After three months of post-contract waiting, I’m finally getting my 5.88 kilowatt ground mount photovoltaic system installed this week, starting on Monday. Since there aren't many ground mount systems on this board, I thought I’d document it. This is what I am expecting to have installed:

• 21 LG 280 Mono X panels
• Solar Edge SE600 inverter
• 21 Solar Edge P300 optimizers

I’m surprised at how little I know about the installation; I am trusting that my contracted company knows what they are doing. I know it will be mounted in my back yard anywhere from 40’ to 60’ down a steep slope. However, there is much I don’t know about the install because I was told that “the designer would work out those details”. So, the install will be as much a surprise to me as anyone. I don’t know:

• Estimated time for installation
• Type of racking
• Type of footing
• Orientation and tilt (the hill faces 215* and the slope is 30*, so I assume that will be used)
• Panel configuration (I assume 7x3)
• Exact location of panels (I’ll get partial summer morning shading if its less than 50’ down the hill)
• Where the inverter will be located (the sales rep said they often mount them under the ground mount rack and run AC (along with CAT 5) to the house)
• Where in my backyard the trench will be run and which part of my sidewalk will be cut
• How the trench is going to be dug down my slope (I’ll be amazed if they can get a machine down there, and my ground is so hard and rocky that you really need a jackhammer)

I’m paying $4.65/watt for this system. While that is more than many pay, I’m paying a premium for a system that will require a lot more labor to install (and I can defer re-roofing my house for five years). It was the second cheapest among the estimates for three roof mounts and two ground mounts. Both companies that offered ground mounts indicated up front that they propose their best price while the other three hinted that their price was negotiable.

I selected a small but reputable electrical company to do my solar that at least two members of this forum have used. They have been providing residential and commercial electrical services for 30 years and solar for 10, so they should still be in business if the industry slumps. They were unlike most companies in that their sales rep wasn't a young man; he was an older gentleman who knew more about solar than everyone else, but lacked polish. He almost didn’t get the job by pissing off my wife (heaven help the man who treats my wife like the junior partner).

I received five proposals when I was shopping. I was amazed at how single-minded many companies are towards their business model. Three of the five would not consider providing a ground mount. In their model, any roof was a good candidate for solar because they used micro-inverters. It didn’t matter that at least 1/8-1/4 of my roof would be under shade at any given time of day…..they would compensate with more panels. Another company only installed string inverters without power optimizers; if there was shade, they wouldn’t do your house.

They are supposed to be here tomorrow at 0800. The sales rep took a lot of pictures, so they should know what they are getting into. It may be humorous if they show up expecting to trench level and soft ground. I suspect that the job will take three days if they have enough people; day 1: trench and dig/pour footings; day 2: finish trenching, erect racks, and install conduit; day 3: install panels, pull wire, and hook up inverter. We’ll see how it goes, and I’ll post pics along the way if they get it done this week.