| Project: Air Pollution Control District System Upgrade |
| Description: The County of San Luis Obispo Air Pollution Control District installed a grid-tied solar-electric system in 2002. The work was done by a competing contractor and there were some defects in the design and implementation. Specifically: The high voltage wiring was haphazard and poorly supported. The inverters were roof mounted, making it difficult to replace. |
| Rewire: In 2014 we reworked the wiring and replaced and relocated the inverters. All high-voltage DC wiring was placed in conduit and the corroded bonding was replaced. The old inverters were removed and upgraded inverters were installed at ground level in a location that is easy to service and that is visible to the public. This enhances the project as a public demonstration for the District. |
| Below are before and after photographs of this project. |
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| Before: These inverters weigh 32 kg and roof access is solely by ladder. Bad idea. |
The high voltage string wiring was supported by plastic cable ties which predictably failed years ago. |
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| Here are the PV leads laying in a puddle in the rain. Voltage and currents are in the fatal range in these leads. |
The leads are laying on the abrasive roof deck. These were all placed in metal conduit. |
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| The new inverters now at ground level, in public view in an existing shade structure. |
The new inverters weigh 53 kg. They have no provisions for safe lifting. We jury rigged lifting points and included provisions for an A-frame. SMA, please include threaded insert for a lifting eye. |
