Electrical Update

We've had a busy time dealing with the electrical system. First, most of the rough-in wiring is done. We mounted all the boxes for light switches, outlets, fans, light fixtures, etc. over the weekend. With the help of an friend, we were able to obtain all the wire and hardware at wholesale prices - a great saving, and at a time when every dollar counts. Thanks, James! I have been working on getting the solar modules online and generating power. As part of that process, I have mounted the combiner box on the roof next to the array and run 1" conduit from there down into the utility room where all the batteries and charging equipment are located. Although that sounds like an easy task, it has taken me quite a number of hours to accomplish. I only have a few feet of conduit left to mount, but that is all in the utility room, out of the rain.
That brings up a sore point - the weather. OMG, I don't know what is happening with the weather! People in Ontario are melting in 40*C+ temperatures while here in BC we just can't seem to break out of this cold, soggy spring-like weather pattern. We are getting biblical amounts of rainfall in the form of everything from light showers to frightening thunderstorms that seem to roll through almost daily. Standing in the rain on a tall aluminum ladder, while making wiring connections and grounding solar modules with long runs of solid copper wire is NOT an enjoyable experience while all around you lightning flashes light up the sky. I have been trying to do that work between monsoons, but it is taking  some time.
Now that I have completed wiring the combiner box to the inverter system, the last job is the wiring on the modules themselves (grounding and wiring them to the combiner box). The job has to be done in that order because of the nature of solar modules. When exposed to sunlight (even on cloudy or rainy days) they produce power. If you work from the modules back to the inverter system, you would continually be making electrical connections with live wires (current is flowing), so you must make all the other connections before finally connecting the energized modules. Of course, this problem disappears if you do the installation entirely at night!
On another front, Robin from Groundwater Systems will be installing the feed piping, pump and accumulator tank this week. That means we will be able to fill the water cistern and pressurize the domestic water system - yay!
Jayson demo'd the gravity feed system from our well last week and it was very impressive! He had attached a length of 2" water pipe to the end of the run down to the cistern. He went up to the well and turned on the main valve allowing water to flow down the pipe, almost 500 feet, to that length of pipe. I had positioned it above the cistern, pointed away from the house. Nothing happened at my end for about 30 seconds. I could hear the air being forced out of the pipe by the water now pushing down the hill to where I was standing. A few gulping noises emanated from the end of the pipe and then...whoosh! A column of water 2" wide shot out of the opening, traveling in a 6 foot arc before splashing harmlessly onto the ground. I yelled and Jayson shut off the valve and walked back down to the house. Several minutes later when he arrived, the water was still pouring out of the pipe, albeit with a little less enthusiasm than before. It was an impressive demonstration!
I forgot my Blackberry at the house last night so I can't post any pictures today. I will put them up once I retrieve the phone.