Placing an order should only take a few minutes once you have gathered the required information below…
Basic Project Information
– Person Placing Order: Name, Company, Phone, Email
– Invoicing Contact: Name, Email
– Contractor Information: Name, Company, Phone, Email
– Installation Location Information: Owner Name, Project Address , Building Department, Utility Company, and Utility Bill (if choosing interconnection processing)
PV Product Specs: – PV Module make/model/qty
– Inverter make/model/qty
– Rapid shutdown make/model/qty
– Racking system make/model
– Roof or Ground Mount?
Roof Mounting – provide specs for each roof type that will have PV modules mounted
– Roof attachment make/model
– Roof material (Asphalt shingle, concrete tile, metal panel, etc.)
– Waterproofing method
– Attachment pattern (48″ non-staggered, 72″ staggered, etc.)
– Rafter or Truss Framing
– Rafter/Truss Size (2×4. 2×6, 2×8, etc.)
– Rafter/Truss Spacing (16″, 24″, etc.)
– Rafter/Truss Orientation (attaching to hip trusses?)
– Roof Slope
Ground Mounting – Racking specs: pier spacing, tilt angle, ground slope
– Racking manufacturer RACKING REPORT is required for all ground mount projects, PPS can provide for added fee
Electrical Specs
– Electrical Service Type – (120/240, 208 3-ph, etc)
– Overhead or underground electrical service entry
– Point Of Interconnection: Backfed breaker, line side, load side, meter socket adapter…
– Electrical panel(s): REQUIRE INFORMATION FOR ALL PANELBOARDS, are they new or existing, make/model, busbar rating, main breaker size, connection diagram
Energy Storage or Generator
– Battery system make/model
– Description & diagram of connections between for Battery, MID, Backed Up load configuration of battery system installation
– Generator, Transfer Switch: make/model, desired wiring conffiguration sketch
Site Plan with Equipment Locations Diagram (REQUIRED MANDATORY) – OPTIONAL: PPS generated layout ($25 for 10kW and under)
PhotosEither upload photos to order or provide file sharing Google Drive or Dropbox link
Required Photos include: roof, attic, service panel, subpanel, meter, and layout diagram).
PLEASE NOTE: Failure to provide adaquate SITE PLAN diagram and REQUIRED PHOTOS will delay order processing.
SITE PLAN DIAGRAM – Ex. 1
SITE PLAN DIAGRAM must include:
1) Location of array(s)
2) ALL Meters
3) Main Service Disconnect (aka Main Service Panel)
4) ALL sub-panels
5) Disconnects and combiners
6) Conduit run locations
7) Energy storage system location
8) Propane/gas and septic locations (Ground mount only)
SITE PLAN DIAGRAM – Ex. 2
Hand drawn diagrams work if all the equipment locations and labels are present and legible and array location is specified with sufficient information to allow us to draft the array in the proper location.
SITE PLAN DIAGRAM must include:
1) Location of array(s)
2) ALL Meters
3) Main Service Disconnect (aka Main Service Panel)
4) ALL sub-panels
5) Disconnects and combiners
6) Conduit run locations
7) Energy storage system location
8) Propane/gas and septic locations (Ground mount only)
Calculating backfeed limits for PV system size
There are several code compliant methods to interconnect the PV system to the utility, but the most common option is backfeeding a breaker using the “120% rule” from NEC article 705.12.
The table on the right shows the maximum PV system size for common bus bar/main breaker combos.
How to calculate max backfeed capacity for 200 A bus bar with 200 A main breaker:Step 1) Determine 120% of bus bar rating – 200 Amp rated bus bar x 120% = 240 Amps. Step 2) Determine Max allowed PV inverter output breaker
– 240 Amp bus – 200 Amp Main = 40A max breaker size
Step 3) Convert to PV kW output – 40A max breaker divided by 1.25 = 32A max AC output for PV
– 32 Amp x 240 V = 7.68 kW max AC inverter output
If your system AC output exceeds the 120% rule, you may have several options including: Option A – Derate Main Breaker ($200 – 800)
This is the most common and cost effective approach in areas that do not allow supply side connections (see below). Derating a main breaker requires that load calcs be performed to validate the derated main breaker will not experience nuisance tripping.
Option B – Supply or Load Side Connection ($100 – 500)
If the utility meter is not part of the load center, a “LINE SIDE” or “SUPPLY SIDE” connection is often an easy, cost effective, and desireable option. Unfortunately, this option is often difficult or impossible with integrated meter mains. In some LINE SIDE connections, a special “meter socket adapter” is used. In some projects you might performed a “LOAD SIDE” connection between a main and sub panel. Contact us for additional assistance if you are unclear if a line or load side connection is appropriate.
Option C – Upgrade Main Service Panel ($1500 – $3000+)
Many installers opt to install a new larger Main Service Panel. A popular option is installing one of the new generation of “Solar Ready Service Panels”. Siemens/Square D has several options in this category
