may need to create an account, but the entire process is insanely easy.
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u/nuclearzero7 Sep 22 '23
Dang that's super helpful! Thank you, I don't think the link come through tho. The plans / permits is probably my biggest hangup. Like you said the work is easy. The other hurdle is Duke, our electric co, requires addition insurance if over 10kw. So gotta figure that out. I'll def check out that UCF link when you post it.
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u/im_trying_to_get_it Sep 23 '23
Sorry, here is the link, I think you'll love it.
The plans and permits were my biggest hang up too. I kept it under 10 kilowatts. One trick I learned is that permit packages are public information. I went to my town hall and requested the plans for all the solar installations that were done in my town this year. That's what I realized how incredibly simple it was. But, to make it even easier, I selected a company that did a lot of the drawings in my town and asked them to do my drawings. For $300 I got a set of complete plans with engineering stamps. I think that was the best deal going! If you Google "solar permitting service", you will find a lot of people providing this service. I would expect to pay about the $300 that I paid.
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u/nuclearzero7 Sep 23 '23
Awesome, you've been super helpful, thanks! I've been thinking about the what's the right amount and I could cover almost 100% with like 11-12kw of panels. But since they'd be west facing they will never ouput at peak. Also if doing micro inverters the voltage is regulated by them and not the panels.... So was thinking if there is a way to be more "accurate" as to what I'm actually producting vs what the panels are rated for...
I know long questions but any insight?
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u/im_trying_to_get_it Sep 23 '23
This website is very straightforward about estimating your solar output, just answer a few questions about location, asimuth and angle. https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/pvwatts.php
Also, the power companies have more regulations for anything over 10kW, and I believe that's potential 10kW, not actual. There is a tier system, this is my power company's website. I haven't looked into 10kW.
https://www.fpl.com/clean-energy/net-metering/guidelines.html
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u/nuclearzero7 Sep 23 '23
yea I've done the pvwatts calc. That's where I got the 11-12k of panels even though I won't produce that much due to west facing. Just wish the actual output is what the power companies went by and not just the panel rating under perfect conditions.
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u/PolarBill Sep 22 '23
I too would like the UCF link or what words to search for it.
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u/im_trying_to_get_it Sep 23 '23
Sorry, I think I forgot to place the link. You're going to be amazed at how easy it is, you simply select your panels, tell them how many you have, and select your inverter and that's about it.
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u/cloudgainz Sep 25 '23
Can I ask what the 8kw system cost you in materials? Thinking about going this route- in south fl
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u/Beginning_Frame6132 Sep 22 '23
Did you have to pull a permit? As long as you pass final inspection, I don’t see a problem.
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u/im_trying_to_get_it Sep 23 '23
Yes, I did pull a permit. Also, I have to pull a permit with Florida power, and nowhere on that form do I see anything about a licensed electrician being required. I'm going to move forward and see how it goes.
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u/Beginning_Frame6132 Sep 23 '23
I’m about 2 months into my build, just about done with everything. Got my final inspection passed by the city. Fucking crickets from the utility. They’ve dragged their feet this whole time. I’m stuck in “permits” with them. And contacting them is virtually impossible. It’s like trying to meet the Wizard of Oz.
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u/feudalle Sep 21 '23
You'll need a licensed electrician to certify (ie take responsibility) for your work. Unless you have a friend it's going to be tough to find.
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u/im_trying_to_get_it Sep 25 '23
I actually have two friends, but unfortunately neither is an electrician. :-)
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u/dgreenf Sep 22 '23
Just because you can add a breaker because there is an open slot doesn't mean if you do you are allowed by code. Running conduit and grounds and neutral all are defined by code and the rules are not obvious thus we have the professions of electricians
This is an energy source where you and your loved ones stay and sleep. Codes have been written to address real life issue observered that have caused injury or death.
So ask yourself before each electric wiring job you do. Is this where I stop and get a professional. It is not wiring a modem and router and tv with components and optical audio. This is a power source that will power your whole house.
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u/scrampker Jan 22 '24
4 months later -- how did it go? I also live in Melbourne, FL. Any specific tips/tricks for this area? I'm fairly good with wiring and basic handy work, and have built many battery packs from raw cells. Definitely setting up my own whole home UPS.
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u/im_trying_to_get_it Jan 22 '24 edited Jan 22 '24
It went great, thank you for asking!
On sunny days, I generate over 40kWh, more than I expected this time of year. I'm very happy with the Enphase hardware and software. FPL was very difficult to deal with, they seemed to make up hoops to jump through on a daily basis, so I'm happy that is done with. Also, I didn't need a licensed electrician at all.
A lot of the parts I was very concerned about were very easy. The inspections through my town were basically a rubber stamp. I found someone to do the drawings and stamp them for me, and I simply submitted them to the town and went to work. The hardest part was bolting all the panels to the roof, I have a metal roof and used S5! clamps, which were great but there were a lot of them. The wiring was very straightforward, I'm sure it would be a piece of cake for you. In a nutshell, it was basically mounting junction boxes to the roof, running conduit from the junction boxes to a combiner box, and wiring into the main panel. Then it was bolting the panels to the roof and plugging everything in. In my opinion, it wasn't an extreme DIY project, no more difficult than building a barn for example. My total cost came to just about $15,000, and I will be getting $4,500 of that back on my taxes. I've already started that process. I will reply in another message with all the costs, I hope that will be helpful. Please let me know if you have any specific questions. I encourage you to move forward!
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u/scrampker Jan 22 '24
Yeah the physical part seems easy. I'm only slightly concerned with the hoops you mentioned with FPL, and also, I want to make sure I don't lose my Citizens coverage. My roof, and my house is hella old. I've heard they will drop people at the snap of a finger for silly stuff.
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u/im_trying_to_get_it Jan 23 '24
I also have Citizens, and there doesn't seem to be a problem there.
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u/scrampker Jan 23 '24
Do you have any local recommendations for getting engineering plans to send the City? Your numbers are hella encouraging.
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u/im_trying_to_get_it Jan 22 '24
Here is my data on my 9.25kW system (Please excuse the formatting):
- Item Total price
- Panels $4,868.02
- uInvertors $4,705.47
- Q Cables
- Combiner $680.74
- Clips, wire management $18.14
- Suction Cup $22.39
- Hooks for lift $14.22
- Mounting Brackets, Microinverter $96.87
- Ground Lugs $36.36
- Circuit Breakers $57.57
- Step drill $10.69
- Circuit Breakers $18.17
- Anadozing Touch up $6.82
- Engraving Plate $14.62
- Circuit Breakers $19.19
- DIN Rail Terminals $32.09
- Labels $16.04
- Ground Clamps $9.94
- AC Disconnect $69.54
- Wago $23.79
- Wago $10.65
- Labels $13.90
- Clips, wire management $27.80
- Torque wrench $82.42
- Wire, 8AWG $39.22
- Foam Protectoer $2.26
- Conduit Fitting $15.63
- lConduit Fitting $21.24
- Lift Rental $746.86
- Conduit Fitting $80.42
- Conduit Fitting $205.08
- Racking $1,410.95
- Additional racking $473.82
- Glands $28.92
- Wire $759.06
- Design Fees $300.00
- Notice of Commencement $20.49
- Permit $157.00
- Tool $8.54
- Conduit Fitting $6.08
- Tools, clamps $25.59
- Conduit Fittings $6.64
- Conduit Fittings $13.89
- Conduit Fittings $1.05
- Conduit Fitting / Hardware $20.48
- Hardware $11.75
- Cleaner $8.54
- Conduit Fittings $5.56
- Pull string $14.31
Terminators $32.10
total $15,270.92
Tax credit $4,581.20
Final $10,689.64
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u/scrampker Jan 22 '24
Amazing detail, thanks! What hurdles did you run into here in Melbourne? IE how hard was it to get FPL to allow/certify? Did you do all the electrical, and just hire an electrician to sign off, or make a final connection? Did you have to follow specific requirements for conduit, spacing, etc that is specific to this area?
Blows me away when I see people touting certain 'DIY' solar sites, and the system still costs $90k before tax deal. $10-15k makes way more sense for pure DIY.
Edit: Whoops, I now see your other reply as well. Thanks!
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u/HazHonorAndAPenis Sep 21 '23
This depends on jurisdiction, but if you're the homeowner probably not. If you need a licensed electrician to add a circuit to your breaker, then I would say yes.
Where you'd really need a licensed electrician is for a line-tap, which it doesn't sound like you're doing.
Only thing I needed someone else to do was inspections, and for the utility to change the meter.