One of the benefits of the Enphase system is the Enlighten web-based service that shows the status of each solar photovoltaic panel.  Although Liam Ryan completed the initial configuration yesterday, Bryan added some additional details today so the reporting is robust.

Link to Enphase Enlighten System

Our Enphase Enlighten system portal is as follows:

http://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public/systems/j8aJ30045

The link above allows us to see the status of each individual panel so we can monitor the performance of the entire system.

Please note that the Enlighten system portal will not be dynamic until the City of Monte Sereno approves our solar installation, which should be on Monday, September 12, 2011 and Pacific Gas & Electric allows our system to be connected to their distribution system.

There are multiple components to our renovation/new construction project, all of which are tightly integrated in the overall program and design, and all of which are moving forward in parallel.

One of the components is the installation of our solar photovoltaic panels.  Our original plan, which we noted in our posting on September 19, 2009 (Why Are We Installing Solar Photovoltaic Panels?), was to have 32-175 watt photovoltaic panels in Phase 1.  After the change of law announced on October 13, 2009, we changed our strategy (see Pouring Rain and New Solar Generation Laws in California) so we could take advantage of the ability to generate more electricity that we could use.

We registered under the NSHP rebate program, and have a reservation for a 5.04 kW system.  When Bryan was driving to Merced on Tuesday, August 30, (see Picking Up Our Ladder and Looking at Artemide Lights) he learned that our reservation could be increased to 7.5 kW but the change had to be completed, and submitted, by Monday, September 12, 2012.  This deadline, which is now looming, has created a laser focus on completing the installation of our photovoltaic system, which will include 48-215 watt solar panels, set out in six individual arrays.

The expanded system will have a ‘nameplate’ rating of 10.32 kW (48 x 215 watts) and will generate approximately 90% of that (9.29 kW).  However, the limit under the NSHP is 7.5 kW.

Bryan put together a list of the key tasks that must be completed in order to complete the installation, have it inspected by the City of Monte Sereno, and have it verified by an independant HERS Rater.  He reviewed the list with Bryan McFarland of Reals Goods Solar, who is managing the installation of our solar photovoltaic system, and also discussed the procedures with both Dana Farquhar of Real Goods Solar and our HERS Rater, Darrel Kelly of Builders Energy Services, Inc.

The list is as follows:

• Complete unistrut frames on:
  North gable
  Upper Flat roof
• Install Enphase inverters on:
  North gable – 8 inverters
  Upper Flat roof – 32 inverters
• Mount load centers:
  Under North gable
  On Upper Flat roof unistrut frame (2 load centers)
• Pull conductors from:
  East gable to load center under North gable
  Load center under North gable to load centers on Upper Flat roof
  Load centers on Upper Flat roof through to East Mechanical room
• Complete connections to electric panels
  Install 30 amp double pole breaker in 400 amp panel, going to load center on Upper Flat roof
  Install 30 amp double pole breaker in 200 amp panel, going to load center on Upper Flat roof
• Complete network connections
  Install receptacle to the left of 200 amp panel in the East Mechanical room
  Install Enphase Envoy unit above receptacle
  Provide network access to Envoy unit
• Install Sanyo 215 watt photovoltaic panels on:
  East gable (one array of 8 panels)
  North gable (one array of 8 panels)
  Upper Flat roof (four arrays of 8 panels each, or 32 panels)
• Complete all labels and signage relating to solar
• Test solar installation
  Connect network to Internet
  Register each of the individual panels with Enphase (about 45 minutes) and verify solar production/generation
• Inspections and certification
  Schedule inspection by the City of Monte Sereno for Friday, 09/09/11 between 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
  Schedule inspection by HERS rater (Darrel Kelly) for Saturday, 09/10/11 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Submit completion certification to NSHP on 09/12/11

Quite a list!  We’ll see how our plan unfolds …

Starting the Day

Since the 60 mil TPO membrane roof was completed last fall, we had a leak (when Earth Bound Homes was verifying the chases were clear in the SIPs), and then made several penetrations for our plumbing vents.  In addition, we had to make two penetrations for solar mounts and then just last week we made four penetrations for the conduit going to the Upper Flat roof.

So … Al Courtney of Statewide Roofing sent three of his top installers over first thing this morning so they could make the necessary repairs to the TPO membrane roof.

With the penetrations for the solar mounts and conduit secured, the team from Real Goods Solar can work unimpeded.

We’re on track to meet the September 12, 2012 deadline.

The team from Statewide Roofing arrived first thing this morning to complete the repairs to the 60 mil TPO membrane roof.

The drain over the South East part of the Garage had to be replaced due to the hole that Earth Bound Homes made when verifying the electrical chases in the SIPs were clear. We discovered the leak during the heavy rains on December 31, 2010.

Plumbing vents on the North East corner of the house.

Plumbing vent on the West side of the house, over the Master Bathroom.

Solar mounts that straddle the ridge of the North gable.

The back side of the frames that straddle the ridge of the North gable.

New TPO membrane over one of the four penetrations of conduit on the Upper Flat roof.

Completed conduit under the Upper Flat roof. Note the reclaimed Redwood under the SIP roof.

It has been a very, very long time … we finally took delivery of our red front door today!  And, we have our LEED for Homes signage in place at the job site.

Taking Delivery of Our Red Front Door

Nathan Merrill, of American Ornamental Iron, started working on our red front door in late November 2010.  His smile was almost as big as Bryan’s smile when Nathan delivered the red front door and black frame safely today to the job site.

The door is 100% custom, and has a number of innovative features, including Aerogel’s Spaceloft insulation (R-36).  The door will have Valli & Valli hardware and Soss hinges.  The color will be the same as the original red front door.

Nathan took extreme care when fabricating the door.  He took the door to Spray Technology in Santa Clara to be powder coated.  The team at Spray Technology took several months to powder coat the frame and the door.  It looks spectacular!

Nathan, with a friend, picked up the red front door and frame using a trailer, drove carefully to our job site, and then backed the trailer into the garage.  Al, Nep and Bryan helped to unload the door and frame.  They secured the door and frame to the wall in the garage.

Our LEED for Homes signage, attached to the front of the house.

Our red front door and frame arrived on a trailer. Nathan backed into the project site so we could unload the door and frame easily (and not carry them very far!).

Nathan Merrill is smiling, knowing that the red front door and frame are inside the garage safely.

Al brought one-half yard of concrete to the job site today and he poured the tiny pads at the back of the pocket door and the side of the house for the BBQ grill.

Having the concrete pads in place will allow us to continue working on the infrastructure inside the house.

Excellent progress today.

Ready to pour the tiny concrete pad that will allow us to cover one of the roof downspouts.

The concrete pad under the cabinets for the natural gas BBQ grill on the East side of the house.

West concrete, ready for finishing ...

Poured concrete pad that will be under the BBQ grill. This concrete will be under the cabinets so it will not have to match the exposed concrete around the house.

We’re working on getting the central vacuum in place and completing our exterior infrastructure.  

Based on advice from Dan Singleton, we are using Sequoia Central Vacuum Systems of Menlo Park.  Michael White, owner of Sequoia Central Vacuum Systems, has unparalleled expertise with central vacuums.

Since the HVAC and plumbing is in place, the central vacuum is being installed so the electrical and low-voltage will be next (after the radiant supply-return where applicable).

At the same time, we are getting our exterior BBQ and other infrastructure in place, before we get the siding ready to be installed.  We met with representatives of Danver Stainless Steel Cabinetry at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference in San Francisco.  They have excellent cabinets that we are looking at specifying for our outdoor grill.

With the forms in place, we plan to pour 1/2 yard of concrete tomorrow morning.

Vacuum in wall. We will probably have three outlets off this 2-inch line.

The air ventilation is in the steel beam and the central vacuum is in the wall.

Both the supply air ventilation and central vacuum are shown in this photo' Note how the air ventilation wil be hidden once the wall is furred out from the steel beam.

The central vacuum manifold is in the soffit and then goes over the dropped ceiling in the Guest Bathroom.

The vacuum enters some congested space on the North side of the East wall in the lower level ...

Al and Nep set the forms for a concrete pad for our outdoor grill (BBQ). We will pour the pad that will be under the enclosed grill structure so this concrete will not be seen as it will be hidden by the kick. The remaining concrete, which will be visible, will be poured with the pool deck and other hardscape around the house.

After much consideration, we decided to extend the non-structural wall for the sliding glass pocket by 14 inches and enclose a drain from the roof. The drain will, however, be outside our thermal envelope. This will make a cleaner exterior and eliminate a zinc downspout.

Our generator will sit on a concrete pad behind the swimming pool.  Al and Nep have worked for a couple days preparing the site to pour concrete.

The forms are in and the rebar is in place.  Al will pick up one cubic yard of concrete tomorrow morning so our pad will be completed on Monday.

We have a ramp for the wheelbarrow to bring the concrete in.

The forms and rebar are in place and ready for concrete.