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2001 | |
| Oct 5 | Take SEI class: "Solar Electric (PV) Design and Installation" |
| Oct 15 | Start "playing with" house drawings |
| Nov 15 | Experienced RE pro visited my site to confirm my site analysis and PV placement |
| Nov 21 | Contacted Puget Sound Energy (PSE) re: grid-intertie procedures. Received a packet of forms by return e-mail. "Fill these out a few months before you're ready to switch over." |
| Dec 27 | Apply for permit -electrical permit included "solar electric system with battery backup and grid-intertie" in the description. I was charged for 2 additional subpanels (the array combiners at the two arrays) |
| 2002 | |
| Jan-Feb | Immense amount of research and self-education as I was planning to attempt the installation myself. |
| Mar 10 | -Completed design and calculations -laid pipe beneath foundation for electrical |
| Mar 20 | After trading numerous e-mails with a friendly and patient wrench (professional RE electrician), John Mottl of Rainshadow Solar, we sat down to meet over my system design. For 3 hours we discussed everything from system sizing to equipment choices, battery-bank amp-hours to wire calculations. |
| Apr 02 | -Placed order through Rainshadow for all equipment-Lined up driller for poles -Order PV poles. |
| May 02 | -drilled 2-10' deep holes into bedrock -placed 2-21'x8" schedule 80 pipes, grouted to rock and filled with concrete |
| Jun 02 | -mounted PV racks and arrays -wired arrays and house -mounted inverter, DC disconnect, built battery box |
| Jul 02 | finished wiring, electrical inspections, etc. |
| Aug 02 | -John Mottl, still patient, arrived to inspect all work on site before turn-on. -Inverter was DOA, sent motherboard back for repair |
| Aug 15 | -oops, forgot! Finally sent paperwork to PSE. No problem. |
| Aug 25 | Installed new motherboard, fired right up |
| Sept 4 | PSE inspection, dual recording "net meter" installed |
| Dec 1 | After three and a half months in the house, both working out of the home, we have consumed 555 kWh from PSE and sold back 257 kWh. Net grid use for a family of 3, 298 kWh in ten weeks, about $18. |
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