Solar Pop Quiz: Are you DIY qualified?

We often write about safety. It’s usually a snippet here or a disclaimer there about keeping safety in mind…whatever the project. There is no shortage of disaster stories about DIY-ambitious homeowners who wake up in a hospital ward. Nonetheless, I think the vast majority of hands-on homeowners are doing just fine. But does this ingenuity apply to PV? Do solar electric systems fall within the DIY realm?

Of course they can. And as solar power gets more popular but not yet easily affordable, many homeowners are looking into the idea. There is however a wide range of skills that you’ll need to tackle such a complex project.

In the latest edition of Solar Today magazine, you will find an article, complete with a 10-question quiz, that will help determine if you are qualified for a do-it-yourself PV installation. These are the questions, formulated by John Wiles and C. Byron Winn. Can you answer them all?

1. Are you familiar with volts, amps, and watts?
2. Can you find the tangent of 22.6 degrees?
3. Can you determine the maximum open-circuit voltage of a PV module at your home?
4. What size lag screw will resist 350 pounds of up force in fir lumber?
5. What do the symbols THWN, USE, and RHW mean?
6. Are you a skilled do-it-yourselfer with a wide assortment of hand and power tools?
7. Have you bent and installed EMT?
8. Do you have a torque screwdriver?
9. How do you seal roof penetrations that will last for 40 years?
10. Can commonly available DC-rated circuit breakers be used at 600 volts?

Even a little trouble with just one of these questions and the authors recommend a professional do the installation. Not to mention that many states require a licensed solar contractor to install a solar systems in order for that system to qualify for incentives and rebates.

Read the full text of the article in the Safety First section on page 66.

Posted on November 10th in Going Solar by Dan.