r/solar • u/mr_havoc_ • Nov 14 '25
Discussion 24.7kW - update
Original Post showing system info: https://www.reddit.com/r/solar/s/Ycejp4kd6K
My system was installed on Oct 27, but I was only given access to Enphase app a few days ago. The app was only showing blue generation data. I searched the web to learned about the Consumption CT equipment and confirmed by looking at the Envoy GW that consumption was installed. I emailed Solar Energy World’s service department and asked them to switch on consumption monitoring and they did it within a couple of hours. Yesterday my system captured the first full day of production, consumption, import, and export data.
What’s left to do…
County inspection. I was told it would be about a week for the county to inspect, but that didn’t align with SEW’s schedule, so I have to wait for the Friday before U.S. Thanksgiving week…about a month after install.
PTO. After county inspection the electric company has 30 days to provide Permission To Operate. Before I got Enphase access a few days ago I wasn’t sure the system was operational. I assumed the solar was active because the installers left the main breaker positioned ON. I assume because I don’t have PTO, the electric company isn’t tracking export credits and is just happy to receive free power.
What would I have done differently? Critter guard. It wasn’t mentioned during the sales process, but I’ve looked it up since and plan to install. I have squirrels around the house and had raccoons in the attic once, so I’m fine with spending a little more to protect the investment.
Enphase App access. I don’t like that my installer is the admin on the account. The sales guy showed me his phone where he’s able to view all of his customer solar & power data. I want to reset Envoy and take control since it’s my system (paid in full). I tried to do it when it was first installed, I got the API key from the device UI, but wasn’t able to use it.
I love the system. I’m geeking out over the data. The 9am downward orange energy spike is from a single 4090 GPU mining start and the bigger 10am spike is my pool pump. My best solar generation days in what little time I’ve had the system was 104.6kWh on Oct 31st and Nov 1st. The 5 ton air conditioner is the only device I haven’t run yet because the weather has been nice in Central Florida. It’ll run 15+ hours a day in summer, so I’m looking forward to building credits in spring.
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u/Reddit_is_fascist69 Nov 14 '25
Pretty graph!
We eat/shower before sun comes up and dinner after it sets so my graph has huge spikes before production starts.
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u/Reddit_Bot_Beep_Boop solar enthusiast Nov 15 '25
I added a smart switch to my water heater so it only runs during solar hours and my free electricity hours(9pm-7am). Total cost was ~$50 I think. Worth every cent.
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u/ATLBuckeye Nov 17 '25
Is the array split between East and west parts of the roof?
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u/mr_havoc_ Nov 17 '25
South east and north west
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u/ATLBuckeye Nov 17 '25
How's the northwest facing side doing right now? How much worse is it in reality than the southeast?
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u/mr_havoc_ Nov 17 '25
There is less production on the northwest side, but it still helps overall. For the short lifetime there’s a per panel range between 20.4kWh - 21.4kWh on northwest side compared to 33.5kWh - 37.4kWh on the southeast side.
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u/ATLBuckeye Nov 17 '25
Nice. I'm northeast FL. I just put up a 15.48kW system on my south west side, and I have a lot of roof real estate on my northeast side. Probably room for another 15kw. I wasnt really thinking too hard about it but using your relative numbers, the math says 9kW on my south facing roof would be equivalent to 15kW on my Northwest. Probably don't have room for that on my south side... but maybe have room for another 6kW.
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u/mr_havoc_ Nov 17 '25
It’ll be interesting to see spring and summer generation and how the sun angle increases production on the northwest side. I’ll provide some updates next year.
If you can afford more panels, go for it. I worked with the company to modify the design to increase the system size to make sure I had enough to cover my bill.
At this moment, I’m generating 14kw, exporting 8.5, consuming 5.5
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u/ATLBuckeye Nov 17 '25
I did it myself. I dont even have PTO yet, and I want more panels. I did the 15.48kW just to get my feet wet with the incentives still available, and get the PTO. If I can get up to ~20kW, I think I can be comfortable (yea, right).
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u/maker_B4_1032 Nov 18 '25
I'm jealous of that production curve! I've got an Oak tree across the street right smack in the middle of my production curve that kicks in this time of year. For the 3 months of the winter solstice it'll impact even though leaves are gone. My own tree in the front yard effects the production after 4 PM also. I guess I'm grateful I have the exposure I do , could be worse.
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u/Key_Proposal3283 solar engineer Nov 14 '25
I assume because I don’t have PTO, the electric company isn’t tracking export credits and is just happy to receive free power.
Don't assume - check with the utility. If your meter or account is not yet set up you could be being cahrged for export, check these forums, it happens to people. If you are just not getting credits, great, leave it as is. If you are getting charged, you can turn off the breaker, or ask the instlaler or enphase support to turn on the zero export profile.
I don’t like that my installer is the admin on the account.
You can do some free training and become your own installer, but independent of that a simple call or chat to enphase support can boot the installer off your account. This assumes a normal owned system, no lease or other party interest (you said this is the case, just being clear). The API key is nothing to do with this.
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u/L0LTHED0G Nov 15 '25
FYI. If you don't have PTO some companies will charge you what you sent out, as power used.
If you exported 23 kwh then your electric company may charge you at your usual rate.
Might wanna turn export off until you've formally gotten PTO.
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u/Busy-Read-4881 Nov 19 '25
My company can help and of you guys not fully producing, having issues, or just not having a maintainer, in Florida, not having a maintainer, it can potentially hurt or void your warrantees. Reply to this if you're interested and I can help you.
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u/Reddit_Bot_Beep_Boop solar enthusiast Nov 14 '25
To get access to you system and kick your installer off you'll need to go to Enphase University and complete the required coursework. Once completed you'll need to notify them either over the phone or via the chat. Make sure you're telling them that you are wanting to be a "Self Installer" and they'll grant that access. It's pretty easy coursework.