How To Install Your Own DIY Solar System | No More Power Bills!

I started the process a couple months back on eliminating my power bill by doing a DIY installation of 4.8kW Solar System on my home. I used Project Solar who helped with the design, hardware selection, engineering prints, submitting permits, and working with my utility for Net Metering. Overall this process was smooth and I wanted to document the complete DIY installation to help you do the same at your home. You can save a substantial amount of money but this is a major DIY project so only take on a project like this if you can perform all steps safely and within your skill set.

Additional Materials Purchase
1) 20 Amp Breaker (Enphase Envoy)
2) 20 Amp Breaker (Main Panel)
3) Roofing Caulk
4) PVC Schedule 40 Conduit and Fittings
5) 10/2 Romex
6) 4x4 Metal Junction Box
7) WAGO 221 Lever Nuts
8) Grounding (3-wire) Busbar
9) 1x3 boards (used for mounting on siding)

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:30 Layout of Solar Panels on Roof
1:34 How To Design Your Solar System Layout
2:15 Installing Iron Ridge FlashFoot2 Mounting Anchors
11:18 How You Can Do Your Own DIY Solar Installation
12:38 Installing Solar Rails
15:59 Enphase Micro Inverter Installation
18:24 Installing the EZ Solar Junction Box
22:49 Wiring Enphase Micro Inverters
25:04 Wiring 2 Solar Arrays Together in the Attic
28:21 Installing Solar Main Disconnect and Enphase Envoy
30:57 Wiring An Enphase Envoy and Main Disconnect
38:38 Mounting Solar Panels
41:50 Finished Product

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

[everydaysolar]

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

[dienekes]

This is, BY FAR, the best video of this sort I've ever seen. I've seen a lot of "conceptual" and partial installs, but never any that were this clear and detailed with EXACTLY how to do this. THANK

[llNMll]

This is a really great video, almost no one shows how to actaully do the whole installation. Subbed.

[jamesmorton]

YES. My 6.3KW array cost $10K after the FED rebate. I get 8.3MWH per year in Spokane Washington. I bought the components as a kit and had it installed in only two days. I have had ZERO problems after six years and paid ZERO $ for electricity. ❤❤. You can do this.

[MeredithRobbins-mx]

I installed my own solar system in Thousand Oaks California. The big challenge for me was the permit; I'd never applied for one before. I filed the permit application and started my Net Metering 2.0 application with Southern California Edison months before the cutoff deadline, but the city of TO took 9 MONTHS to issue the permit. When I passed final inspection I was able to complete my NEM 2.0 application, but when I logged into SCE, I found the application I'd started months ago had been deleted, even though I'd paid the fee. It took a lot of complaining, but SCE finally allowed my to get NEM 2.0.
BTW, I asked the inspector how many DIY solar jobs he'd seen and he replied "you're it."

[hassanbazzi]

I will never attempt to take a project like this on my own. I will do it with someone though. I tell you one thing that you are a genius if you don’t know by now. This was another amazing project explained. Thank you for w

[robertarguello]

A lot to think about, … before actually committing to placing solar panels on one’s home or rental property. … Thank you for showing us “the complicated web of information” that needs to be considered beforehand.

[turdough]

Just completed my diy solar ground mount. 16.2kw with storage. It's been 2 weeks now. Saved over half of what dealer quoted me.

[ahaveland]

Use a couple of large neodymium magnets either side of the rafter, and another couple of magnets on a jig to match them, and use it to find where they snap together - then drill through the hole on the jig and it should be exactly in the center of the rafter.
Another way is to light a fire underneath and use a thermal camera to spot the rafter! 🙂

[GammyWays]

After watching you peel those shingles up, I am so glad I never let a solar company touch my roof.

[AJourneyOfYourSoul]

Thanks for the video. Very informative.

I have been researching doing my own diy solar. It is the only way I can get the payback quick enough to make sense.

It is so straight forward, I can't believe the quotes I have been getting vs diy.


These solar companies make it seem like they are building a space shuttle for you, lol.

[AlexWaardenburg]

Great video. This is one of the most comprehensive videos on DIY solar, and I've designed and helped installed half a dozen DIY solar systems.

[tomtaft]

Excellent Video. I am getting ready to do my own solar install. Feeling much better about tackling it after this video!

[MatthewYBarbo]

Loved this video Scott. Enphase is really gaining more popularity depending on the customer's needs. I really liked how you broke everything down from the wiring, to how all of the Enphase pieces work together. Very educational stuff. You're killing it!

[mondotv]

Excellent video Scott - a lot of work went into it.

[HolmesProspecting]

This was an amazing breakdown.

Doing a comparison of my California permitted installed in a rural county the amount of little details that are needed make it so hard to get DIY in California.

California Specifics include:
Rapid Shutdown Requirements
Proper wiring clips
Different rules on setbacks (Some of them more positive to installs)
Armored conduit on DC circuits in the attic
Proper labeling
Map plague diagram at Main Panel
Proper Cut Sheets, Site Plan and Wiring Diagrams to get the permit (I used GreenLancer and it looked like a Pro Diagram)

After all of the small things I made sure to not miss the inspector came out, checked my disconnects and stickers and signed off on it never once getting on the roof or checking my attic.

[whattheschmidt]

Awesome full install video. I used Enphase micros and Iron Ridge for my 2nd array - very easy to install and negates shading issues (I have a chimney sometimes in the way of 2-3 panels but in the summer it's not even in the way!). Hardest part was drilling the first hole in my roof through the rafter. I used a hammer to locate them well and only missed 1/16 of my pilot holes. Simply drilled 3/4" over from it and the micro flashing covered the bad hole (along with a drop of caulk). I don't like the idea of ruining shingles and removing nails so I used Quickbolt 2 microflashing, easier to place anywhere along the rafter and less work! No leaks or problems at all and I am at 4.5 years. I did find it interesting how many more roof penetrations you had to do but it looks like part of that was from your horizontal orientation (some panels cannot be installed that way, read the instructions), and some was do to needing splices. My 14ft rails didn't need any splicing. Anyway just throwing out a few things I did differently in case that's helpful to someone. I also ran metal conduit off the back rail because it was right at the back of my house where I needed the disconnect and to go into the basement for my main panel. I would definitely recommend all the products you used here! Like I said, no issues with any of my equipment so far!

[turbanheadless]

Good job to all the men doing this by themselves 👍

[gsftom]

You do a great job with your videos. You give so much excellent, detailed information on all areas of this job. I think this is the best installation video I have seen on any topic.

[matthewsmithwarren]

I’ve done >10 projects helping neighbors here in CT. Overall, great overview showing the installation process. Especially helpful for people to understand how it protects from leaks. 3 notes: in our area it’s mostly 16” spacing of rafters so if you’re seeing 24”, it must be a regional thing, using optimizers on panels and one inverter at the ground level helps keeps the equipment most likely to require maintenance in a convenient location, installing a 2nd socket for the utility to place a special meter measuring Solar electricity output gives valuable information.