u/Alive-Arm-7999

New house in Japan with built-in solar. How is it?
▲ 53 r/solar

New house in Japan with built-in solar. How is it?

I am building a house in Japan with a solar roof included. The house maker won't give any details at all about the panels other than it's 245W per panel (total of 11.270kw, 46 panels).

I am curious as to the type and quality of the panels and cells. Could anyone with more experience tell me more about it just by looking at the photo?

I am especially worried about each panel being fixed with only 4 screws, given the frequency of typhoons around here. I know there is some space between the panels and the roof lining, so I worry that the wind would lift the panels. On the other hand, this maker has been making full solar roofs for more than a decade, so maybe my worries are unfounded. They do guarantee resistance against hail and wind, but they make clear it's structural only, not that the panel must continue to generate power after being hit or flex.

Also there is no other roofing under the panels. The panels are the roof itself. Below the panels it's only plywood with a waterproofing liner.

u/Alive-Arm-7999 — 7 days ago

I am building a house with a major house maker. I want smart switches for the lights in the future, so I requested an extra power wire in the switches (to have the neutral wire besides the live used on the regular switches).

The architect, wonderful guy who also has an electrician's license, made sure to make a drawing showing the extra wire should pass inside the switch-box.

1 week ago I visited the house and pointed out that the wires were not inside the switch box, but just hanging besides it on a wall cavity. The construction manager said he would have it fixed.

Then yesterday I visited the construction again and saw that part of the drywall was already placed, but no sign of the wires inside the switchboxes!

I called the construction manager right away and he made many excuses that made obvious he has no idea how the electrical plan works. I also contacted the salesman who got worried about the carpenter finishing all the walls by the holiday by himself while the rest of the company (architect, construction manager, etc) are all on vacation.

I am sure they will come up with excuses to say this installation is not possible, despite me having paid extra and the architect having clearly explained how to do it on the construction plans, which weren't followed.

I want them to remove the drywall and make the wiring according to the original plan. But I am afraid of that delaying the construction. How difficult is it removing and re-installing drywall paneling? Would it have any effect in construction quality or finishing? It would be only the panel around the switch, but there are about 12 of those switches around the house.

Should I give up and hope for reliable switches in the future that don't require a neutral wire? Of course I would ask for my money back for the extra wiring.

And in that case, I think they really just left the uncapped wire inside the wall. I am sure that is NOT up to code, and may be a fire risk. Is it? Should I insist in having the drywall removed and checked anyway?

reddit.com
u/Alive-Arm-7999 — 14 days ago