When you are planning to purchase a solar power system it’s important to consider how many permits or certificates of certification you need. Many systems require a lot of paperwork and you need to make sure you are doing your part by getting all of the required papers in on time. Here’s a guide to help you figure out how many certificates you need for your system so you can purchase them in one go!
Solar Panels
No matter if you go with polycrystalline or single-crystalline panels, you will need to get your solar panels inspected and approved by the utility company before you can connect them to the grid. Most companies that install solar power systems only do this once the system is built and turned on by the customer. This is where a lot of the paperwork happens because you need to provide all of the supporting documents to the utility company (more on these later). They will in turn send you a license or permit which you can display on your property.
The inspection and approval process for solar panels varies by state but most companies will have a standard form to follow. This will include details about how the system was designed and built as well as any testing that was done on it. You must also show proof that you are within your state’s solar radiation zone – if you are in an area that gets a lot of sun, you may be able to get by with fewer panels than if you are in a more cloudy area.
Fluorescent Light Bulbs
When replacing traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) it is important to keep in mind that the lighting standards for CFLs and traditional light bulbs are not the same. CFLs are more efficient at generating light and last longer. However, you will still need to have your fluorescents inspected before you can connect them to the grid. This is because traditional light bulbs are more efficient at creating a certain amount of light and don’t put out as much heat as CFLs do when they are on. As a result, your fluorescents may not work if you don’t have them approved by the electrical company first.
The inspection and approval process for fluorescents varies by state but most companies will have a standard form to follow. This will include details about how the system was designed and built as well as any testing that was done on it. You must also show proof that you are within your state’s lighting radiation zone – if you are in an area that gets a lot of sun, you may be able to get by with fewer fluorescents than if you are in a more cloudy area.
Battery Backup
Whether or not you need a battery backup system for your grid-tied solar power system depends on your state’s laws. Some states do require one to be installed, while others don’t. If you live in a state that does require one, it’s important to decide how much capacity you need and how often you need it. The size of your battery will also depend on how much power you produce. Smaller batteries will store less energy and might be better for your wallet if you don’t produce a lot of electricity. On the other hand, larger batteries will store more energy and can protect your home in the case of a grid failure or malfunction.
The inspection and approval process for batteries varies by state but most companies will have a standard form to follow. This will include details about how the system was designed and built as well as any testing that was done on it. You must also show proof that you are within your state’s electrical capacity zone – if you are in an area that gets a lot of sun, you may be able to get by with fewer batteries than if you are in a more cloudy area.
Inverter/Transformer
Depending on how powerful your solar system is going to be, you might also need an inverter/transformer to change the direct current from your solar panels to the standard alternating current that your home appliances use. The inverter will change how much electricity your solar system produces so it’s important to measure the output of your panels before you buy one. Without an inverter, your solar system will only produce a small part of what it can actually do due to the lack of voltage change.
The inspection and approval process for inverters varies by state but most companies will have a standard form to follow. This will include details about how the system was designed and built as well as any testing that was done on it. You must also show proof that you are within your state’s electrical radiation zone – if you are in an area that gets a lot of sun, you may be able to get by with fewer inverters than if you are in a more cloudy area.
Micro-inverter
No matter if you go with an inverter or not, you will still need to have your micro-inverter inspected and approved by the electrical company before you can connect it to the grid. The difference is that most companies will require you to have an inverter if you want to use more than 100 watts of power due to the fact that they need to limit the amount of voltage change within the substation. This ensures that the rest of the grid stays functional during peak hours when your solar system is producing electricity.
The inspection and approval process for micro-inverters varies by state but most companies will have a standard form to follow. This will include details about how the system was designed and built as well as any testing that was done on it. You must also show proof that you are within your state’s electrical radiation zone – if you are in an area that gets a lot of sun, you may be able to get by with fewer micro-inverters than if you are in a more cloudy area.
Amps And Volts
Just like with the other items on this list, the amount of amps and volts you need also depends on how powerful your solar system is going to be. More importantly, the type of amperage you need will depend on how many people are going to be using appliances that use electricity on a daily basis. For example, if you have a washing machine that uses three amps and a dryer that uses two amps, you will need a six amp power supply. If you only have one appliance that uses a little bit of electricity (e.g. a light bulb) you will only need one amp. Most companies that sell appliances that use electricity will have a page on their website that breaks down the number of amps that each appliance requires so you can easily find the information you need without having to contact them directly.
Cabling And Ducts
No matter if you go with underground or above-ground cabling, you will have to have your conduits (the cables that carry electricity throughout your home) inspected and approved by the electrical company before you can connect them to the grid. The inspection process varies by state but most companies will have a standard form to follow. This will include details about how the system was designed and built as well as any testing that was done on it. You must also show proof that you are within your state’s electrical capacity zone – if you are in an area that gets a lot of sun, you may be able to get by with fewer conduits than if you are in a more cloudy area.
The approval process for cabling and ducts varies by state but most companies will have a standard form to follow. This will include details about how the system was designed and built as well as any testing that was done on it. You must also show proof that you are within your state’s electrical radiation zone – if you are in an area that gets a lot of sun, you may be able to get by with fewer ducts than if you are in a more cloudy area.
Even though all of these items are required to set up a functional solar power system, this does not mean that the paperwork is not frustrating. Many states require a lot of inspections and sometimes it can be hard to get people to come back and follow up with the necessary paperwork. Be sure to purchase the proper equipment and take your time going through the necessary legal and regulatory steps so you can connect to the grid and provide your home with electricity generated by the sun.