Project description
We already have a rooftop solar array feeding the house through a grid-tied inverter, but the system shuts off the moment the grid drops «to prevent backfeeding the line», so we lose power exactly when we need it most. We want to add a wall-mounted battery storage unit that charges from the existing panels during the day and keeps a defined set of critical loads running after dark or during an outage.
First step is a site walkthrough: the garage wall next to the main panel is the obvious mounting spot, but it needs checking for ambient temperature swings, clearance from the water heater, and whether the concrete backing can take the mounting bracket weight once the unit is loaded. We also want a second opinion on whether the battery should sit indoors or in a ventilated enclosure outside, given our climate.
Load calculation comes next — we need the fridge, well pump, a few living-room outlets, and the internet gear on the protected side, not the whole house, so the installer should size the battery capacity against that critical-loads subpanel rather than total household draw. That subpanel will need to be built out as part of the job if it doesn't already exist in a usable form.
The wiring itself covers connecting the battery's inverter and charge controller to the existing solar strings, making sure the charge controller settings match our panel voltage and won't conflict with the grid-tied inverter's own charging behavior, and running conductors to an automatic transfer switch that senses a grid outage and islands the critical-loads panel within seconds. All of this has to pass inspection and match our utility's interconnection rules for battery-backed solar, so permit pulling and a code-compliant grounding scheme are part of the scope, not an afterthought.
Looking for someone who can walk the site, propose a battery capacity and mounting location, quote the transfer switch and subpanel work, and give a realistic timeline including permitting and utility sign-off before flipping the system live.
First step is a site walkthrough: the garage wall next to the main panel is the obvious mounting spot, but it needs checking for ambient temperature swings, clearance from the water heater, and whether the concrete backing can take the mounting bracket weight once the unit is loaded. We also want a second opinion on whether the battery should sit indoors or in a ventilated enclosure outside, given our climate.
Load calculation comes next — we need the fridge, well pump, a few living-room outlets, and the internet gear on the protected side, not the whole house, so the installer should size the battery capacity against that critical-loads subpanel rather than total household draw. That subpanel will need to be built out as part of the job if it doesn't already exist in a usable form.
The wiring itself covers connecting the battery's inverter and charge controller to the existing solar strings, making sure the charge controller settings match our panel voltage and won't conflict with the grid-tied inverter's own charging behavior, and running conductors to an automatic transfer switch that senses a grid outage and islands the critical-loads panel within seconds. All of this has to pass inspection and match our utility's interconnection rules for battery-backed solar, so permit pulling and a code-compliant grounding scheme are part of the scope, not an afterthought.
Looking for someone who can walk the site, propose a battery capacity and mounting location, quote the transfer switch and subpanel work, and give a realistic timeline including permitting and utility sign-off before flipping the system live.
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