The total solar installation process will take between two and six months to complete. Contractors typically install a residential solar system in as little as 6 hours. The longest part of the installation process is waiting for the permit to be approved, which can take nearly two months to complete. The solar installation process involves some key steps to ensure that your solar PV system fits your home perfectly and is properly archived in your city.
The period between our initial meeting and installation is usually between 90 and 120 days; however, that period of time can be as short as 30 to 45 days, depending on your city's permit process. Once you sign your contract, one of our experienced solar technicians will visit your home to fine-tune the details of your solar energy system design. We will make sure that your system fits your home perfectly and we will request the necessary materials for installation. This process usually takes 30 to 45 days.
When your city approves the permits for your system, your coordinator will call you to schedule your installation. The installation process itself usually takes only one or three days and is completed by a highly qualified team of in-house installers. Once your solar panels have been installed, our team will perform a quality control review and attend all inspections by your local construction department. After the inspections, the local utility company will change your electric meter and give you permission to operate (PTO).
Then, your coordinator will schedule a time for our Solar Commissioner to test and turn on your system. The inspection and start-up process usually takes 15 to 30 days. Perhaps the most exciting part of the solar installation process is also one of the fastest. The installation, when the workers are on the roof to place the panels, only takes a few days, even for complicated jobs.
Expect it to be ready in three days or less. The final step is to get the system approved by your utility company, which is called an operating permit or PTO. Since the utility company has an obligation to provide the necessary electricity in its territory, it must approve projects that send energy to the grid. Depending on the utility company, this can vary dramatically, but some estimates say it will take three to eight weeks after installation to get permission to operate.
In total, from system design to operating permit, the solar energy purchase process could last two to six months, although some set the limit at four months. This long-awaited step on the path to solar energy will take place with satisfactory speed. Even the largest systems won't take more than 2 to 3 days to complete. The solar installers will install the electrical wiring, install a racking system, and then assemble the solar panels themselves.
Installing the hardware (inverter, racks, cabling and panels) is one of the fastest parts of the process. It usually happens in less than 3 days for homes, while permits, design and inspections usually take more than a month. The final step will be to connect the inverters, which are responsible for converting solar energy into a form that can be used in your home. Technicians from your solar energy company will arrive at the site and install your inverter, wiring, mounting accessories (also called racks) and solar panels.
At this stage, your solar energy company can also manage the documentation needed to ensure that you receive incentives, such as net metering, for which you can meet the requirements. Let's explore what happens during the installation of a solar panel, from your first site visit to the day your new photovoltaic (PV) system starts producing renewable energy. Your installer will analyze the financial, technical and logistical aspects of your home solar project. While the installation of the solar panel itself only takes a few days, the system start-up process will require several steps.
Before you sign a contract, you'll need to make sure your home is adequate, find a good solar energy company, and collect and compare some quotes. Once you've selected a solar installer and signed a contract, getting a solar system up and running in a home usually takes 2 to 6 months. Let's look at a breakdown of the individual steps needed to install a home solar panel system and start producing energy. In some cases, a solar energy system can take months to get up and running, even once it's installed on the roof.
Realistic estimates for completing a solar panel project vary, but a good rule of thumb is 2 to 6 months after the contract is signed. .
