"All Things JJ"

Electrical Information

Electrical Specs & Upgrades:

Our existing electrical service was only 100 amp (our home is almost 50 years old). This needed to be upgraded to a 200 amp service panel. This ALSO required new lines to be buried by SDG&E. The new lines are in, and the new 200 amp service panel has been wired-up. Now, the rest of the new solar system installation can continue.

Clean Power Systems will perform all the work. The company doesn't use subcontractors, so all their work is timely and (hopefully) done right. By not subcontracting any portion of the job, on-time requirements and reliability is assured. I'm very happy to find a company that does all the work "in house".

Here is the wall with the old 100 amp service panel. The meter will be removed and the existing panel will be left as a sub-panel to the new 200 amp service panel, which is installed just around the corner of the house.

This portion of the wall (immediately around the corner from the old service panel) is where the meters and "cut off" switch will go. This area will be accessible by the SDG&E meter reader to read both meters easily, while not getting mauled by my German Shepherd, JayJay.

The conduit is buried for the new 200 amp service from the street. The white pipes are irrigation lines and a french drain. For size comparison, the grey conduit is approx. 28 inches deep.

The new 200 amp service panel installed, but not yet wired up!

The corner of the house with the old and the new service panels. The old meter on the left will be removed and placed on the new panel. There will also be another meter to keep track of the amount of solar power my system generates. This other meter will be used for calculating my monthly CSI rebate.

Joe from Clean Power Systems wiring up the new 200 amp service panel.

SDG&E lineman running the new higher-gauge wires from the main junction box to the new panel. These were run through the buried conduit. These guys are GOOD! They cut the old lines, removed them, ran the new wires, and connected the power in 30 minutes!!

SDG&E lineman connecting the new power lines. Notice the shades...even at 7:30am in SoCal, you gotta look cool!!

Joe from Clean Power working on the old wiring in the old service panel. That panel was left in place as a sub-panel to the new box.

The old service panel all wired up and ready to be closed up. Nice, clean, and everything works just like it should. :)

Have you ever seen an electric meter with a reading of ZERO? This is the new meter that was installed, showing 00000.

The AC disconnect wiring going in, as well as the new meter to keep track of kWh produced by the system (for CA. rebate purposes)

More AC disconnect wiring going in.

The SunPower SPR7000-M inverter. NICE!

The guts of the inverter.

The AC disconnect, meter for kWh produced, and 200amp service upgrade panel.

The main wall, all complete and ready to go!