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Yeah. One of the companies I worked for actually sold mostly to the DIY crowd, and I've done a few installs myself. It's not very hard -- most of it just plug and play, and even the roof entry points can be easy if you have the right flashings. (You would need an electrician to do the final approval and connection in many jurisdictions, though.)

That is to say, it might not be a bad idea to pick up a few spares when you buy a system, and learn to replace broken modules or power electronics on the roof yourself if you need to and the company no longer exists. Just a thought.




Where would one learn this knowledge without joining the trade?


Glad you asked! There's a few ways I know... mix and match as you see fit!

1) 4-6 hours, free: Volunteer with Grid Alternatives (https://gridalternatives.org/get-involved/volunteer), a nationwide (well, several states) nonprofit that donates and installs surplus solar for needy families. You get hands-on installation experience with a crew.

2) 2-3 hours, free: Self-study materials online like this guide from my former employer: https://unboundsolar.com/blog/step-by-step-diy-solar-install... (I didn't write this, and the company changed owners after I left... not sure how it is these days) or if you prefer a community wiki: https://www.appropedia.org/How_to_install_a_photovoltaic_sys... . And of course these days there's probably a bunch of stuff on YouTube too.

3) 18-40 hours, few hundred dollars: A NABCEP prep course (https://coursecatalog.nabcep.org/exam-courses) is probably the best way short of an apprenticeship to learn to do this the right way. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners gives (optional but thorough and helpful) solar installation and design certifications. Anyone can take the courses, even if you don't want to get the cert. (I did that just for my own knowledge, while working as a web dev for a solar company). Make sure whichever class you take has a mix of both theory and hands-on practice with real equipment.

4) A few months, more expensive: See if your local university or community college has cheap or auditable (drop in for no credit) courses you can take. Mine had environmental engineering and sustainability courses that included hands-on solar design and installs.

Please note that whatever you choose, in most areas it will NOT be legal to finish your install without an electrician (assuming a grid-tied system connected to your local power utility, vs a standalone battery-backed up off-grid system). You can do most of the work yourself though (great excuse for a pizza party on the roof with friends) but don't actually hook it up / turn it on without a proper permit and electrician inspection. Still, this saves a bunch of money over a fully professional install, and this way you also intimately know the equipment and labor standards better.

Edit: Oh, by the way, some solar resellers (like my former employer above) will help you design the equipment and sell it/ship it to you direct, making it that much easier (you don't have to worry about all the electrical details as much, unless you like that sort of thing... you just have to install what they give you).

I think these days there are also some online design sites (OpenSolar, Helioscope, Aurora, SolarEdge, etc.), but I think those are tailored towards industry professionals and not homeowners. Still, they might be helpful if you want to sign up and play around with a mock roof layout with real equipment connections.




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