New Solar Power Array 2015

Update: March 2020: I've had to replace my first m-215 inverter after it failed this winter. Bummer. I suspect that following Enphase's suggestion to oversize solar panel wattage relative to the microinverter led to premature failure of the microinverter. Don't make that mistake!

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Some photos of the new PV array installation in October 2015.

During the previous weekend, I installed the racks on the roof, installed microinverters on them, and then made the electrical connections to the the existing auxiliary circuit breaker box supporting the existing solar power array. This I managed to do by myself, without too much difficulty. Equipment installation was otherwise done in the same manner as the original project (see the downloads page for a pdf describing that process). The PV module installation differed since I built some new scaffolding and alignment devices to make things easier for myself. 

I installed two L-shaped aluminum clips on the backs of the PV modules to ensure  the modules did not slide off of the racks before I could bolt them down. This made one-man installation possible.

I built a scaffolding out of 2 x 4 lumber that I attached to my pick-up truck rack. This held the PV modules in place so that I could grab the modules from the roof. Bungee cords helped to secure the modules on the rack. The L-clips on the backs of the module came in handy here, too as I could use them to rest the module on the scaffold while I repositioned my hands. 

You can see the solar hot water collector behind the pick-up truck--that's a project that remains in work.

Aligning the first module.

Module #2.

Bolting down the last module.