r/solarenergycanada

The article is paywalled but here is the new program they reference:

A new home solar accelerator program, run by The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) and Toronto Hydro, offers a free “solar coach” to help stickhandle the permits and bureaucracy and provide contacts for vetted contractors to do the work.

“Getting solar is complex and confusing,” said Chris Caners, TAF’s director of electrification. “So we’re offering a personalized concierge service that will help homeowners understand the type and size of the system, the different incentives that might be available, and we’ll even go out and solicit quotes.”

“We’re trying to make the system work more smoothly for all players — the homeowner, the utilities and the installers, so we can increase the amount of solar across the GTHA.”

Hi good solar folks.

I cleaned all of my panels for the first time this week, and they look amazing now. I just cleaned them with dish-soap water, and a soft bristle brush on an extendable pole, then rinsed them down with the hose. I reached as much as I could from a step ladder and did the rest from directly on my roofs. It was very satisfying to see when it was done; they’re back to glassy and clear once more. We have 22 panels and it might have taken me 2hrs total, no rushing just a peaceful cleaning time.

Our panels have been online since august 2024, and we hadn’t cleaned them until this, other than a futile effort with a hose last spring. They were looking pretty dusty, I don’t imagine it was a huge hit for performance but I could be convinced it’s somewhere up to 0-10% loss with the dust.

This will be an annual task now for me, my only apprehension is the obvious risks of being on my roof so I’m going to look into a giant extension pole, or some basic fall protection for my own safety. I have no idea how much it would cost to hire this out but I’ll keep DIY’ing it until I’m not physically able to.

What’s everyone else doing? Are you cleaning them? If so how frequently? Anyone found a good system for it to solve my safety concerns?

TLDR I cleaned my panels, they look great. What does everyone else do?

Good morning!

3 years ago I completed a DIY off-grid solar backup system at my home consisting of approximately 1kW of solar panels and 8kWh of LiFePO4 battery storage. I've correctly sized all conductors, added fuses, etc and have some engineering and electrical background.

The system is intended primarily for emergency backup power (sump pump, utility room loads, etc.), and I have already routed power into the utility room. However, after further research, I realized certain portions of the installation may not fully meet Ontario Electrical Safety Code requirements.

I’m looking for a knowledgeable solar technician or electrician familiar with off-grid/inverter systems who would be willing to help review the setup and help identify what would be required for code compliance and safe installation and if possible to do the work. I'm located in Uxbridge, Ontario.

Areas to review include:

• Review DC conductors entering the home and conduit/mechanical protection requirements for it
• Disconnects needed on incoming power
• Properly extending 120VAC from inverter to utility room
• General ESA/code compliance review

I can provide marked-up photos, diagrams, and details of the current setup.

Any assistance or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Any Off Grid electricians (309a) looking for a new company ? We are a smaller outfit that does dominantly off grid cottages and are looking for an installer with good knowledge . Expanding to a 5 person crew.

Third year apprentice or j-man .

As the title states, I’m looking for an effective solution for charging an eventual EV.
As our home is fully electrified, we need an accompanying load management device: something that automatically reduces the current to the EV charger during times of high demand inside my home.
Some details:
We have a 12.25 KW solar array;
We have a Solaredge string inverter;
We have a Leviton 200A 120/240V Outdoor Meter Main Comb;
Leviton 66-space, 66 circuit indoor load center with 225A Main Circuit breaker;
Leviton Whole-Home Surge Protector;
Leviton Whole-Home Energy Monitor.
We can install some Smart Breakers but just wondering here what some might consider to be a suitable EV charger and load manager. I’ve seen Emporio and Tesla’s products.
I’m wondering, since we have all of the Leviton equipment, if another system might make sense.
Of note: we are interested in a universal charger if that helps. Down the road, we may decide to purchase a Chinese-made EV.
Lastly, the ability for bi-directional charging, even though it’s currently not a thing here in Ontario, would be an added perk.
Thanks in advance everyone! 🙏