Hello everyone, I have started my solar panel project. So far I have the solar panels (12 80watt Photowatt Panels) and the inverter (STXR2500-UPG, Thanks to Henry!) I will be looking for the best spot to install the inverter...right next to the breaker box. Tomorrow I will be purchasing the wire for my "test" run. The "test" run will consist of permanently installing the inverter in it's place and temporarily running 4 of the 12 panels. I will keep everyone informed of the latest progress...



The panels have been helped by Henry!

I too prefer the indoor installation next to the main breaker panel. Especially with data collection. Leave enough room for a sub panel in case you want to install a battery type inverter for power outages. If you are keeping with the latest code (not the 2005 code) you should get a DC breaker box/disconnect like the Outback PSPV to install outside of the house, just before you bring the wires from the panels into the house. If you plan on expanding beyound 6 strings of panels, there is a way to configure the PSPV as a 12 string in > 6 string out combiner.

I have good news everyone, this weekend on Saturday, I installed the inverter. The installation took about half a day. I got some help from my father. The inverter installation is complete. The solar panel "test" installation is also complete. We installed just 4 test panels on the roof for testing purposes. By the time we finished, it was around 7pm and the sun was gone. Next day I was up early waiting for the Sun to shine. First thing I got when the Sun started coming up was "AC NOT PRESENT". This was the first message from the LCD besides the version #. I looked it up in the book and saw that it could be not enough DC power. I waited a while more, then bingo! It started producing power. The panels are 80 watt matrix panels. It started producing 5,10,15,20 watts etc until about 30 watt. Later in the afternoon it was producing about 50-175 watts depending on the amount of sun. Today in the afternoon on a VERY cloudy day, it has been jumping around from 30W to 200W. COOL, I am happy. Pictures to follow...

The unit installed, AC wiring complete: (DC "test" wiring are the two orange cables you see going to the small window)


The test panels:


Here it is early in the morning generating electricity: