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Green Collar Careers - Solar PV System Installation

Once materials are on site solar PV systems installation take the following actions, not necessarily in this order:

1. Constructing the racks and mounting system (if ground mounted this may require clearing the area of vegetation, putting down a ground cover such as gravel, and running trench to house.  Also rack system posts should be mounted in concrete).
2. Mounting of the solar PV panels
3. Cover solar panels with an opaque cloth to prevent them from generating electricity during the connection phase
4. Aligning the solar PV panels to the elevation and azimuth (usually Solar Noon of the Spring/Fall Equinox)
5. Mounting the Combiner Box
6. Pulling the cable across routing path between the solar PV panels and the Combiner Box
7. Mounting the DC Disconnect
8. Pulling the cable across routing path between the Combiner Box and the DC Disconnect
9. Mount the Inverter
10. Pulling the cable across routing path between the DC Disconnect and Inverter
11. Mounting the AC Disconnect
12. Pulling the cable across routing path between the Inverter and AC Disconnect
13. Installing the Grounding Rod
14. Connect Grounding rod 1/0 cable to AC Disconnect, Inverter, DC Disconnect, Combiner Box, solar Panel Rack
15. Install Surge Protector in AC Disconnect
16. Install Lightning Arrestor in AC Disconnect
17. Install Lightning Arrestor in Combiner Box
18. Connect AC Disconnect to Inverter
19. Connect Inverter to DC Disconnect and switch disconnect off
20. Connect DC Disconnect to Combiner Box
21. Check that solar PV panels are covered to prevent potential electrocution
22. Connect DC Disconnect to Solar Panels
23. Interconnect DC panels
24. Double check all wiring runs are neat, properly dressed, and out of exposure to the elements
25. Remove cloth covering on solar panels
26. Check voltages at Combiner Box - ALL INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
27. Resolve any voltage/connection issues to solar PV panels
28. Read the Inverter Instructions to perform any initial power up instructions!
29. Switch on DC Disconnect
30. Check Inverter output and monitoring operations and perform any initialization tasks per the Inverter Manual
31. Switch off the DC Disconnect
32. Install the solar PV Power Meter - Utility may require outdoor mounting!
33. Connect the solar PV Power Meter to the Inverter
34. Switch off any major home appliances such as HVAC systems, dishwashers, TV's, PC's.  Its recommended to pull every plug in the home including the refrigerator - just in case you happened to get the 1 in a million defective Inverters!)
35. Switch off the Main home Power Panel - usually pulling the two main breakers - verify there is no Utility AC power to the panel!
36. Connect the cable from the AC Disconnect and the AC Main Power Panel
37. Leaving the AC Main Utility Power off, switch on the DC Disconnect
38. Switch on the AC Disconnect
39. Observe the AC voltages at the Inverter
40. Observe the L1, L2, and neutral voltages on the AC Main Panel
41. This test will need to be run during a high output solar time. Switch on approximately 25% of the load generated from the solar panel and note any voltage drops on L1, L2 and neutral. 
42. After 30 minutes (or per Inverter instructions) load the system to about 75% output and note voltage drops.  Inverter Manual will have clear instructions on this.
43. Shut off load appliances.
44. Switch AC Disconnect off
45. Reconnect Utility power at AC Main Panel
46. Switch AC Disconnect on
47. Note reading on utility power meter and solar PV power meter and time
48. Allow to run for 15 minutes and recheck meters.  Reading on outputs should match if the house loads are all off.
49. Reconnect all unplugged devices in home
50. Final inspection of system