Photo Documentation Requirements - Installation M2 Photo Documentation Requirements - Installation M2

Photo Documentation Requirements - Installation M2

Submission packages consist of five main sections:

  • Project Site
  • Roofing
  • Electrical Requirements
  • (I/A) Storage

M2 requirements are designed to ensure essential aspects of system production, safety, and overall customer experience are met.

Project Site Photos

Item:

Information Needed

Inverter(s) -or- Micro inverters -or- Optimizers
  • (Applicable if monitoring portal access is not provided to Skylight Lending at M2)
  • Photo of clearly legible model for inverter/micro inverter/optimizer used on site

IQ Combiner label serial number
(Required if monitoring portal access is not provided to Skylight Lending at M2)
  • Required for incentive states (regardless of monitoring portal access).
  • Serial numbers for the inverter and DC safety switch (SolarEdge/other) or Enphase IQ combiner box must be clearly legible.
  • If there are more than 4 branch circuits and a dedicated subpanel is used, upload a photo of the serial number on the Enphase Envoy

MCI location & picture

  • For Tesla inverters, need MCI location on a string map & a picture of the MCI installed

Module Label
  • Picture of the manufacturer label

Module Serial Number
  • Additionally, a photo of a single serial number from one of the modules being installed on-site is required.
  • For O&M purposes, having a single serial number allows us to trace the lot of modules with the manufacturer in case of a module-level failure or recall

Existing site damage (if applicable)

  • Any pre-existing damage or conditions, such as roof damage, altered satellite dishes, gutters, or other issues in the project work area, must be documented. This helps protect installers from potential workmanship claims.

 

Roofing - Racking System:

1. Close-up of Attachments – Flashing & Sealant

  • For racking systems with flashing: Submit photos showing flashing installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, along with the correct sealant application.
  • For racking systems without flashing: Photos should clearly show the sealant properly applied around the attachment area. The sealant must direct water away and prevent damage to the decking or underlayment.
  • All attachments must follow the manufacturer’s installation standards.

2. Rail with Optimizer/Microinverters Mounted + EGC Installed + Wire Management

  • Provide a pullback shot of each mounting plane showing all attachments, rails, and solar components like optimizers or microinverters, with completed wire management.
  • Wires should be secured using permanent, outdoor-rated, and UV-resistant clips or cable ties, installed either on the rail or directly to the modules. Wire management must remain accessible for any future service needs.
  • Equipment Grounding Conductor (EGC) Path: Include a clear view of the copper grounding route between the rails on the roof for each installed array

3. Complete Array(s) with Trimmed Rails

  • All modules should be clearly visible in the photos.
  • For low-pitch roofs or very tall homes, take photos of each array from the roof, ensuring every panel is captured.
  • The rail must be trimmed.
  • One photo is required for each array.

4. Wire Management Under Each Array

  • Submit photos showing the wire management for each array after the panels are placed. Wires should not touch the roof. All wires and bundles should be secured and raised above the surface to avoid any damage.
  • One photo is needed for each array

5. Module Tilt

  • Photos of the tilt measurements should be clearly legible and taken directly on the module, not the roof surface.
  • Screenshots from tilt measurement apps on smartphones are acceptable only if they clearly show the context of the array being measured. Screenshots without the array context are not acceptable.
  • One photo is required for each unique roof pitch. For roofs with mixed pitches or surfaces, include multiple photos.

6. Rooftop Junction Box

  • Provide a photo of the open junction box with completed wiring and bonding. Include a close-up showing the conductor termination or the transition through the conduit.
  • The junction box should have no more than 2 inches of exposed conductors outside the array. Any exposed conductors longer than 2 inches must be installed within a conduit.
  • One photo is required for each junction box.

6. Additional Mounting Systems (If applicable) -

 

 

Roofing - Racking System:

1. Inverter(s) or Enphase IQ Combiner Box

For Enphase systems, provide a photo of the open combiner box showing the complete AC wiring inside, including the breakers for the branch circuits

 

2. Main Breaker & Busbar Rating

Provide a close-up photo of the main breaker with the rating clearly visible.

 

3. Main Panel Busbar Rating

A photo of the panel label/sticker showing the rating clearly visible

 

4. Point of Interconnection

  • First Photo: A contextual photo, such as a pullback shot showing the installation.
  • Second Photo: A close-up of insulated piercing connectors (IPCS), parallel lugs, distribution blocks, breakers, and wire terminations.
  • (If applicable) If using Hoffman or load-side taps, a photo of the downstream subpanel with the OCPD rating clearly visible is required.

5. Wide Shot of Balance of System

  • Photo(s) capturing the entire BOS equipment installation.

  • The best images are wide shots that provide a complete view of the BOS area in its full context.

     

6. Production Meter or CTs

  • Photo of the Production Meter or Production Current Transformers (CTs).

  • Inverters must include internal Revenue Grade Metering (RGM).

  • For Production CTs: When using Enphase microinverters, ensure the photo shows the L1 wiring from individual branch circuits passing through the single production CT within the IQ Combiner Box.

7. Consumption Metering (CTs)

All projects must include consumption monitoring equipment installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

  • First Photo: Show CTs on the service feeders, ensuring the direction of the CTs is clearly visible.
  • Second Photo: Provide a close-up of the CT terminal lugs, highlighting the correct CT phases connected to the appropriate terminals.

If CT installation is physically impossible, include photo evidence for context. Examples may include:

    • Busbars in meter/main panels where CT placement is not feasible.
    • Split service setups where whole-home consumption monitoring cannot be achieved (these cases are rare).

8. Fused AC Disconnects (If Applicable)

A photo is required only if the AC Disconnects are fused. The image should clearly display:

    • The completed wiring, including all terminations.
    • Proper bonding.
    • Legible fuse ratings

9. Combiner Sub Panels (If Applicable)

Photos are required only for systems that necessitate multiple inverters, IQ Combiner boxes, or large sub panels for branch circuits. The images should include:

  • A full view of each sub panel, showing it completely wired.
  • Clear, close-up photos of breaker ratings.
  • A legible image of the panel’s bus rating label.

Roofing - Racking System:

Standard Storage Photo Requirements (All Battery Types)

1. Battery Label

  • Include a photo of the manufacturer label if monitoring portal access is not granted at M1.

2. Comms Cable & Drain Wire

  • Show battery communication cable terminations and installation per manufacturer specifications.
  • Photos must clearly display both cable ends terminated in every component, with the drain wire landed on only one end.

3. Battery CT

  • Capture the CT location and direction.
  • Ensure the photo reflects compliance with manufacturer specifications, as all battery installations require battery CT equipment.

4. Pull Back of Balance of System (BOS)

  • Provide photo(s) showing the complete battery installation context relative to the BOS equipment.
  • Include a pullback of the installation location with the cover removed, demonstrating adherence to manufacturer specifications.

Additional Photos for Backup Batteries (If Applicable)

5. Gateway, System Controller, or Transfer Switch Wiring

  • Show transfer switch panels (e.g., Gateway) with all internal wiring and breaker ratings clearly visible.

6. Gateway, System Controller, or Transfer Switch Label

  • If monitoring portal access is not granted at M1, include a photo of the manufacturer label.
  • Ensure the image displays the make and model of the ATS installed on-site.
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