Abstract: Enclosure assemblies employed in electrical installations, including those employed in solar power installations, which conform to NEMA 3R type rating defined by National Electrical Manufacturers Association (“NEMA”) are disclosed. In some embodiments, a base of a housing of an enclosure assembly having a seal-receiving groove, fastener retainers, fastener walls, a moisture diverter, attachment points; and conductor pass-through apertures is disclosed. In some embodiments, a base of a housing of an enclosure assembly having a forward portion with a forward fastener retainer and forward attachment points; an aft portion of the base having an aft fastener retainer and aft and attachment points, the groove located between the forward and aft portions, a moisture diverter located between the forward and aft portions; and drainage channels encompassing the forward and aft portions is disclosed. In some embodiments, a method for pre-positioning a fastener in a housing of an enclosure assembly is disclosed.

Abstract: Surface mount assembly for mounting to a solar panel frame to an installation surface is disclosed. In some embodiments, a surface mount assembly includes a base and an enclosure. The base includes a lower member and an upper member. The lower member could include a brace, a center aperture extending through the lower and upper members for receiving a fastener to facilitate the mounting to a solar panel frame; the upper member could include a hub from which a plurality of arms may extend. The mount enclosure could include a chamber with a chamber aperture for receiving a fastener from the surface mount, a post support extending upward from the chamber and forming a post aperture for receiving a post, and a horizontal member with one or more sealant grooves extending horizontal outward from the chamber.

Abstract: Chemical flashings for track assemblies and mount assemblies employed in solar power installations are disclosed. In some embodiments, a track assembly having a base, a pair of rails, a sealant receiving cavity and a round groove extending into the base from the bottom of the base, and a compressible round seal disposed within the base extending past the bottom is disclosed. In some embodiments, a mount assembly having a vertical structure, a sealant receiving cavity and a round groove extending into the base from the bottom of the base, a compressible round seal disposed within the base extending past the bottom, and an excess sealant cavity is disclosed.

Abstract: Single-piece hinged-clamps employed used in assemblies used to mount solar power modules to surface installation are disclosed. In some embodiments, a clamp with a right portion with a right notch having a right platform, a left portion with a left notch having a left platform, and a base portion with a flexible hinge is disclosed. The left portion also includes a threaded aperture extending downwardly from the left platform. In some embodiments, a method of securing a component with the clamp is disclosed in which a right member of a component is inserted into a right notch of a clamp, an applied force imparts movement of a left notch away from the right notch, and a buildup of potential energy in the flexible hinge during the application of the force moves the left notch in the opposite direction to engage the left member of the component.

Abstract: A method of determining solar radiation exposure at a predetermined location is provided. The method may include generating a first two-dimensional (2D) matrix including a plurality of elements, wherein each element of the plurality of elements of the first 2D matrix includes an elevation/azimuth pair representing a light ray extending from the predetermined location to one or more positions in the sky. The method may further include generating a second 2D matrix including a plurality of elements, wherein each index of the second 2D matrix includes an associated elevation/azimuth pair of the first 2D matrix. Each element of the plurality of elements of the second 2D matrix represents an amount of solar radiation to impinge on the predetermined location from a direction of a respective elevation/azimuth pair.

Abstract: Surface mount assembly for mounting to a solar panel frame to an installation surface is disclosed. In some embodiments, a surface mount assembly includes a base and an enclosure. The base includes a lower member and an upper member. The lower member could include a brace, a center aperture extending through the lower and upper members for receiving a fastener to facilitate the mounting to a solar panel frame; the upper member could include a hub from which a plurality of arms may extend. The mount enclosure could include a chamber with a chamber aperture for receiving a fastener from the surface mount, a post support extending upward from the chamber and forming a post aperture for receiving a post, and a horizontal member with one or more sealant grooves extending horizontal outward from the chamber.

Abstract: Single-piece hinged-clamps employed used in assemblies used to mount solar power modules to surface installation are disclosed. In some embodiments, a clamp with a right portion with a right notch having a right platform, a left portion with a left notch having a left platform, and a base portion with a flexible hinge is disclosed. The left portion also includes a threaded aperture extending downwardly from the left platform. In some embodiments, a method of securing a component with the clamp is disclosed in which a right member of a component is inserted into a right notch of a clamp, an applied force imparts movement of a left notch away from the right notch, and a buildup of potential energy in the flexible hinge during the application of the force moves the left notch in the opposite direction to engage the left member of the component.

Abstract: Chemical flashings for track assemblies and mount assemblies employed in solar power installations are disclosed. In some embodiments, a track assembly having a base, a pair of rails, a sealant receiving cavity and a round groove extending into the base from the bottom of the base, and a compressible round seal disposed within the base extending past the bottom is disclosed. In some embodiments, a mount assembly having a vertical structure, a sealant receiving cavity and a round groove extending into the base from the bottom of the base, a compressible round seal disposed within the base extending past the bottom, and an excess sealant cavity is disclosed.

Abstract: Single-piece hinged-clamps employed used in assemblies used to mount solar power modules to surface installation are disclosed. In some embodiments, a clamp with a right portion with a right notch having a right platform, a left portion with a left notch having a left platform, and a base portion with a flexible hinge is disclosed. The left portion also includes a threaded aperture extending downwardly from the left platform. In some embodiments, a method of securing a component with the clamp is disclosed in which a right member of a component is inserted into a right notch of a clamp, an applied force imparts movement of a left notch away from the right notch, and a buildup of potential energy in the flexible hinge during the application of the force moves the left notch in the opposite direction to engage the left member of the component.

Abstract: An optimization engine determines an optimal configuration for a solar power system projected onto a target surface. The optimization engine identifies an alignment axis that passes through a vertex of a boundary associated with the target surface and then constructs horizontal or vertical spans that represent contiguous areas where solar modules may be placed. The optimization engine populates each span with solar modules and aligns the solar modules within adjacent spans to one another. The optimization engine then generates a performance estimate for a collection of populated spans. By generating different spans with different solar module types and orientations, the optimization engine is configured to identify an optimal solar power system configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating permit sets. A rules engine can traverse various requirements of a rules data structure in conjunction with rule settings that define permitting rules in effect for a particular jurisdiction to determine a value for each requirement. Document objects may then be created by combining project inputs with the determined values. A composing engine can receive the document objects and populate one or more page templates with the document objects to create a permit set.

Abstract: Chemical flashings for track assemblies and mount assemblies employed in solar power installations are disclosed. In some embodiments, a track assembly having a base, a pair of rails, a sealant receiving cavity and a round groove extending into the base from the bottom of the base, and a compressible round seal disposed within the base extending past the bottom is disclosed. In some embodiments, a mount assembly having a vertical structure, a sealant receiving cavity and a round groove extending into the base from the bottom of the base, a compressible round seal disposed within the base extending past the bottom, and an excess sealant cavity is disclosed.

Abstract: Watertight fastening devices and systems and methods for the employment thereof are disclosed. The disclosed watertight fastening device includes a head, a shank extending away from the head toward a distal end, and a cover extending outwardly and away from the head in the direction of the shank and defining a hollow region between the shank and an inner surface of the cover. The watertight fastening device may be used in conjunction with a solar power installation system that includes a base plate configured to be positioned against an installation surface. The base plate includes an aperture for receiving the shank of the fastener and protrusion surrounding the aperture configured to be received in the hollow region of the fastener, thereby providing an enhanced barrier against moisture reaching the installation surface.

Abstract: An optimization engine determines the optimal configuration for a solar power system by simulating the performance of different solar module arrays projected onto a target surface. The optimization engine selects the optimally-performing solar module array and then simulates the performance of additional solar module subarrays projected onto various regions of the target surface not already covered by the optimally-performing solar module array. The optimal configuration includes the optimally-performing solar module array and one or more optimally-performing solar module subarrays.

Abstract: An optimization engine determines an optimal configuration for a solar power system projected onto a target surface. The optimization engine identifies an alignment axis that passes through a vertex of a boundary associated with the target surface and then constructs horizontal or vertical spans that represent contiguous areas where solar modules may be placed. The optimization engine populates each span with solar modules and aligns the solar modules within adjacent spans to one another. The optimization engine then generates a performance estimate for a collection of populated spans. By generating different spans with different solar module types and orientations, the optimization engine is configured to identify an optimal solar power system configuration.

Abstract: A configuration engine traverses sequential levels of a decision tree in order to iteratively refine a configuration for a solar power system. At each level of the decision tree, the configuration engine determines the outcome of a design decision based on computing the result of a value function. The configuration engine explores configurations that optimize the value function result compared to other configurations, and may also discard less optimal configurations. When a current configuration is considered less optimal than a previous configuration generated at a previous level, the configuration engine discards the current configuration and re-traverses the decision tree starting with the previous configuration.

Abstract: A configuration engine traverses sequential levels of a decision tree in order to iteratively refine a configuration for a solar power system. At each level of the decision tree, the configuration engine determines the outcome of a design decision based on computing the result of a value function. The configuration engine explores configurations that optimize the value function result compared to other configurations, and may also discard less optimal configurations. When a current configuration is considered less optimal than a previous configuration generated at a previous level, the configuration engine discards the current configuration and re-traverses the decision tree starting with the previous configuration.

Abstract: A configuration engine traverses sequential levels of a decision tree in order to iteratively refine a configuration for a solar power system. At each level of the decision tree, the configuration engine determines the outcome of a design decision based on computing the result of a value function. The configuration engine explores configurations that optimize the value function result compared to other configurations, and may also discard less optimal configurations. When a current configuration is considered less optimal than a previous configuration generated at a previous level, the configuration engine discards the current configuration and re-traverses the decision tree starting with the previous configuration.

Abstract: An optimization engine determines an optimal configuration for a solar power system projected onto a target surface. The optimization engine identifies an alignment axis that passes through a vertex a boundary associated with the target surface and then constructs horizontal or vertical spans that represent contiguous areas where solar modules may be placed. The optimization engine populates each span with solar modules and aligns the solar modules within adjacent spans to one another. The optimization engine then generates a performance estimate for a collection of populated spans. By generating different spans with different solar module types and orientations, the optimization engine is configured to identify an optimal solar power system configuration.

Abstract: A configuration engine traverses sequential levels of a decision tree in order to iteratively refine a configuration for a solar power system. At each level of the decision tree, the configuration engine determines the outcome of a design decision based on computing the result of a value function. The configuration engine explores configurations that optimize the value function result compared to other configurations, and may also discard less optimal configurations. When a current configuration is considered less optimal than a previous configuration generated at a previous level, the configuration engine discards the current configuration and re-traverses the decision tree starting with the previous configuration.