HAPPY EARTH DAY!! (& Solar Project Update)

Max and crew showed up Tuesday with all that was needed to step into action after a long trek through morning traffic from Hampton to Kilmarnock.  Clearly, these guys have done this many times before.  They immediately set up a table and started lining up materials, tools and equipment while scoping out the roof.  Others were busily assembling clamps and brackets while installers donned their safety harnesses.  Regina, Max's wife and one who designed the layout of the system, had her CAD drawings ready for all to reference during the installation.

The combination of the steep saltbox roof and the grainy pollen did NOT help in keeping a sure foot, but the crew improvised by taking off their shoes and literally grabbing on with the balls of their feet, which were raw by the end of the day.

Keeping their footing

They persevered.   Once the first clips were in place and the critical panels were installed, a rhythm kicked in and they were rollin'.  

The first day showed tremendous progress.   We took a break mid-day and all enjoyed the cool breezes on the screen porch, while the crew broke out their cooler with a small feast for a hot and hungry bunch of guys.  Then back to work until it got too hot and almost too late to beat the traffic back to Hampton.

Day two, we were not so lucky with the weather and after a few more panels were installed, the rain hit and the guys were slipping all over the place. 

They had lunch in town at the Mexican place and headed back to Hampton while it poured the rest of the afternoon.

They'll be back Friday morning in time to complete the project, hook up to the two circuits and be ready for Scott from Northern Neck Electric Coop to inspect and put in the order for the net meter installation.  Scott says next week we will be ready to go.

So my task today was to hook up the EnPhase Energy's "Envoy Communications Gateway" to the network and register it online.	Done...
and done. [For larger view, click on image.]

Tune in next week for the next installment. We're headed to a wedding this weekend so I will get some images, but no time to post until Monday or so...