Design Package Requirements — Inputs, Deliverables & As-Built Standards Design Package Requirements — Inputs, Deliverables & As-Built Standards

Design Package Requirements — Inputs, Deliverables & As-Built Standards

Design Package | Inputs and Deliverables — Skylight Lending
Reference guide

Design Package —
Inputs & Deliverables

This article details the current design modeling criteria and deliverables expected from all approved design platforms. Following these modeling inputs is required on all Skylight sales.

Compliance is required on all Skylight sales
Failure to follow design requirements, or intentional misuse of modeling criteria to artificially impact homeowner value propositions, may result in the termination of access to the Skylight product.
Section 1
General approved inputs

Below are general approved inputs, agnostic of specific platform.

Key Input Details
Approved Modeling Software / Production Engine
  • PV Watts V8
  • SAM
  • Aurora
Modeling software/production engines must be used in conjunction with an approved design platform.
Approved Weather Data In order of preference:
  • Recommended: PSM 3
  • TMY3
  • TMY2
Shading Must be used when available. If not available for the property, manual accounting for any surrounding objects casting shade (trees, structures, etc.) must be accurately modeled.

Acceptable Shade Models:
  • LiDAR
  • DSM (Low Aerial Imagery)
  • Drone (Scanifly)
  • Solmetrics/SunEye
Section 2
Platform-specific inputs
Aerialytic
Auto-locked — Inputs are set and locked by Aerialytic. No installer action required.
Aurora
Navigate to project settings for individual Aurora projects.

General settings:
  • Simulation: Auto
  • Shading Engine: On
  • Use LiDAR Shading: On
  • Use Horizon Shading: On

Aurora-specific:
  • Irradiance Model: Perez
  • Inverter Clipping: On
  • Weather Dataset: PSM3, NREL-PSM, TMY3 or TMY2

PV Watts (does not apply to Aurora simulation engine):
  • Default Inverter Efficiency (panels not connected to inverter): 97%
  • Default DC to AC ratio (panels not connected to inverter): 1.5
  • Weather Dataset: PSM3, NREL-PSM, TMY3 or TMY2

System Losses (see Total Percentage by state in System Loss Chart):
  • Nameplate rating: 1.00%
  • Mismatch: 1.50%
  • Connections: 0.50%
  • Light-Induced Degradation: 1.50%
  • Wiring: 2.00%
  • Soiling: 2.00%
  • Availability: 1.00%
  • Shading: Varies by site
  • Age: 0.00%
  • Snow: Varies by state/county
  • Other: 0.0%
Boston Solar
Auto-locked — Inputs are set and locked by Boston Solar. No installer action required.
Eagleview
PV Watts Settings (due to platform not displaying a total system loss, use the data below along with the snow loss per state):
  • Soiling: 2.00%
  • Snow: Varies by state/county
  • Mismatch: 1.50%
  • Wiring: 2%
  • Connections: 0.50%
  • Light-Induced Degradation: 1.50%
  • Age: 0.00%
  • Availability: 1.00%
  • Nameplate rating: 1.00%
OpenSolar
General (due to platform not displaying a total system loss, follow the data below along with snow loss per state):
  • AC Wiring: 1.5%
  • Nameplate: 1.0%
  • Diodes and Connections: 0.5%
  • DC System Availability: 2.0%
  • Snow: Varies by state/county
  • Mismatch: 1.50%
  • Wiring: 2%
  • Connections: 0.50%
  • Light-Induced Degradation: 1.50%
  • Age: 0.00%
  • Availability: 1.00%
  • Nameplate rating: 1.00%
Scanifly
System Parameters:
  • Array Type: Fixed – Roof Mounted
  • Module Type: Standard
  • DC to AC Size Ratio: 1.1
  • Inverter Efficiency: 96%

Estimate System Losses:
  • Shade: Calculated from viewsheds
  • Snow: 0% (add state snow loss separately)
  • Mismatch: 2%
  • Wiring: 2%
  • Connections: 0.5%
  • Light Induced Degradation: 1.5%
  • Nameplate Rating: 1%
  • Age: 0%
  • Availability: 3%
  • Soiling: 2%
Solargraf
Due to platform not displaying a total system loss, follow the data below along with the snow loss per state:
  • Soiling: 2.0%
  • DC Wiring: 2.0% *(0% if using microinverters)*
  • AC Wiring: 2.0% *(0% if using string inverters)*
  • Connections: 0.5%
  • Nameplate rating: 1.0%
  • Availability: 1.0%
  • Snow: Varies by state/county
  • Mismatch: 1.5%
  • Light-Induced Degradation: 1.5%
  • Age: 0.0%
Solo
Auto-locked — Inputs are set and locked by Solo. No installer action required.
Subcontractor Hub
Auto-locked — Inputs are set and locked by Subcontractor Hub. No installer action required.
SunRebel
Auto-locked — Inputs are set and locked by SunRebel. No installer action required.
SunRaise
Auto-locked — Inputs are set and locked by SunRaise. No installer action required.
LightFusion
Auto-locked — Inputs are set and locked by LightFusion. No installer action required.
Section 3
System loss settings by state

Note: Massachusetts and New York are broken up by county due to widely varying snow loss. To find out which county a project is in, use: geocodify.com/what-county-am-i-in

System Loss % by County — New York & Massachusetts
NY and MA county system loss map
15.1%
12.3%
10.5%
State(s) Snow Loss
(only use if platform doesn't have a total value) 		Min. System Loss without Shade
(includes snow loss)
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington 0% 9.1%
Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts (all counties except Berkshire, Franklin, Worcester), Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York (Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester), Utah, West Virginia 2% 10.5%
Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts (Berkshire, Franklin, Worcester), Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island 4% 12.3%
Maine, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, New York (all counties except Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester), South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming 7% 15.1%
Puerto Rico 0% 14.1%** (default without snow)
Minnesota 10% 17.8%
Alaska 16% 23.3%
Section 4
M2 deliverables — design package documents
Key Deliverable Details & Requirements
1) Production Model Confirmation that the inputs were set properly by the user:
  • Production Engine
  • Weather Dataset
  • System Losses
  • etc.
2) Shading Report Confirmation that shading was properly modeled:
  • LiDAR/DSM Overlay
  • Irradiance Overlay
3) Plan Set Required pages of the Engineering Plan Set submitted to the building department:
  1. Pertinent site details (Name, Address, etc.)
  2. Site Plan (Tilt, Azimuth, Module layout, etc.)
  3. One Line/Three Line
  4. Engineering stamps + structural calculations as needed
  5. Equipment is on Skylight AVL
  6. Spec sheets for equipment used on site
  7. Plans demonstrate that components are installed to manufacturer specs (IE string or branch circuit lengths for inverters, min/max overcurrent amperage limits, etc.)

Deliverables by platform

Platform Production Model Shading Report Plan Set
Aerialytic Not required. Upload a placeholder file. Shade Report Standard planset (platform agnostic)
Aurora Aurora Production Model — 5 screenshots Shade Report Standard planset (platform agnostic)
Boston Solar Array Information Shade Report Standard planset (platform agnostic)
Eagleview True Design Results See Production Model Standard planset (platform agnostic)
OpenSolar Monthly Production and System Losses Shade Report Standard planset (platform agnostic)
Scanifly System Losses Shade Report Standard planset (platform agnostic)
Solargraf System Losses Shade Report & Monthly Production Standard planset (platform agnostic)
Solo As Built Module Layout Irradiance Map & System details.JPG screenshots from live link (not pdf proposal) Standard planset (platform agnostic)
Subcontractor Hub Monthly Production Shade Report Standard planset (platform agnostic)
SunRebel Not required. Upload a placeholder file. Shade Report Standard planset (platform agnostic)
SunRaise PVWatts doc.pdf Shade Report (any approved design platform) Standard planset (platform agnostic)
LightFusion Not required. Upload a placeholder file. SIMULATION REPORT.pdf Standard planset (platform agnostic)
Section 5
As-built requirements

Planset & line diagram requirements: as-built & revisions

Disclaimer

IL will require updated plans for both major and minor changes. As-built changes are categorized into two types: Major Changes and Minor Changes.

Major changes — As-Built plans REQUIRED at M2

Category What Changed? As-Built Plans at M2
PV Module / Inverter / Battery
  1. Count
  2. Model
  3. Size / Wattage
  4. Manufacturer
 REQUIRED
Solar Layout Modules moved to:
  1. Different roof planes
  2. New roof plane / structure
 REQUIRED

Minor changes — As-Built plans NOT required at M2

Category What Changed? As-Built Plans at M2
Racking
  1. Manufacturer
  2. Model
  3. Orientation
  4. Spacing / Cantilever
 NOT REQUIRED
Solar Layout Module location / orientation changes within the same roof plane NOT REQUIRED
Electrical
  1. Interconnection Method
  2. BOS components added or removed
  3. Equipment spec sheets
  4. Equipment location change
  5. Conduit path change
 NOT REQUIRED
Other Any other changes not listed above NOT REQUIRED

Need help? Contact Skylight Lending installer support

If you run into an issue not covered in this guide, reach out to the installer support team for assistance.

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