weekend challenge... 22kWp, 3.5 installers, 2 days...

Gavin A · Sep 27, 2013

so this weekend it seems there are just 3 of us available all weekend to do the 2nd phase of a 44kWp install we started last weekend, with one extra panel installer joining us around lunchtime sunday to blitz the panels.

We had originally planned to do it all in 4 days last weekend with 6 staff, but northern powergrid had other ideas and hadn't given permission in time - came though on Wednesday on about day 43 out of their maximum allotted 45 working days, despite us chasing it up and specifically requesting it for the 10th Sept. This weekend half our staff cant' do it.

Inverter is up, cable trays are run, but we've got a total of 4-500m of DC cable in 8 runs (4 strings) to be run, plus AC and testing, and have to lift 88 panels by hand through a roof hatch and along the 40m roof valley, plus do cruciform mounting.

I'm quietly confident that we'll pull it off, but we're going to have to work our backsides off, and be really efficient to do it I think.

so what do you reckon, doable?

place your bets....

Gavin A · Sep 27, 2013

ps we were definitely starting to feel the extra weight of the solarworld panels last weekend, they really are heavy buggers.

Worcester · Sep 28, 2013

Definitely doable!
With a good team that works together...
Apprentices come in handy, especially to keep the brews comin'

Go for it - Dawn till dusk

SolarCity · Sep 28, 2013

Doable, I reckon, but bloody hard work. But it'll be the moving around of 88 panels between 3 of you which will takes its toll. You'll earn a lie on Monday morning I reckon!

infinity · Sep 28, 2013

Your definitely do it, everyone usually pulls together with deadlines and puts in that extra effort.
I think the solar worlds are nice to carry with the rolled edge under your hand! It's easier than having a panel with a sharp edge that cuts the blood supply off in your hands!

Gavin A · Sep 28, 2013

infinity said:
Your definitely do it, everyone usually pulls together with deadlines and puts in that extra effort.
I think the solar worlds are nice to carry with the rolled edge under your hand! It's easier than having a panel with a sharp edge that cuts the blood supply off in your hands!

true, however that extra 4-5kg gets to be a right bugger when handballing 88 panels up through the roof hatch. I have a bit of an issue as well with the extra couple of cm width, as it seems to make them not properly fit my arm length when trying to lift / put them down by myself.

Think we're just about on schedule as long as the sparks can keep up when it comes to them jumping on the panel installation side of things, as we can't start lifting panels til 11.30am when the 4th man gets there.

ps Worcester - one of the 3 is the apprentice, though luckily he's reasonably experienced at long cable runs, not so good with the tea making.