Employment in Solar industry in Hilo?

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by NavinJ

Hawaii requires all installers to be a licensed electrician? I suppose that there are probably enough of them fighting for work that that is industry standard for Hawaii. Usually there is one licensed electrician required and apprentices or labor is used to build the racking and wire the array. My experience has been that I did all racking, module install, the ac and dc wiring, and the final connection to the grid, then a full cert would inspect my work and put his name on it.

You do not need to be a licensed electrician. The way it works here is that the installers do all the work and the licensed electrician approves/signs off on the install. Some companies have the licensed electrician present during the entire install, but most do not.

[67Cam]

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

You do not need to be a licensed electrician. The way it works here is that the installers do all the work and the licensed electrician approves/signs off on the install. Some companies have the licensed electrician present during the entire install, but most do not.

Just for my clarification (and planning the costs for the future if I have a house built) do the installers have to work for the licensed electrician? I've done most of the rewiring on my home during the remodel (kitchen, 2 bathrooms, bedroom, garage, laundry room, etc...) and I paid a fee to have an electrician come out, inspect my work and say yay or nay as to meeting code.

What I'm getting at is, are the electricians, in anyone's experience there, open to that sort of thing? Generally speaking wiring is not terribly difficult, especially with open walls, and I could save a lot of money doing most of it myself. Ideally I would have the electrician install the panel, I would run all the wire, add receptacles, make the connections to the breakers, etc... and have him inspect it then sign off on the required paperwork.

Thoughts?

[NavinJ]

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

You do not need to be a licensed electrician. The way it works here is that the installers do all the work and the licensed electrician approves/signs off on the install. Some companies have the licensed electrician present during the entire install, but most do not.

Thanks to everybody who replied. I will continue to prepare and do my research. Hopefully visit Hawaii again in a couple months.

[terracore]

The first thing you need to do is stop calling people with an out of state phone number. Go to Walmart or wherever and buy a $15 Tracfone and get it activated with an 808 area code.

I've received a lot of criticism for posting this in the past. Some of it may have been from people who are thinking that I'm recommending that you misrepresent where you are. I'm not suggesting that at all. You should be honest about that, but it's tough to be honest with someone if they won't answer the phone or return a message.

Next time you visit, get a PO Box, then you'll have an island phone number and mailing address. The mailing address will be useful when you get that job offer and need to mail some large parcel post boxes to yourself.

[NavinJ]

Originally Posted by terracore

The first thing you need to do is stop calling people with an out of state phone number. Go to Walmart or wherever and buy a $15 Tracfone and get it activated with an 808 area code.

I've received a lot of criticism for posting this in the past. Some of it may have been from people who are thinking that I'm recommending that you misrepresent where you are. I'm not suggesting that at all. You should be honest about that, but it's tough to be honest with someone if they won't answer the phone or return a message.

Next time you visit, get a PO Box, then you'll have an island phone number and mailing address. The mailing address will be useful when you get that job offer and need to mail some large parcel post boxes to yourself.

Thanks very much those seem like smart things to do to prepare for the move.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by 67Cam

Just for my clarification (and planning the costs for the future if I have a house built) do the installers have to work for the licensed electrician? I've done most of the rewiring on my home during the remodel (kitchen, 2 bathrooms, bedroom, garage, laundry room, etc...) and I paid a fee to have an electrician come out, inspect my work and say yay or nay as to meeting code.

What I'm getting at is, are the electricians, in anyone's experience there, open to that sort of thing? Generally speaking wiring is not terribly difficult, especially with open walls, and I could save a lot of money doing most of it myself. Ideally I would have the electrician install the panel, I would run all the wire, add receptacles, make the connections to the breakers, etc... and have him inspect it then sign off on the required paperwork.

Curious about this, I talked to several electricians. Each the guys I spoke with said that yeah, they've heard there are some guys who do that, but no, as a policy they don't. Said it has to do with their insurance, and their liability if your place burns down.

[Modification Specialist]

Originally Posted by NavinJ

....md and 3boys- not NABCEP certified, but union apprenticed as well as power company code compliance training, industry mfg sponsored workshops, OSHA 10, and seminars with John Wiles (he wrote the NEC code on solar).

It really seems like the only way you can live in Hawaii is either ""have a company"" on the mainland send you there, or just decide that's where you want to be and go hoping it will all work out. No one is going to hire you before you have lived there for awhile. Am I wrong?

Installed solar panels in my home now saving 90% (yearly average) of what it cost me previously before solar. Though savings have paid for the system within two years of savings. See Link

Last night was at a network meeting, was introduced to a VP of a solar company desperately looking for sales people. Unfortunately for you its half a world away here in New York.

"You hit the nail right on the head, about having a company" Have you considered your own company?

First step is creating a business plan forming your own company. Doing your own marketing to generate sales under your name and subcontracting orders to established solar company's. Evidently building your own company. It doesn't happen quickly you have to work it. Small steps first moving towards larger steps later. Many companies start this way. You can do it!!!..

"One thing I have learned my life in order to be successful is the importance of networking. Its not what you know, it is who you know how to get things done" Mod Spec.....

Good Luck...

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