The following guide provides information on how to use the Electrical Design Tool (EDT) in Solargraf.

Getting started

Before starting, you will first need to complete your project's solar design.
To learn more, see: Solar Design.

• Open the design page
• Once you have added panels and inverters to your project, you can access the EDT from any page within the design tool by clicking the Electrical tab from the navigation bar.

• You can also access the EDT directly from anywhere in the project by expanding the Designs menu along the top of the page and selecting Electrical design for the intended design option.

Automatically string electrical components (optional)

• To help ensure electrical components are properly connected to the circuit as you add them to the design, check to see if component auto-stringing is active.
• Open Design tool settings by clicking the gear icon near the top of the electrical design page and select the Preferences tab.
• Enable the toggle switch for the Enable auto string of electrical components option, and then click the Save button.

String panels

• These instructions focus on how to string PV modules from the electrical design page. If you have already added stringing from the solar design page, you may move on to the next step: Add electrical components.

Auto-stringing

• To quickly create a stringing layout for all panels while balancing structural and electrical contraints for the installation, you can use Solargraf's auto-stringing feature.
• Click the Stringing button from the toolbar on the left and then select the Auto stringing option, or press 'Alt + B' (Windows) or 'Option + B' (Mac) on your keyboard.
  For a full walkthrough, see: Auto Stringing In Solargraf.

Manual stringing

• To string panels yourself, click the Stringing button from the toolbar on the left and then select the Manual stringing option, or press 'B' on your keyboard.
• Next, click the first panel you would like to be part of the string, and then slowly move your cursor across each panel you wish to include in the string in sequence. When you reach the final panel for the current string, click again to finish.

As you extend each string, pay attention to the Electrical validations menu on the left to ensure that your selected materials can be expected to operate within their specifications.

Removing strings

• To delete an existing string between panels and/or electrical components, first click on it using the Select tool.
• Next, remove the string by clicking the Delete icon in the toolbar near the top of the page, or press either 'Backspace' or 'Delete' on your keyboard.

Add electrical components

Once you have strung all panels, you can begin adding electrical components to your design. To illustrate the main concepts, this guide models how to set up a simple DC system configuration for a design using a string inverter.

There are many possible configurations, so consider this a starting point and adapt it based on your project's specific requirements.

Line diagram menu

• Start by clicking the Line diagram button from the left toolbar, or press 'L' on your keyboard.
• After adding any component, click the Go to line diagram setup button to return to the menu.

Junction boxes

• Click the + Add button next next to the DC junction box component in the menu.

• Click again in the design where the junction box should be located.
  

Combiner boxes

• Click the + Add button next to DC combiner box component in the menu.
  
• Click again in the design where the combiner box should be located.

Disconnects

• Click the + Add button next to the DC disconnect component in the menu
• Click again in the design where the disconnect should be located.

Main panel box

• Click the + Add button next to the main panel box component in the menu.
• Click again in the design where the main panel box is installed on the property. Once added to the design, you may also edit its properties to match the customer's existing main panel or those of the planned new main panel if performing an upgrade.

Generate a line diagram

• Once you have added the necessary electrical components and finished stringing, you can create a line diagram for your electrical design by clicking the Generate line diagram button at the bottom of the lefthand menu.
  For more information, see: How to Generate a Line Diagram.

Related:

• FAQ: Electrical Design Tool (EDT)