How to Install Solar Panels | This Old House

[@glenngoodale1709]

we need more shows about this, many people are doing it

[@CRsolar]

in Texas we install solar at CRsolar always like this old house.. this is a few years old, be sure to see more current installs as some parts are obsolete. not a fan of the flashings used

[@mawizard6341]

The reason old solar systems used series was to drive up the voltage. New solar panels dont have this issue. Each panel is capable of producing 12-24 volts. You're putting multiple inverters in for no reason. Run each panel parallel into a single inverter and save lots of up front cost.

[@Anchorpoint.2020]

This was uploaded 2014..that was standard practice then

[@randacnam7321]

Wiring modules in parallel means thick and expensive home run wiring.

[@BloodyIron]

I like the netgear switch dangling in the background. That's not what RJ45 teeth are for guys! Cmon!

[@cherynjohnson5393]

Yes, I think we are all wondering what the cost is, and if there are lease or owner options.

[@rodvazquez332]

Just applied to a job and have am interview for this exact job today. I love electrical work and I hope I get it! It's the closest thing I can get to an electrical Apprentice ATM

[@kayjay4060]

How are you enjoying it?

[@deborapichel6029]

You know the reporter is a reporter when they zoom in his shoes and he is wearing dress up shoes on a roof 😂

[@CrapPolice]

Missouri Wind and Solar has off grid and grid tie wind and solar equipment. Very helpful videos too

[@kevintan3104]

link to the video?

[@robinhanak9182]

Not a good company, pooor quality

[@14mr.S]

where you put the cable from solar panel into your underground space?

[@TNtoolman]

Another comment... Just read up on installation and a couple of solar companies recommend replacing the roof under the panels if the roof is older than 5 or 6 years old... more cost.

[@CryptoBlockchainTechnologies]

All they want is more money. Don’t listen to them.

[@tchevrier]

might be a good idea to replace the shingles before starting a job like that.

[@thomasmorris6189]

Could you imagine being the roofer,. They would have to call someone about the system in order to remove it. But from what Ive seen, the shingles looked new AND with the panels, it will EXTEND the life of them further.

[@johnnyyankee8604]

They're probably going to have to pay double when it comes time to replace the singles.

[@CRsolar]

I always tell people to do so! very important in Texas and probably any other state of course..

[@Engineer9736]

I have no in-depth knowledge on this, but i guess that all those separate micro inverters come with a downside. Each individual inverter has to measure the phase to know how to sync on it, and stay in sync with the phase over time. Doing that once at 1 big device is already quite applause worthy. I cannot imagine doing that same job at 20 different places in one system will do any good.

[@Engineer9736]

Here is an article about them: www.solarquotes.com.au/inverters/micro/ They mention something about efficiency indeed.

[@marks6663]

Did you see the breaker? 20 amps. All of that expense for a measly 20 amp circuit. I have a 20 amp circuit just to run the whirlpool motor in my Jacuzzi bathtub.

[@patmadix172]

Nice install

[@eyofoyeyo]

I wonder what's the cost for this?

[@brandon671]

From a potential solar customer, does drilling into the roof cause maintenance and repair issues in the long term? I have a concrete roof and would like to know if I should put my panels in the yard on a motorized pedestal.

[@zoot21suit]

So if the main power goes out does main breaker need to be turned off?

[@michaelhernandez4423]

Yes if it was an off grid system being installed on the house. This is a grid tied system. It won’t back feed AC power unless it senses a load from the grid. If there was to be a blackout the inverters would stop producing AC power.

[@ColMcWillis]

Is there any worry about the line from the solar panels not being in phase with the line from the power company? Seems like you'd have a really bad day when you flip on that breaker if they're not synced.

[@mikebald]

I was curious about this as well.

[@beretmaster]

When the breaker is turned off the inverter does not 'produce' any electricity on the AC side. It is a requirement that if the inverted doesn't sense any voltage on the output, it cannot feed any voltage into the house. This is called 'Anti Islanding' Imagine if an electrician turned off the main switch to work but the inverter was back feeding into the consumer unit. This would be a hazard but the inverter takes care of that and the installer needs to check that when the breaker is turned off the inverter shuts down within 1 second. This also means when the breaker is turned on, the inverter senses the voltage and syncs to the supply, then it seeks to push the voltage up slightly therefore 'producing' electricity. this process usually takes about 30 seconds.

[@ColMcWillis]

James Walton thanks James! Nice to see a smart system. I know there had to something that synced the phases but didn't think it would be as simple as that :)

[@thomasmorris6189]

It could be where its set up any excess is sent back to the power company.

[@gralbr]

When I see rubber boots on your stanchions it makes me nervous. I have been a carpenter for 45 years and have seen many rubber flashing boots, using to flash pluming pipes, rot out in 10 years or less. The rot is so complete that you can put you fingers through it and flick it away with little effort. Sustained roof temperatures of over 150 degrees in the summer, guarantees you will have a problem before end of the life of your solar panels.

[@michaeldoherty2289]

They may be silicone boots which are high temp rated.

[@MrJohndeere3720]

i would love 2 have that done 2 my house & small shop. :)

[@manicgraphics6387]

looks decently easy. I think I can do it. Looking forward to my interview :)

[@senorjalapeno3937]

Na. Dont.

[@kayjay4060]

You get the job? How you enjoying it?

[@wikidarek]

question. How to replace shingles uder solar panel?

[@michaeldoherty2289]

You have to remove the array to replace shingles. Its expensive to do that, so make sure your roof is in great condition before you install solar. In my case I have a 20 panel 6000W array and we had a hail storm that destroyed the metal roof around the array. It cost about 11000 dollars to remove and reinstall the array which is about 2/3 of the system cost new. Then there was the cost of the new roof too. Insurance paid for the removal and reinstall and new roof, but if it hadn't, it would have been economically devastating.

[@james5460]

Get ready to lay out the $$ when it comes time to replace the roof, all that hardware will have to be taken down first. I bet some of those roofs leak after a while, too, which could lead to vastly more $$$. I'm not against solar, but am leery about roof installs even though that's "the way to do it."

[@nunyabusiness863]

Looks like the panels will way outlast that roof. id do a metal roof first, then the panels. then my grandchildren will finally see the return when they inherit the home.....which theyll just wholesale for quick buck and bmw. hahaha.

[@1966human]

LOL

[@kev2020]

😂

[@Tootall643]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@meowkie8549]

I'm glad he has the high ground now. And won't have to become darth vader

[@mgaiman]

Bernal heights!

[@juliof970]

This guy shouldn't be on TV. He's lecturing the guy who knows what he's doing instead of looking in camera and teaching us. Horrible.

[@kawaiidere1023]

I so wish that was my house. I want a basement suseptable to flooding

[@PyroShields]

I rather replace my power inverter that's located next to my circuit breaker vs going up on the roof and replacing a micro inverter. I will pass on the micro inverter.

[@JosephUsher]

Typical "This Old House" application... NOT something the everyday DIY-er can do. They find homeowners with LOTS of money and find the MOST expensive equipment to install, for show of course, leaving about 98% of homeowners out in the cold.

[@najadahe2828]

+Joseph Usher you right about that

[@staticfive]

In fairness, it didn't say DIY...

[@kimkomando4341]

@Tim If you want a great solar energy system then go here now: HootPower.xyz

[@dallas5374]

Each phase is 120 smart guy... You can hook it up however you want.

[@coachwilson5967]

NOOOO....Feeding data back to the solar company.....BAD, BAD, BAD. NEVER buy a leased system.

[@jamesipad204]

Helmet on a roof?

[@subielos1177]

James iPad just Incase something falls from the sky! 😆

[@WesitoxD]

Protects against the sun and in case they fall. They will break every bone in their body but their head will be fine :)

[@billnavarre5308]

And as you see here we have the groundwater bond to the water pipe!!!! well that's genius!!!!!!!!! 🤦‍♂️

[@your2nd]

If someone puts a meter in your house your not saving money your just buying power from someone else, and nothing good is going to come from it !

[@tzaylor]

Cool info, I thought it was funny that the tv host was bossing around the pro installers. I know it's all scripted though

[@lostintime8651]

Solar systems are a waste of money. You still pay. Just on your PAY TO line, it's not "electric company" but "solar company," and a "bank" for the interest. Simpler answer: Reduce consumption. LED Bulbs, new appliances, timers, unplug things when not using them (plug strips- perhaps wifi controlled), etc. Smaller investment. Faster return.

[@palillo2006]

lostintime86 also insulate the home better, replace really old appliances with energy star rated appliances.

[@Engineer9736]

Nonsense of course. It's your choice to get a loan from the bank instead of saving the amount of money yourself. And the basic idea of such an investment is that you earn the whole sum back and THEN make profit. But saving energy in the first place is always good of course.

[@AnActualCoconut]

Or I mean do it yourself without a company and its yours. That's if you sign on with someone like Solar City and the like

[@CRsolar]

not a waste of money with good installers and the right roof. at the right price.. i see some people spend 2 times the price as high rated installers or scam installers also sometimes know people are not getting more bids. and RIP off many.. dont believe all the reviews on companies is all I can say. best to work with the smaller shops. if you can find one not overloaded with work. ask for references and go see their work. also..

[@Bob_Lob_Law]

Or just buy your panels. No rent, no financing, buy em.

[@searsbootcamp]

acting classes please

[@RicardoJunqueira]

That's Richard's son, isn't he?

[@najadahe2828]

I guess they only going to have power during the day

[@randomvideosn0where]

You didn't show enough detail with each step, this was not very helpful.

[@stevene6181]

this lookks expensiveeeeeee

[@billyandjohnny7734]

Oo

[@bentcn8511]

this looks hard

[@VinierrhinoGaming]

Only reason I'd do this is if my power was $1 per kWh I don't care about carbon whatever junk

[@Engineer9736]

lol

[@jacobcram4644]

You don't care about the future of the world you live on, huh? Cool

[@johnwyman6331]

VinierrhinoGaming7986 so which utility do you work for?

[@Jemalacane0]

If my power was $1 per kwh, I would start with trying to make my house as energy efficient as possible, then converting all appliances which are supposed to get hot to natural gas.

[@TNtoolman]

Fairly small gauge wires feeding the circuit panel when you consider the size of the wire coming from the power company. Solar systems are one of the least economical ways of producing electricity. If not for HUGE government subsidies, no one would invest in these systems if they had to entirely pay for it themselves.

[@jesse1441]

I'm sorry but your comment is stupid

[@TNtoolman]

Based on what facts???

[@MuddinNYC]

Technically all power sources are not cost effective since they all rely on govt subsidizing. In fact solar is cheaper than fossil when all subsidies are removed. (In the US anyway). Fossil fuel is way cheaper in the middle east obviously.

[@TNtoolman]

+Mohammed Uddin Mindless Rhetoric... Unfounded... State your sources.

[@MuddinNYC]

www.zmescience.com/ecology/climate/solar-energy-cheap/ www.extremetech.com/extreme/195003-solar-and-wind-power-are-now-fully-competitive-with-fossil-fuels-is-it-time-to-switch-over etc. You can google more yourself. Wind is even cheaper. Porsche924Tim

[@chopperboi89]

It's bad practice to use a water pipe as ground... The house should have a grounding rod...

[@SilentServiceCode]

it is not.

[@billyandjohnny7734]

P

[@Fabulous_In_Hijab]

"

[@electricianron_New_Jersey]

Then in 5 years you'll need to replace everything because all of it is junk.

[@mav48185]

He cute but talks too much. I’ll fix that