INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND

Solar is a cleaner, more affordable form of electricity. Rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels generate electricity using the energy from the sun. That electricity powers the home during the daytime, with any excess being sold back to the homeowner’s electricity supplier at a negotiated rate. When there is not enough solar generation to meet the home’s needs, the energy is supplied from the national grid. Solar helps lower home energy costs and reduces environmental impacts. Overseas research also shows that solar homes sell for higher prices and more quickly.

Pre-wiring for solar when building a new home, or renovating an existing house, is inexpensive and makes it easy for the homeowner to add solar panels whenever they are ready.

1.2 DESCRIPTION OF SOLARADVANTAGE

A home with solarAdvantage has been pre-wired to make it easy to install a rooftop solar system in the future. It is also pre-wired for an electric car charger. The essential components that are hard to retrofit are integrated during construction at minimal cost, in the same way that inexpensive conduits for central vacuum systems are added during the build.

solarAdvantage homes have:

- A roof location of suitable size, pitch and orientation.

- Conduit and draw wire from the switchboard into the attic space.

- Wiring from the switchboard to the proposed electric car charger location.

- A label on the switchboard notifying the owner that the house is ready for solar.

- Proposed solar panel locations.

1.3 OVERVIEW OF A SOLAR SYSTEM

Key components of solarAdvantage and a solar system:

Conduit – Carries wiring from attic space to switchboard allowing for easy connection to solar panels. A separate circuit between the garage and switchboard allows for an electric car charger (7kW max). Solar panels - The panels are made of photovoltaic (PV) cells, which convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity throughout the day. Switchboard - The AC electricity is sent from the inverter to your switchboard and then into your home to power your lights and appliances. Power grid - Your home is still connected to the grid. You will still need grid power at night and when sunlight levels are low. 2.0 SPECIFIYING THE SOLAR SYSTEM Before pre-wiring for solar it is important to verify that the home is suitable for a solar system. The following diagram shows the process: solar à roof check – roof orientation and pitch, cladding type, available space, shading à Cable run – minimise the distance, accessible in the future, can be run. 2.1 LOCATE THE SOLAR ARRAY

It is important to check if a solar system can be fixed to the roof of the building. When selecting a suitable roof, key factors have to be taken into account including:

Orientation Panel orientation between west and east.

Pitch Minimum roof pitch is 5°.

Cladding type Cladding type should be compatible with solar mounting frames.

Shading Solar panels should be installed in a location that is shade free between 9am and 4pm.

Adequate area There should be enough space on the roof to fit the required solar array

2.2 ORIENTATION

Orientation of solar system should be between 90° west to 90° east of north. Systems orientated south of this are not suitable in New Zealand. Note there will be performance loss the further the array is away from north, especially on steeper roofs and at southern latitudes 2.3 PITCH FOR SOLAR

Minimum roof pitch for fixing directly to roof is 5°.

2.4 CLADDING TYPE When assessing a suitable roof, the cladding type must be strong enough to withstand the weight of the solar panels. The most common roof cladding types are tin and tiled

Corrugated profile

Masonry tile - curved *

Metal tile *

Membrane

(Plinths required at build time)

Trapezoidal profile

Slate

Masonry tile - flat *

Standing seam *

* Roof type may incur additional installation costs. 2.5 SHADING

Shading is an important aspect when considering a suitable roof for a solar installation. Ideally, solar arrays should be installed in a shade free location between 9:00am and 4:00pm throughout the year. This requirement includes even small obstructions such as:

- Vent pipes

- Chimneys

- Satellite dish and/or aerials

- Dormer windows

- Trees

- Other building structures

- Surrounding hills

2.6 ADEQUATE AREA

After assessing the other aspects of the roof it should be confirmed that there is adequate area to install the solar system with at least 300mm of space between the roof edge and the system. The shape of the roof will determine the size and location of the system.

The diagrams below show the area required for different sized systems and layout options.

Some possible examples of system sizes:

     

   

   Small system – 6 modules

Medium system – 8 modules

Medium system – 10 modules

Large system – 14 modules

Small system – 6 modules

Large system – 12 modules

3.0 SOLAR PRE-WIRE INSTALLATION These guidelines allow for a string inverter or a micro-inverter solar system to be connected in the future. 3.1 STEP ONE: MOUNTING FLUSH BOX The flush box is mounted in the location that would be used for the inverter (if a string inverter is decided on at the time of installation). If a micro-inverter system is decided on then the cable will pass through, and blank plate will remain in place.

The flush box should be located below the designated location for the inverter - this is usually adjacent to the switch board. It should be mounted at 1200mm from the floor.

Extra nogging may be required to allow for the future installation of the inverter.

Nogging should be installed at 1900mm and 1600mm from the floor level.

3.2 STEP TWO: RUN CONDUIT Conduit is to be run from the switchboard to the flush box and from the flush box to the ceiling space. The conduit entering the roof space should protrude by at least 50mm to facilitate joining on additional conduit in the future. The conduit must be HD solar rated 25mm conduit (eg Marley Solar Conduit) which is readily available from most electrical wholesalers. This can easily be identified by the words “SOLAR T HD CONDUIT” printed on the conduit. It is important that this conduit is not substituted for regular conduit. Where there is a considerable distance between the flush box and the ceiling space, a draw wire should be installed. The conduit must be appropriately secured so that it does not become dislodged inside the wallspace. The ends of the conduit should be capped to prevent the ingress of insects etc, these caps will be later removed when the future PV system is installed. Label each end of the conduit with “RESERVED FOR SOLAR CABLING”. 3.3 STEP THREE: RESERVE MCB LOCATION To ensure that there is available space in the future, a switchboard blank module should be installed in the board adjacent to the main switch. This will be removed when the solar system is installed and replaced with the solar supply main switch. Label the blank module with “RESERVED FOR SOLAR”.

3.4 STEP FOUR: COVER PLATES Once the building has been lined, the flush box cover plates can be fitted. If you have any technical questions, please contact a solarcity solar specialist on 0800 11 66 55. 4.0 ELECTRIC VEHICLE PRE-WIRE INSTALLATION 4.1 STEP ONE: MOUNTING FLUSH BOX The flush box is mounted in the location adjacent to where the Electrical Vehicle charger will be located. Keep in mind that this needs to be near the car parking space, but protected from the elements. In the garage is ideal. The flush box should be mounted 1100mm from floor level, and have 300mm clearance on all sides. 4.2 STEP TWO: RUN AC CABLE Run the AC cable between the flush box and the switchboard, ensuring enough excess is left at each end for termination in the future. The cable must be made safe at each end with terminals blocks to prevent inadvertent short circuits. Ensure that the cable is appropriately sized for a 32A load. 16mm2 TPS is suitable for a cable run of up to 20m. completely surounded in insulation. It is the responsibility of the installing electrician to verify cable sizing for the site specific installation. Label each end of the cable with “RESERVED FOR EV CHARGER”. 4.3 STEP THREE: RESERVE MCB LOCATION To ensure that there is available space in the future, a switchboard blank module should be installed in the board adjacent to the main switch. This will be removed when the EV charger is installed and replaced with a MCB.

Label the blank module with “RESERVED FOR EV CHARGER”. 4.4 STEP FOUR: COVER PLATES Once the building has been lined, the flush box cover plates can be fitted. If you have any technical questions, please contact a solarcity solar specialist on 0800 11 66 55.