How Do Solar Panels Get Installed

How do solar panels get installed?

You can divide the solar panel installation process into three stages:

Proposals, contracts and permitting
Installation of your home solar panel system
Permission to operate and commissioning

Because local jurisdictions and utilities can have very different processes and requirements for solar, the timing of the first part of the process can vary widely from as little as two weeks to as much as six weeks or more! The actual physical installation of the solar panel system shouldn’t take any more than two to three days barring any delays on the part of the contractor or any scheduled inspections. Commissioning should only take a few hours, but like permitting, getting permission to operate from your local jurisdiction and your utility can vary widely as well from a few days to a few weeks.

How do solar panels get installed?

You can divide the solar panel installation process into three stages:

Proposals, contracts and permitting
Installation of your home solar panel system
Permission to operate and commissioning

Because local jurisdictions and utilities can have very different processes and requirements for solar, the timing of the first part of the process can vary widely from as little as two weeks to as much as six weeks or more! The actual physical installation of the solar panel system shouldn’t take any more than two to three days barring any delays on the part of the contractor or any scheduled inspections. Commissioning should only take a few hours, but like permitting, getting permission to operate from your local jurisdiction and your utility can vary widely as well from a few days to a few weeks.

Proposals, contracts and permitting

The first step in the solar panel installation process is gathering quotes or proposals. Just like any home improvement project, it’s always a good idea to get several quotes from different contractors to compare your options. Read more about choosing a solar contractor here.

Home solar quotes can be complicated and hard to understand with lots of facts and figures and each contractor is likely to present different information in a different format. To make matters more difficult, contractors may propose different system sizes, different equipment, different warranties and make different assumptions on their energy and financial models. Make sure that you understand each proposal and are comparing the right information. See how Sentinel’s process reduces variations and makes it easier for you to compare quotes.

Some solar salespeople are known use high-pressure sales tactics to get you to sign a contract before you’ve had a chance to review your options. Don’t get pressured into signing a contract unless you fully understand the quote and have had a chance to compare it to other options.

In addition to preparing a quote for your home solar system, your solar contractor should also evaluate whether any upgrades are required to prepare your home for solar. Learn more about those upgrades here.

Once you’re fully comfortable that you’ve got a reputable contractor and you fully understand what you’re getting, it’s time to sign a contract. Make sure that you read and understand the details of the contract. Some states require a cancellation period so at the very least, check to see what your options are for cancelling if you get a better deal or get buyer’s remorse.

Once a contract is signed, your contractor should start working on permitting and interconnection applications. Permitting involves providing the system design, details on the equipment, as well as the installation and electrical plans to your local jurisdiction. They will also need to prepare an interconnection application to allow the utility to review what’s basically a new electrical generation source which is being connected to their grid. Preparing these documents should take no longer than a week, however it can take up to six weeks (or more if there are issues or complications) to get both approvals in hand. Choosing a good contractor who is familiar with the local requirements and processes can help reduce the approval timeframe considerably. Good contractors will also keep you up to date on the current status of these approvals or any issues that arise. Once you’ve gotten approval from your local jurisdiction and utility, it’s time to get your system installed!

Proposals, contracts and permitting

The first step in the solar panel installation process is gathering quotes or proposals. Just like any home improvement project, it’s always a good idea to get several quotes from different contractors to compare your options. Read more about choosing a solar contractor here.

Home solar quotes can be complicated and hard to understand with lots of facts and figures and each contractor is likely to present different information in a different format. To make matters more difficult, contractors may propose different system sizes, different equipment, different warranties and make different assumptions on their energy and financial models. Make sure that you understand each proposal and are comparing the right information. See how Sentinel’s process reduces variations and makes it easier for you to compare quotes.

Some solar salespeople are known use high-pressure sales tactics to get you to sign a contract before you’ve had a chance to review your options. Don’t get pressured into signing a contract unless you fully understand the quote and have had a chance to compare it to other options.

In addition to preparing a quote for your home solar system, your solar contractor should also evaluate whether any upgrades are required to prepare your home for solar. Learn more about those upgrades here.

Once you’re fully comfortable that you’ve got a reputable contractor and you fully understand what you’re getting, it’s time to sign a contract. Make sure that you read and understand the details of the contract. Some states require a cancellation period so at the very least, check to see what your options are for cancelling if you get a better deal or get buyer’s remorse.

Once a contract is signed, your contractor should start working on permitting and interconnection applications. Permitting involves providing the system design, details on the equipment, as well as the installation and electrical plans to your local jurisdiction. They will also need to prepare an interconnection application to allow the utility to review what’s basically a new electrical generation source which is being connected to their grid. Preparing these documents should take no longer than a week, however it can take up to six weeks (or more if there are issues or complications) to get both approvals in hand. Choosing a good contractor who is familiar with the local requirements and processes can help reduce the approval timeframe considerably. Good contractors will also keep you up to date on the current status of these approvals or any issues that arise. Once you’ve gotten approval from your local jurisdiction and utility, it’s time to get your system installed!

Installation of your home solar panel system

For the purposes of this article, we are assuming that your home solar panel system is being installed on your roof. If your solar panels are being mounted in the ground, much of the same applies, but you can disregard any parts which relate to the attachment to your roof.

Good contractors should show up on time, keep you update to date on the project’s progress, maintain a neat job site, demonstrate care for your property and follow proper safety precautions and requirements.

The physical installation of your home solar panel system starts with the contractor measuring the roof space and confirming the dimensions and location of the proposed system vs. the roof. If everything checks out, they’ll move on to laying out the system and marking the attachment points to your roof structure.

Mounting feet are then attached through your roof to anchor the system to your rafters. Since there could be 50 or more of these attachment points, it is critical that a well-designed and good quality flashing product for these mounting feet is used and installed properly in order to prevent these new holes in your roof from leaking. Systems on flat roofs may be anchored to the roof structure or they may be ballasted by using additional weight to keep the system on the roof.

Next, extruded aluminum rails are attached to the mounting feet. Note that some systems are “rail-less” which means that the modules are attached directly to the mounting feet.

If you have microinverters or DC optimizers, they will then be mounted to the rails or to the module frames and connected to each other.

Next, the solar panels are attached to the rail or directly to the mounting feet with clamps and connected to the microinverters or DC optimizers.

As the solar panels are being installed on the roof, your home’s electrical system is being prepared to connect the solar panels. If DC optimizers are being used, you’ll have a larger inverter and any communications equipment installed. If microinverters are being installed you’ll just have communications equipment to be installed. Typically this equipment is installed near your electrical panel.

Finally, the solar panels are connected to your electric panel through a dedicated circuit breaker.