Below is a compilation of the most useful documents/thoughts that were generated during the Caltech Student Solar Installation:

1) Executive Summary / Project Overview:  

CSSI Executive Summary.pdf

2) Introduction to PV Systems:

Overview of the design and installation of a PV system produced by the California Energy Commission:

PV Installation Guide (CEC).pdf

Technical document on PV codes and standards produced by Bill Brooks.  (We did not use this document, but it is possibly a good reference/starting place for those desiring to understand the relevant codes and standards.)

PV Codes and Standards (Bill Brooks).pdf

2) Site Selection

a

Solar Pathfinder Report:

CSSI Solar Pathfinder Report.pdf

(Can't stress the value enough of getting a Solar Pathfinder (or equivalent) report.  Especially when examining shading issues in the summer months, as trees that appear far away have much longer shadows in the winter months because of the sun's lower position in the sky.)


Need to know what loading you can place on the roof and, if you plan on using roof penetrations to secure the array, what the roof penetrations will do to the roof warranty.
    Age of the roof is important.


Array layout.  -  Especially on lab buildings there a number of small vents that you will look over the first time that you're on a roof.  Later you will go back up to your roof and realize that you need to work around each of these to install your panels and make sure that no panel is shadded.  



Z) Obtaining Funding:

 CSSI Moore-Hufstedler Funding Proposal.pdf



Y) Bid Solicitation:

CSSI Bid Solicitation.pdf

X) Economics:

CSSI Example Financial Analysis.xlsx




A) Electrical ??:
(These are provided only as a reference for the bare minimum of the information that one will need to obtain from a licensed electrician.   By reading further, the reader waives all members associated with the CSSI, Caltech, and PBWorks of any legal responsibility.  

Morgan misses the old days when there was not a need for the preceeding statment and anyone taking advice from someone else was expected to exercise a healthy amount of common sense.  With regards to electrical wiring, this means that if you aren't sure, then don't touch it.  Remember that as soon as it's exposed to the sun, a solar panel will be producing live, and that a string of solar panels that are connected in series will quickly have a large voltage with the potential to pass a large current to ground.)

SEE


B) Installation Plan

CSSI Installation Plan .pdf



Rebate Application:

Consult your local utility






C) Additional Notes:

Rapid Rac mounting system was great, but (and I hope someone from Unirac reads this) their technical documentation was very confusing.  The best solution was to talk with their engineers who helped us to understand how to lay out the bricks.  Also, though Rapid Rac offers some seismic protect in addition to the wind protection, Pasadena Water and Power did not accept this, and Caltech was required to add additional infrastructure to the array to recieve the rebate.  Thus, it is important to know what your wind loading and seismic requirements are, both for any rebates that you are trying to obtain and for .




D) A few final notes of importance:

Triple check your grounding

Tidy up your any slack in your cables of wires with UV-stable zip ties

Tidy up any slack in your cables.  :)

Label all lines with as permanent a labeling method as you can find.  Keep in mind that your solar array will be outside 24/7 365.  Wind, snow, rain, hail, heat, more heat, humidity, etc.





News Coverage:

CSSI E&S Article.pdf

CSSI Pasadena Star News.pdf





Sustainability Conference Abstract:
CSSI Conference Abstract.pdf

Additional Notes:

What training is needed? 

Qualifying for rebates and certified electricians

Walking on roofs - student liability

Facilities Buy-In - was absolutely critical

After the installation - long term management