Hardware is all Finished

Outside and...

...inside. Inverter, Transfer Switch/Standby Circuit Breaker Panel, Canoe.

I don't know how late Jeremy stayed b/c Michelle and I went to our neighbor's for dinner, but when we returned, the inverter was installed in the basement and the box for the new meter was ready to receive its new component; a meter capable of running backwards. The county should be out to inspect tomorrow, and then it's all up to the coop. Still a question mark is the WatchDOG circuit board for enabling internet monitoring of the system. I see it's still in its box on top of the inverter. Hmmmm...

DC wiring harness from panels

Barn interior box moved and made legal

Jeremy and co came at 10:00 and fed the wires through the 100'+ of conduit: both DC from the panels and 220VAC back toward the barn for the inside service. They also moved Michelle's computer circuit to the transfer panel, so that's all complete now. I got a first look at the inverter, still in its packaging. It looks like the add-on WatchDOG monitoring card will require a hardwired ethernet hookup instead of WiFi, so we'll have to figure out how to get to the cable modem/router from the basement. Tomorrow should complete the install, and the inspector is expected on Tuesday. Keep your fingers crossed!
I picked Michelle up at the airport, and noticed these screens (picture to the right) as I was waiting. They provide info about the Sunport's 145 kW PV system consisting of over 400 panels installed over the parking garage. This system has produced over 71,000 kW hours to date. A nice way to offset some of the huge carbon footprint an airport has to have.

Troubleshooting the Generator

$10 fuse

I did some troubleshooting today and determined that the two 5 amp fuses on the utility sense circuits in the transfer switch were blown. These are not easy to find! I finally located a substitute fuse with the same rating at Summit Electrical supply in Albuquerque, and made the trip down the mountain to get replacements and extras. $10 each! Shut the power off, replaced the fuses and went through the Generator owner's manual steps for setting up automatic operation. All is well now, and the generator started and picked up the load as advertised. The transfer switch reset to utility power after I turned it back on. Excellent! While the generator was powering the standby circuits, I checked what was on and what was not in the house. Oh-oh, Michelle's computer was the missing circuit! We'll have to fix that tomorrow or there'll be hell to pay.

Service Upgrade/Generator Complete

Pieces Parts

Roy, Adam, Jeremy show their best sides

I told you it would be a lot prettier!

Inside the basement

I had a tough commute back home from Milwaukee this morning after working all night, but it was worth it to see Jeremy, Roy and Adam hard at work this afternoon. I called Pat from DFW and then he recorded a voicemail for me to hear on my cellphone when I landed at ABQ. Picked up some fried chicken for the guys and  got home about 3:30. The place is a mud pit with all the melting snow, but relatively warmer than it's been. By the time they left at dusk, then new service was installed and we're finally ready to hook up the inverter. Jeremy will come back on Sunday to do this, and then it's just a matter of getting the coop out again to switch out the meter. We started up the generator and it powered the basement lights, but would not auto-shutoff. Additionally, putting the main house garage on one of the 220v circuits looks to be problematic b/c of wiring issues. Also, there is an extra 110v circuit not wired to a house circuit, and this doesn't seem right to me. I'll take a look tomorrow after I get some sleep.

I got lucky with the huge storm this week. Fedex decided to shut down the Indianapolis sort, and the Milwaukee airport closed for several days, so I took my 757 to Memphis, my trip ended, and I came home. It's a good thing the trench is already dug with the nasty cold we're having. hopefully things will thaw out for next Friday. Pat emailed some dates and times for the Better World Solar commercial on KOB. They are:
2/3: 6:28 pm and 11:25 pm
2/5: 6:57 pm
2/6 5:08 am

Trench dug, pipe laid

The cowdogs are impressed with Jeremy's digging abilities

Summing up for the week, Jeremy got the trench dug and put the pipe in. It turns out that the power will need to be off for a full day, since we're doing more than just hooking up the pv system (adding the standby generator and its switch, upgrading the main cb box to 200 amp), so we had to find a date that Michelle would not need the computer at all. It turns out that the only weekday that meets that criteria is Friday, February 11, when Michelle leaves to visit Risha in Texas. Jeremy has scheduled that date with the coop and I changed my deadhead reservation to be home from Milwaukee by mid-afternoon in order to verify everything gets turned back on. So, we have one shot at getting this right. It'll probably be a blizzard. Anyway, here's hoping. I should add that Pat and Jeremy have been exceedingly patient with our scheduling intricacies. Pat mentioned that our system will be used in a commercial for Better World Solar on KOB tv this month, so keep a lookout!

Coyote is still causing mischief

Frost on the panels this morning

The generator transfer switch/standby circuits

Closeup of the rack mounting system

Broken belt....bummer

A tractor is still a wonderful thing!

Yes the coyote continues to make his presence known. He must work for the fossil fuel industry! Jeremy and his brother Roy came out this morning. We discussed a few things and then they got right to work on the trench. After a few minutes, the trencher was silent. Michelle and I went out to walk the dogs and stopped by to give the guys some wassail, and found them puzzling over a broken belt on the trencher. The problem was that they could not release the hydraulic pressure to get the machine to move the digging boom into a transport position. This was making it very difficult to wheel the thing onto the trailer. I volunteered the Kubota and loader and we made short work of getting the trencher aboard the trailer. That about did it for today, work-wise. Jeremy still can't get a firm date and time from the coop, so we'll have to play it by ear next week (I'll be in Milwaukee). On a side note, the trickster wasn't just after Jeremy; I planned on a simple wax ring replacement for the master bath's toilet today, only to break the tank on removal. The project then consumed my day with a trip to town for a new toilet. Grrr.

Nothing to report today

For anyone who's following my progress...no action today. Jeremy was unable to get CNMEC to come out and do the service change today or tomorrow. The new plan is that he will do the trenching tomorrow, and then hopefully set up an appointment with the coop next week (while I'm back in Milwaukee, of course). All those electrons being produced by my new array are just disappearing into the ether...
I was, however, unable to resist starting up the generator. It started on the first crank and ran happily for a few minutes before I shut it off. I also got the activation code online which will enable the automatic features of the unit.

Just some pictures

Panels all installed

Work begins again. Note early morning shadows don't touch panels

Dan and Jim thinking hard

18 pv panels all in 3 rows

Dave and Gordon were here at 8:00 and made short work of the remaining panels. Dan and Jim from Plumbing Express also arrived early and jumped right in on the lp hookup for the generator. CNMEC came by to check out the meter and general jobsite. Comcast sprayed a line for their cable. A busy morning. Unfortunately, I have to jumpseat to Memphis for training tonight, but will return Friday morning, and jeremy should be here then.

Long windy day

Let's see, what have we got here...

The Unirac Solarmount rails

The first panel is installed!

Bottom of the attachment system inside the building

That's enough for one day

I felt pretty bad for Dave and Gordon b/c the wind howled all day long and they were up on the roof with no protection. Looks great so far, and they should finish with the panels tomorrow morning.

They're here

Lee, Me, Pat, Simba

18 Schott panels in a panel van

Pat, Lee, Dave and Gordon showed up this morning with panels, racks, hardware, ladders and the inverter ready to begin. Against all odds, it looks like it might actually happen!!

Dubious heater installed

Jeremy's line in the sand

Heating pad under the battery (lifted up)

Cheesy engine block heating pad

Got home last night and decided to install the separately-shipped heating kit for the generator. The pad below the battery is of sufficient size and looks like it will do the job, but the minuscule engine block heater is dubious at best. The pad is equipped with DuPont adhesive, but it would not stick to the bottom of the engine, even after swabbing with an alcohol pad. I tried contact cement, but this is also less than satisfactory, as you can see from the picture. Midway through this exercise, Jeremy showed up to spray a white line to indicate where the trench will run. He will not be here Monday b/c the power switchover date is still up in the air with the electric coop, but at least he got to see the generator and transfer switch, and he took the manuals home to study.

Schott Solar in the news

An article in the Albuquerque Journal focused on Schott North America who is the manufacturer of my panels. The company made less than a megawatt of panels for the North American market in 2009, but in 2010 this increased to 100 megawatts at its Albuquerque plant that employs 350 people. CEO Gerald Fine said that the number one priority for the industry needs to be reducing the cost of generating electricity with PV. One obstacle to this, according to Fine, is that New Mexico keeps changing its renewable energy policies every couple of years.

Plumber arranged

I've arranged for a LP qualified plumber to hook up the generator Tuesday morning. If all goes well, Jeremy will be able to test the wiring as well. I'm looking forward to getting home tomorrow and then seeing the solar install actually happen Monday and Tuesday. The weather forecast for those days looks good so far...

Solar permit

A picture of a pdf of a scan

Still snowing in Milwaukee and Indy. Michelle says it hasn't exactly been balmy back home either. Still negotiating with a plumber to hook up the propane to the generator. Pat emailed with good news: we now have the solar permit!

Snowy day in Milwaukee

Not a good day for photon collection in Milwaukee. During the flight up here last night, I reviewed the generator owner's manual and had one of those "now you tell me" moments. In the fine print of the engine specs, it states that engine power decreases about 3.5% per 1000' above sea level. I'm at 7000', so I can expect about 25% less output from the engine than the nominal 14.8 hp, or about 11 hp total output. I'll also lose 1% for each 10 degrees above 60 F. I still think it will be adequate for our emergency backup needs, but we'll have to be careful imposing multiple loads on the poor thing. I have a call in to the plumber recommended by our propane supplier and we'll hopefully be able to get the gas line hooked up Monday or Tuesday while Jeremy is around.

A tractor is a wonderful thing

Through the woods

The trench has to go from the barn (L) to where I'm standing

Finished the pad and moved the generator onto it, with Michelle's (and Kubota's) help. Easily converted the motor from natural gas to LP. Now the search is on for a LP certified plumber to connect it to the propane line. The unit is only about 10' from the LP regulator, so this should be fairly straightforward. I'll be flying between Milwaukee and Indy all week, so the plan is to do the solar and electric install on the 17th and 18th.

Solar in the Sandias

Passed Inspection

This will be much prettier soon

A lift-gate truck is the way to go for the 350lb generator

Rerouting the drain

Sharing the good news about the inspection with Pat

Another easy-going county employee named Jeff came out and walked through the building. He signed it off contingent on the final electrical inspection, so that's all good now. I began preparing the pad for the generator, which was not easy considering the ground was frozen. I had to reroute the 4" drain line coming from the gutters in the front part of the house and garage to the cistern in back. One nice benefit will be most of it will now be below grade and unseen instead of visible. I have exactly 16 of the 4x8 cinderblocks from a previous project and intend to use them for the pad, which should be just enough. The generator must be at least 18" from the wall and as near the electrical panel as possible. Speaking of the generator, it arrived this afternoon! Michelle said I needed more pictures for the blog, so here they are.

Permission Granted!

I have the permit in hand to build the already-built building. The nice lady from Public Works came out and took some pictures and approved the building. Final inspection is scheduled for tomorrow.

Permit...almost

Called the county permit office and was told that the structures people there approved the plans, however, I needed to call Environmental and Public Works. Spoke with Erica at Environmental who informed me that I did not own my septic system. Seems the original owner still owns it. Interesting. Anyway, she quickly emailed a pdf form for me to claim my septic as my own, get a permit and commit to a management plan. Faxed that back and it should be done with. Had a harder time talking to Berna at Public Works. Got her voicemail and gave it my cellphone number. She called as we were walking the dogs this morning and said something about a 15% form, then the signal faded (we are in the mountains after all). Called back on the landline and left a message with her voicemail again after the walk. Called again and left another message after lunch, and she finally emailed me the 15% Impervious Agreement form. Seems no more that 15% of my property is allowed to be made impervious (ie: built upon) for water movement due to flooding. Ah, the things one learns when one attempts to build legally. This form had to be taken to the office and notarized there, and an inspection will occur in the next couple of days. I should mention that all of these people are very nice and easy to work with. So, fingers crossed, hopefully we will have permission tomorrow from the county to begin construction on the already built building, and Pat will be able to pull his permit for the solar as well.
An article appeared in the Albuquerque Journal today about PNM breaking ground on its first utility scale solar power plant. It will produce 2 megawatts when complete in April. 30,000 pv panels will provide enough power for 640 homes.

Generator on its way

Gary from Ameristeel finally emailed a bill. I called him, thanked him and paid the bill. Pat says that the $450 to upgrade the drawings and certify the solar panels for snow load and wind is eligible for the solar credit, so I'll get 40% of that back next year.
The generator has shipped and should be here by week's end. No luck getting a live person at the permit office on the phone. Will try again tomorrow.