Do It Yourself Solar Power? - Easy DIY Solar Panel Installation!

Attempt any DIY project at your own risk. Follow local code. Working with electricity can be dangerous.

Here are my numbers.
I have an 8.06kw solar system. It cost me $13,300 (before incentives)
With the federal incentive for 2020 (26% tax credit) and my state tax credit ($1600) it brings the cost of my system down to $8,243. Remember these are 2020 prices.

Tesla would have charged me $17,000 to install a 7.56kw system in 2020.
Another company bid $21,200 for an 8kw system.
and a fourth company was $21,700 for fully installed 8.68kw
(all those bids are before government incentives)

*Follow me for updates!*

JerryRigEverything assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. JerryRigEverything recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, expensive electronics, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of JerryRigEverything, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not JerryRigEverything. Only attempt your own repairs if you can accept personal responsibility for the results, whether they are good or bad.

[ReclusiveEagle]

Jerry: "Easy to install DIY solar panels!"
Me: "I want to do DIY installation, What could go wrong?"
Also me: *Installs them backwards so they take power from my home and give it to the sun*

[TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

Came in with curiosity.


Left with a degree in engineering and architecture.

[alexysalcantar]

I’m a solar installer and this a good straight forward video for anyone looking to do it themselves. It’s not that hard once you’re up there on the roof it all comes together and makes sense

[agentarnold]

The way this guy speaks is so professional, well toned and perfectly paced.

[samuelnathanhimawan]

Everyone: Quarantining themselves
Zack: wanna see me putting on solar panels?

[_GRBL]

literally anything: snaps together
jerry: *LEGO*

[carl]

Wow, this is the best "How To" solar DIY video i have seen on youtube and i have looked at a lot of them. The other videos always seem to leave out the part about connecting to your existing panel box and having to replace your power meter, etc. Great job and thank you!

[deltacharlie]

Just got my panels from solar wholesale! They told me on the phone how you helped send all their kids to college with your referrals 🤣
Thanks for the awesome video and supplier!

[avinashrajjr]

Also jerry- "this solar panels are made up of glass"

me- "glass is a glass, and glass can break"

[huh]

"Just like.. you know, a little lego"

You just had to say it didn't you!

[michaelbartlett]

Well I saw this video back in September 2021. Decided to buy a kit from solar wholesale. I am now almost done with my instal. Here is what I have to say if you are interested. Solar wholesale is not the same company they were when he used them over a year ago. They have had many of their higher ups move on. They have the worst customer service I have ever had to deal with. I go weeks without getting a response. Their instal PDF is incorrect and has bad info on it but their YouTube video along with this one made it pretty easy to follow what to do. Hopefully after I’m connected for the city I won’t have to deal with solar wholesale that after that. They didn’t even send me the meter box I needed or my mail breaker needed. I had to buy them myself. They did refund me for the breaker though but did say they don’t normal cover that for people.

[bmzyqdx]

Jerry: It’s not a JerryRigEverything video without a durability test
Me: The solar panel scratches at a level 6, with deeper grooves at a level 7

[FoxDren]

"they are made of glass"

where was the "and glass is glass and glass breaks"?

[noreason]

But the real question is:

Does the solar panal scratches at level 6 with deeper groves at level 7?

[christianamartel]

Hi,
Thanks for this video, nicely done with some useful details .
NOTE that the breakers you use to tie to the grid, usually in the existing distribution panel, in the home or business, MUST be CERTIFIED bi-directional breakers. That is to say that the breakers, in case of a fault or other serious situations, will trip when the power is flowing from the grid to the building, AND when the power is flowing from the solar pv arraty to the grid.

This is not intuitive as on first impression one might ask why if we're talking about AC, Alternating Current, i.e. current that goes back and forth. However MOST standard breaker designs, but not all, work on POWER intensity, not current direction, and they are in effect an electro-MECHANICAL design that only trips when power flows from grid to loads in the building. So if you have a breaker that is not bi-directional and a branch, bird or other event causes a short on the grid, this short will create a short to your pv panel array, and since you don't have bi-directional breakers the breakers will not trip. Although most PV panels have a limited short circuit it is important to note that there may still be a risk for fire, damage to you power electronics (inverters, etc.) or simply aging the insulation of the wiring and possibly the pv cells. It is possible that for your brand of electric distribution panel there is no bi-directional breakers available. So install bidirectional breakers OR quality fuses in a separate small box and then to your distribution panel.

This is one of the only documents I have seen that does not recommend roofing pitch-tar sealants specifically designed to prevent leaks over the life of the roof which can be as long as 30 years. This is also the only video that uses so little sealant at each step. Better review this and use more as per standard roofing practices than be sorry later.

[Pizdzirynka]

Since it’s glass I would be tempted to wash and even wax the panels for extra polish to attract as much sun as possible

[highlansubi]

DO NOT WALK ON SOLAR When you do you cause micro fractures that over the years will destroy your panels. They won’t break right away. Heat and cold weather puts stress on that glass and over time they will fail, or cause the ground fault you were talking about. Also especially in cold climate those zip ties you used will fail due to fatigue and moisture and ice loosening them up. Snap and Rack sells special rail clips that you can secure the cables in the rail. And ultimately you want a drain at the bottom of the riser pipe as it tends to build moisture and water inside and it will drain at the opening to your breakers. Hope this helps to improve the longevity of your systems. Thanks for a great install video and please wear PPE when installing.

[randelcarpio]

Zack is one video closer to durability testing his house.

[andreagarrett]

DIY solar panel:
- Buys solar panel
- 4 Laborers working for him

[randy-mwdq]

Where I live you don't need permits if your not tapping in to the power company. If its a stand alone project you do yourself, no permits needed.