Install Your Own Solar Panels

Labor and related costs account for more than half of the price of the average home solar installation. But homeowners can save thousands of dollars with this user-friendly manual, which follows the same process professional contractors use. Through detailed directions and step-by-step photos, veteran solar installer Joseph Burdick and seasoned builder Philip Schmidt teach you how to determine the size, placement, and type of installation you'll need. This comprehensive DIY guide covers everything from assembling rooftop racking or building a ground-mount structure to setting up the electrical connections and making a battery bank for off-grid systems.



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  This comprehensive DIY guide shows homeowners how to install a whole-house photovoltaic system. Detailed photos, illustrations, and step-by-step instructions follow the same process professionals use - from planning and designing to installing rooftop and ground-mounted tracks. Joseph Burdick has more than 30 years of experience in the photovoltaics industry - from R&D, measurement, and testing to system design, installation, and project management. He is president and CEO of Burdick Technologies Unlimited, LLC, one of Colorado's top renewable energy companies, and is also a professor at Ecotech Institute, where he trains students for careers in solar installation.


Philip Schmidt has been teaching readers how to do things for almost two decades. A former carpenter and longtime writer and editor, he is the author of 18 books, including PlyDesign, Decorating with Architectural Details, and The Complete Guide to Treehouses. He lives in Colorado with his wife, two daughters, and too many leftover building materials. Make Your Savings Shine



This fully illustrated step-by-step guide provides the essential advice you need to successfully install your own solar array. And by doing it yourself, you'll recoup your initial investment faster than ever. Solar professional Joseph Burdick and veteran builder Philip Schmidt take you all the way from assessing your site, designing your system, and getting a permit to shopping for parts and installing the modules. You'll use the same thorough process that the pros do, find answers to all your questions, and set up a complete system for a fraction of the cost. Introduction

1  The Basics

    Anatomy of a Solar-Electric System

    Can I Install My Own PV System?

    Going Solar – From Start to Finish

    Working with Solar Professionals

    Answering the Big Three

2  Assessing Your Site

    Measuring Area, Slope, and Azimuth

    Sizing Your System with PVWatts

    Snow, Wind, and Shade

3  Choosing PV Hardware

    Modules

    Module Support Structures

    Inverters and DC Optimizers

4  Designing Your System

    PV Circuit Fundamentals

    The Design Process

    Sample System Designs

    One-Line Electrical Diagrams

    Wire Types for PV Systems

5  Getting Ready to Install

    Permitting and Inspections

    Shopping Solar

    Solar Financials

    Assembling Your Crew

6  Mechanical Installation: Rooftop

    Laying Out the Racking

    Installing Footers and Rails

    Installing Modules

7  Mechanical Installation: Ground-Mount

    Setting the Support Posts

    Assembling the Ground-Mount Structure

8  Electrical Installation

    Final Project Steps

    Running Conduit

    Component Connections

    Final Inspection and Turning On Your PV System

9  Off-Grid System Design

    Off-Grid Basics

    Batteries

    Sample Off-Grid System Design

10  Beyond Installation: Tips for Troubleshooting, Maintaining, and Monitoring Your PV System

    PV Safety Rules

    Shutdown and Startup Procedures

    Maintenance and Troubleshooting