M2 — System installation
System photos guide —
M2 milestone requirements
A complete reference of every photo required for the M2 milestone submission — including example images for each required shot. Use this guide when capturing and uploading photos through Site Capture or the Skylight portal.
System installed differently from the original design?
If the system was installed differently than designed, you are required to submit both an "As-Built" Design and Planset. Failure to provide these updated documents will result in the rejection of your submittal.
General photo requirements — read before you start
Upload photos to the specific section location they belong to in Site Capture or the Skylight portal
All photos must be full resolution so all items can be clearly confirmed
Check for and remove duplicate, repetitive, or unnecessary photos before submitting — one clear photo of each item is usually sufficient
Upload photos in numerical order for easy QA review
After uploading, the Skylight team will be automatically notified and will review and approve or reject the photos with further guidance as needed
Photo 1
Front of property from the street
Take this photo first as you approach the property. Make sure it captures the property as viewable from the street.
Photo 2
Front of house with address visible
Make sure this photo displays the address of the home and the front of the property clearly.
Photo 3
Solar panel manufacturer, series & wattage
Photo must show the back of the solar panel clearly showing the manufacturer, wattage, and distinct serial number.
Photo 4
Ballast mounting prior to install
Photo must show the ballast mounting prior to installation.
Photo 5
Attachment/flashing — sealed
Closeup of the installed penetration method (what is below the flashing). If a flashing is not used, clearly show the waterproofing method.
Photo 6
Attachment/flashing — installed
Photo showing the sealed flashing installed on the roof with the flashing completely sealed.
Photo 7
Racking series number/engraving
Photos must clearly show the rail and the domestic content label — either a sticker or engraving — after the rail and components have been installed.
Photo 8
Rail with Optos/Micros + EGC installed
Clearly showing racking and inverter placements on the racking prior to panels being placed.
Photo 9
Rooftop conduit run(s) with bonding & support
Outdoor-rated fittings. Clearly show home run route if there are no penetrations.
Photo 10
Conduit penetrations
Show the waterproofing method, top of the roof flashing, and underside where conduit penetrates. Flashing must have at least 50% coverage of the cone from shingles/tiles.
Photo 11
Junction box — internal wiring, terminations, bonding & grounding
Show the conduits or fittings entering/exiting the box and all field-made terminations.
Photo 12
Junction box — exterior: closed, entry/exit & hard pipe
Clearly show where the junction box is located and which panel in the array it is in.
Photo 13
Grounding method for racking
Point of array ground (EGC). Copper wire bonded to rails or mounting feet for all arrays.
Photo 14
Complete array — all modules visible + rail trimmed
Show all installed modules from a close-up vantage point. Drone photos are accepted. Ground photos needed if all modules can't be seen from the roof.
Photo 15
Under array — post module installation
No wires should be touching the roof. Best taken from the side. Show wire management under/behind ground mount arrays.
Photo 16
Tilt — measured on array
Measured on top of the array — not the roof — with the instrument flush to the roof's surface.
Photo 17
Attic run(s) with wire management
Wiring must be neatly channeled with any roof penetrations sealed. Clearly show the wires zip-tied or not hanging loosely.
Photo 18
Inverter manufacturer & series
Show the model number of one microinverter. Manufacturer and inverter series must be clearly visible.
Photo 19
Cellular kit
Show the cell kit associated with the system and that it is connected for ongoing system monitoring.
Photo 20
Electrical wall — full photo
Include main service panel, inverters, monitoring equipment, disconnects, conduit, meter, etc.
Photo 21
Close up of utility meter number
Close enough to see the labeling and printing on the meter face.
Photo 22
Point of interconnection — pull back & up close
If AC disconnects are installed, show all field-made terminations. Clear, zoomed-in picture showing the solar breaker with visible amp rating.
Photo 23
Main breaker rating
Close-up to confirm the main breaker rating and manufacturer.
Photo 24
Production meter/CT installed
Show CTs properly installed and a close-up. Make sure correct ends of the CT are connected to the correct terminals.
Photo 25
Consumption meter (if applicable)
Consumption meter documentation photo.
Photo 26
Optimizer/micro inverter/MCI sticker & string map
Show all inverter stickers in a layout matching the layout on the system. Must clearly show inverter serial numbers.
Photo 27
Monitoring panel layout
Taken directly from the monitoring system showing the panel layout of the entire system and electrical output of each panel.
Photo 28
Commissioning photo
Shows that all panels are producing electricity as displayed in the monitoring system/inverter platform.
If applicable
Photo 29
Main panel upgrade
Clear, zoomed-in picture showing the solar breaker with visible amp rating. Can be combined with other MSP pictures if quality is sufficient.
Photo 30
Tree removal
Must be taken as the tree removal is being performed — not after the fact.
Photo 31
Trenching & fill in
Must show the trenching that was performed as well as the fill in of the trenching.
Photo 32
Ballast array
Photo of ballast racking before the panels have been installed. Must show the layout and a close-up of the ballasts themselves.
