How To Do PV Design ------------------- A Guide to PV Design Resources - Look at Site with Google Earth or Google Maps or Zillow.com (Figure square footage of area and azimuth) - Use system sizing spreadsheets from Text Book: Photovoltaic Systems, by James Dunlop Energy Production Calculators/Software: PVWatts: http://www.nrel.gov/rredc/pvwatts/ In My Backyard: http://www.nrel.gov/eis/imby/ Solar Estimate: http://www.solar-estimate.org/index.php Sizing Workbook by Lloyd Dinkelspiel http://www.lwd.com/solar/ Information: Find Solar.com http://www.findsolar.com/ GoSolarCalifornia.com http://www.gosolarcalifornia.com/ - Check the EPBB (Expected Performance Based Buydown) or PBI (Performane Based Incentive) http://www.gosolarcalifornia.org/csi/rebates.php http://www.csi-epbb.com/index.aspx - Check Pricing MrSolar.com http://www.mrsolar.com/ or Other Supplier for Pricing - Check Module Specs with System Specs - Choose Equipment - String Sizing SMA Design Tools: http://www.sma-america.com/en_US/services/solar-design-tools.html Sunny Design http://www.sma-america.com/en_US/products/software/sunny-design.html PV Select - Blue Oak Energy http://www.pvselect.com/index.php Voltage Drop Calculator http://america.sma.de/vdropcalculator.html Other Design Tools: Clean Power Research http://www.cleanpower.com/CPE OnGrid http://www.ongrid.net Solmetric PV Designer http://www.solmetric.com/pvdesigner.html - Use Notes from Sierra College ESS34 Classes for Wire Sizing & Voltage Drop (Or use Text Book) - Check Fire Requirements - Price All materials - Modules, inverters, BOS - Create Drawings and Building Permit Package (use examples at Brooks Engineering: http://www.brooksolar.com/services.html) For City or County (AHJ) 1) Site Elevation / Plot 2) Single Line Drawing 3) Notes 4) Labels 5) Include Cut Sheets - specs for products used, Engineering for racking * Factor Permit Costs * Find Permit Package Requirements Online