Engineered stamped pergola system for 10-12Kw DC grid tie Charlotte, NC. 5 years since last post! :)
rollandelliott
Solar Expert Posts: 834 ✭✭
I used to visit this site almost daily, my first post since being away for about 5 years.
The stars have aligned for getting a 10-12KW grid tie system installed in my NC home. Duke Energy is offering up to $6000 rebate for residential installs. Federal Tax Credit can be applied, and my HOA actually approved a pergola for my backyard (probably because no one can see it anyways).
I can't put the solar panels on my homes roof facing about 220 degrees from 0 degree north, so I have to build a pergola about 11' tall in my back yard, if the panels were on ground they would get too much shade. I looked at PV watts and flat roof solar racking solutions from unirac R-5. with a 5 degree tilt to each panel and minimum panel spacing. Pergola will be huge about 20x36 feet for the roof. Assuming a couple of feet of overhang the posts will probably be 16' apart. I need to pull a building permit and can make the pergola out of PTwood, steel or aluminum. Leaning towards steel because its cheaper. PT wood longer than 16' is pretty expensive anyways.
I'm guessing the city permit will want stamped engineering drawings for such a big pergola. Anyone know of a company that has drawings for a project already so I do not have to reinvent the wheel?
Thanks!
The stars have aligned for getting a 10-12KW grid tie system installed in my NC home. Duke Energy is offering up to $6000 rebate for residential installs. Federal Tax Credit can be applied, and my HOA actually approved a pergola for my backyard (probably because no one can see it anyways).
I can't put the solar panels on my homes roof facing about 220 degrees from 0 degree north, so I have to build a pergola about 11' tall in my back yard, if the panels were on ground they would get too much shade. I looked at PV watts and flat roof solar racking solutions from unirac R-5. with a 5 degree tilt to each panel and minimum panel spacing. Pergola will be huge about 20x36 feet for the roof. Assuming a couple of feet of overhang the posts will probably be 16' apart. I need to pull a building permit and can make the pergola out of PTwood, steel or aluminum. Leaning towards steel because its cheaper. PT wood longer than 16' is pretty expensive anyways.
I'm guessing the city permit will want stamped engineering drawings for such a big pergola. Anyone know of a company that has drawings for a project already so I do not have to reinvent the wheel?
Thanks!
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I called above company but they told me engineer is too busy to make plans, but they could possibly sell me old plans that I can get stamped by a local engineer.
-Bill
this has resulted in few solar installs because back yards are not good locations on tiny 1/4 acre lots and most homes tend to face southward.
found this online company that does custom pergola drawings. Always nice to find a company that specializes in exactly what you want done. I'll see what they quote. (edited to add they will only do drawings if you buy the pergola kit from them which is too expensive)
another company that does custom pergolas for solar, but the kit price of $6000 for a 20x20 seems high, good thing it qualifies for 30% fed tax credit.
$1000 sound about right to me. The $2500 guy may not really want to do smaller jobs (especially if dealing directly with owner), so quotes them high? OTOH, if there's more to it than I think (eg. complicated wind analysis), maybe not.
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
Frankly, people who work for fixed wages with no liability for loss often have little understanding of the risks taken by those who work on a gig basis, and/or who end up working for negative wages at times.
If checking numbers is so easy, why aren't you setting up a business to do so as we speak?
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter