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Installation of Our 4.8 kw Photovoltaic Unit on Oshtemo Cottage Photos - Luke Gascho and Larry Yoder
 

Tom DeBates (left) of Habi-Tek, a photovoltaic installation firm from Geneva, IL, and Ken Hulet with Engineering Services Company of Blanchardville, WI prepare to install one of the 24 photovoltaic modules that forms a 4.8 kw array on the south roof of Oshtemo Cottage in Rieth Village.

The two firms designed and installed the system.

Habi-Tek specializes in renewable energy systems. The firm has installed solar units throughout the Midwest as well as in West Africa.
Merry Lea staff members Dale Hess (left) and Luke Gascho inspect one of the photovoltaic panels. Each panel, manufactured by Sanyo, can generate 200 watts of power at 56 volts DC.  
  The pitch of the south facing roof was designed for maximum solar gain at 41 degrees 18 minutes, the latitude of Merry Lea.
The modules were connected in groups of six to create four series strings that feed through a combiner to the inverter.  
  An inverter in the basement converts the direct current to alternating current that can power the building or be sold to the electrical grid.
Sunshine in Indiana can be readily converted to usable electrical energy.  
  The photovoltaic array is on the roof at the right side of Oshtemo Cottage, and the solar hot water unit occupies the left side.