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Instant Plan Sets

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Matt Wrightsman
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Table of Contents

Overview

Requirements 

Creating a Valid Instant Plan Set Design from a Proposal Design

Electrical 

Circuit Table

Mounting

Revisions 

AHJ Rejections 

Overview

Aurora Solar’s Instant Plan Set solution empowers you to prepare your sold design for permitting, adjust Plan Set settings, preview and generate a to-code Instant Plan Set PDF in seconds, all in one place. 

Streamline and reduce overhead associated with your drafting process through a single platform for plan set design through generation. Revisions are seamless, as design or plan set setting changes can be handled then re-generated from within your Aurora project at no extra cost, cutting down on communication back and forth.  

 

Requirements 

This feature is only available for customers in our Early Access program for now. Interested? Reach out via your account team.

Aurora Instant Plan Sets are built for pitched roof, grid-tied, residential-scale PV systems within the United States. We support a range of inverter technologies, including string inverters, string inverters with optimizers, and single- and multi-input microinverters.

For a comprehensive list of supported solar components, please refer to the Instant Plan Sets Supported Components article.

Additionally, the following minimum design and project requirements are needed in order to generate an Instant Plan Set. Learn more about getting to a valid design here.

 

Accurate & Valid Aurora Site Model & System Design

 

Storage systems supported by Aurora Instant Plan Sets

Currently, Instant Plan Sets support the following batteries in partial home backup and solar self consumption:

  • Enphase IQ Battery 3/3T
  • Enphase IQ Battery 10/10T
  • Enphase IQ Battery 5P
  • Enphase System Controller 2
  • Enphase System Controller 3/3G
  • Tesla Powerwall 2
  • Tesla Powerwall+
  • Tesla Powerwall 3
  • Tesla Backup Gateway 2
  • Tesla Backup Gateway 3
  • Tesla Backup Switch
  • Tesla Powerwall 3 + Expansion Unit(s)
    • Can support 1, 2, or 3 Expansion units

Instant Plan Sets support the following batteries in full home backup when using a single inverter:

  • Tesla Powerwall 3
  • Tesla Powerwall+

ESS topologies supported:

  • Self-consumption only
  • Partial home backup
    • Critical loads backed up in a dedicated protected loads panel wired to the MID
  • Full home backup
    • All loads backed up using the Tesla Backup Switch meter collar MID
    • All loads backed up by relocating loads from the main service panel to a dedicated protected loads panel

Mounting systems supported by Aurora Instant Plan Sets

  • Ironridge Pitched Roof
  • SnapNRack Ultra Rail*
  • Unirac Solarmount*
  • Unirac NXT UMount*
  • Quick Mount PV QRail
  • K2 Crossrail
  • SunModo SMR
  • EcoFasten ClickFit*

* Mounting systems with a star are supported by Aurora Instant Plan Sets, however, the max rail spans (defined during the Mounting step) will not populate automatically. More info on what the max rail span is and where it can be found in the Mounting Help article. 

Instant Plan Sets do not support the following design configurations

  • Custom PV components
  • Flat roofs
  • Roofs >4 stories in elevation
  • Ground mounts
  • >2 string inverters
  • >4 strings per inverter
  • More than 8 microinverter branches
  • Exceeding the maximum 25 kW AC system size limit
  • Multiple panel, inverter, or DC optimizer types in a single design
  • Multiple stringing configurations
  • Asymmetric inverters
  • Integrated DC optimizers
  • MLPEs with multiple MPPT inputs
  • Multiple tilt or azimuth angles for panels on a single roof face
  • DC optimizers on some but not all panels

Workflow Summary

  1. Select a Project

From the Project Dashboard, select a project that has been designed and sold, with a solar design that has been updated following a site survey (or Eagleview Powered Roof Model order).

  1. Start an Instant Plan Set

    • You can review and edit the default AHJ for your project and Instant Plan Set from the project dashboard Learn more here.

From the Project Page:

  • Click ‘New plan set’ from the Instant Plan Set card

  • Choose a design
  • Select a Utility provider and Mounting System.
  • Click 'Start an Instant Planset'

If your design is plan-set ready, you’ll proceed to the Electrical design step.

If your design is not quite plan-set ready, we’ll let you know it needs updates, and direct you to Design Mode to make these changes. Read more about getting to a Valid Design here.


From Design Mode:

 

  • Click the ‘Instant Plan Set’ icon in the toolbar
  • Select a Utility provider and Mounting System (link to Mounting System section).
  • Click ‘Validate design’
    • If your design is plan-set ready, you’ll proceed to the Electrical design step 
    • If your design is not quite plan-set ready, we’ll let you know it needs updates, and direct you to Design Mode to make these changes. Read more about getting to a Valid Design here 

  1. Complete the Electrical, Circuit table, Mounting, & Customization Steps

  1. Preview & Generate your Instant Plan Set

  2. Access your Instant Plan Set from the Project Page

  • Once you’ve created a valid design and started an Instant Plan Set, your Instant Plan Set will appear in the Instant Plan Set Card on the project page.
  • Once you’ve completed the Electrical, Circuit Table, Mounting, and Customization steps, and Generated your Instant Plan Set, the PDF will be available for future downloads from the Instant Plan Set page in the project page.

  1. Make revisions or create new Instant Plan Sets with solar design changes as-needed

 

Creating a Valid Instant Plan Set Design from a Proposal Design

In order to generate a to-code Instant Plan Set from your Aurora design, there’s a minimum amount of information we need captured in the project and design first. You can make these adjustments to your sold design directly within Aurora within minutes, no need to export a DXF or start from scratch.

 

Validation Workflow - Overview

When you click ‘Start an instant plan set’, we will validate your design. Any errors will be presented within a new ‘Instant Plan Set’ side panel within Design Mode, allowing you to review and adjust in-context. 

Once you’ve addressed all the errors, click ‘Validate design’ in order to confirm your design is ready for an Instant Plan Set. Once you’ve successfully passed validation, you’ll progress to the final steps of plan set design, starting with Electrical. 

 

 

Storage for Instant Plan Sets

Your Storage setup selected within your Aurora project will propagate into your Instant Plan Set interconnection design and final output.

 

 

Remember, that not all battery systems and setups are supported in Instant Plan Sets today. 

There are three main Storage and Backup configurations supported in Instant Plan Sets: 

  • Whole Home Backup: Any Operating Mode, Backup reserve > 0%, Backup coverage = Whole home

  • Partial Home Backup: Any Operating Mode, Backup reserve > 0%, Backup coverage = Partial home

  • Self Consumption: Energy arbitrage or Self consumption operating mode selected, Backup reserve = 0%

If a Partial or Full Home backup setup is selected, an MID will be included in the Electrical design step and Instant Plan Set.

 

Property Lines

In order to correctly generate the Site map on the Cover page, and Site plan page on your Instant Plan Set, you’ll want to check and adjust your Property Lines as needed within Design Mode.

Toggle Property Lines on from the View Settings dropdown in the Design Mode tool bar. From the Site tab, hover over and click on a Property Line in order to begin adjusting it. Click Move from the Property Line inspector, and drag in order to reposition relative to your solar design.

You can click ‘Reset to default location’ in order to return to the original position.

If no property line is available for your location, you can still proceed with the Instant Plan Set, then add it in to the PDF via a PDF editor later if required for the AHJ.

Gas Meter & Nearest Street Location

 

The locations of both the Gas Meter and Nearest Street are needed in order in order to include them on the Instant Plan Set site plan page.

You can place these in your design from the Site tab within Design Mode. Click Components, then Gas meter or Street marker. Drag and drop in order to place in the correct position relative to your solar design. You can delete these or reposition if you make a mistake.

Roof properties

Additional Roof properties are required as inputs for the Mounting design step and to inform structural calculations in the Instant Plan Set.

You can input these from the Site tab within Design Mode. Select one or more roofs, then access the Roof properties modal from the SmartRoof or Roof faces inspector.

Select Roof surface, Framing type, Framing age, Framing size, Framing spacing, and Decking, and Save.

Note: Dimensions for Framing size and spacing, and Decking are nominal, not actual.

Fire pathways, System Components, Stringing, and Service Equipment Configuration

You’ve likely already added fire pathways, along with your Inverter, any applicable optimizers, and strung your system for simulation purposes. 

You can add additional Components from the System tab in Design Mode. 



Configure existing equipment

Currently, three service equipment configurations are supported for Instant Plan Sets:

Meter-Main Load Center

  • Utility meter, main breaker, and panelboard in one enclosure

Meter and Main Breaker Load Center

  • Utility meter in standalone enclosure, Main breaker and panelboard in separate enclosures

Meter-Main and Main Lug Load Center

  • Utility meter and main breaker in one enclosure. Main lug panelboard in separate enclosure

 Use the Existing equipment wizard within Design Mode >  System Design > Components > Configure existing equipment in order to quickly generate and place the existing equipment with preset defaults and wiring, or create them yourself by wiring individual components together. Remember to wire your service entrance equipment to your system in order to get to a valid design.

 

Main service panel

 

Place your Main service panel and enter the following inputs from the inspector:

  • Short circuit current rating
  • Parallel energy source input if applicable
  • Main breaker interrupting capacity
  • Bus rating
  • Main breaker rating
  • Indoors/Outdoors toggle
  • Exists toggle

To represent a Meter-main-load center configuration, ensure you toggle on ‘Combined meter’ in the Enclosed components section, and input the Meter number.

To represent a Meter base and Main breaker load center, ensure you toggle on ‘Exists’ and toggle off ‘Combined meter’ - you’ll want to add a separate Meter object.

To represent a Meter-main and main lug load center, ensure ‘Exists’ is toggled on, and ‘Combined meter’ is toggled On with the corresponding Meter number entered.

 

Meter

 

For Meter base and Main breaker load center configurations, you’ll want to place a Utility Meter in addition to an MSP. Place a Meter component in the approximate location relative to your solar design, select Utility for Meter type, select your Meter model, and toggle ‘Exists’ on.

For Meter-main-load center and Meter-main and main lug load center configurations, do not place a separate Meter component, and instead use the Combined meter toggle in your Main Service Panel inspector.

 

Load center

For Meter-main and main lug load center configurations, you’ll want to place a Load center object in your design. Toggle ‘Exists’ on, and input the Bus rating.

 

Electrical 

In the Electrical step, you’ll use mainly dropdown menus to specify the: 

  • Preferred Array Wiring Strategy*
  • Pass-Thru Box Manufacturer
    • Write in this field instead of using a dropdown menu. 
  • Combiner*
    • Use the dropdown menu to select one of the compatible combiners. 
  • Communication gateway breaker rating*
    • Use the dropdown menu to select the breaker rating from a list of compatible ratings. 
  • Standalone AC Disconnect
    • Use the dropdown menu to select an AC disconnect or leave as none. 
  • If the ECG is protected from physical damage
    • Use the toggle to indicate yes/no 
  • Interconnection Method
    • Use the dropdown menu to select one of the acceptable interconnection methods. 
    • Definitions: 
      • Main panel tie-in = load side 
      • Supply side = line side 
    • Note - If a de-rate is necessary, a traditional main panel tie-in interconnection will not be an option. 
  • PV System Disconnect
    • Use this dropdown menu to select the intended disconnect. 
    • Only appropriately sized disconnects will be shown. 
  • Production Meter
    • Use this dropdown menu to select your production meter on the utility side or inverter side. 

* Options available will vary depending on the project details. 

When all components have been added with the dropdown menus, Generate Equipment. This will create pins for the pieces of equipment specified during this step and the junction boxes. They will be placed in optimal areas but can be moved by selecting and dragging the pins on the canvas. 

 

Circuit Table

The circuit table is where designers view and edit their projects: 

  • OCPD
  • Conductor type
  • Terminal temperature rating
  • Max wire temperature
  • Number of conductors
  • EGC size
  • Conduit type 
  • Conduit diameter
  • Length
  • Voltage Drop

Editing is done with the dropdown and text fields during this step. If there is an option not available in the dropdown menus, it’s likely not available because it is not code compliant or recommended by a manufacturer. 

 

Mounting

 

During the Mounting step we’ll specify the: 

  • Rail 
  • Rail Length
  • Mount
  • End Clamps
  • Attachment Layout 
    • Staggered - In this layout, mounts will be offset except in cases where it would result in extra unnecessary mounts.
    • Aligned - In this layout, mounts will be aligned except in cases where it would result in extra unnecessary mounts.
    • Aligned (strict) - In this layout, mounts will always be aligned even in cases where it would result in extra unnecessary mounts.
  • Whether the mounting system meets UL 2703 requirements
  • Wind zone max rail spans (for each zone) 
  • Attachment spacing (for each zone) 

If there are multiple roof types (slope, surface material, etc.) that contain modules then there will be a mounting section specific to each roof type.

We currently do not support the ability to customize mount locations individually, however, using the above selections and correctly defined roof properties (dimensions, tracing, and obstructions), most layouts can be achieved. 

 

Max Rail Spans

Maximum rail span is a key data point in the design of a solar energy system that uses a racking system. It affects the accuracy of cantilever values, attachment layouts, and the weight and quantity of racking hardware.

Aurora utilizes an API to automatically get rail spans for projects using the following rail options: 

  • IronRidge Pitched Roof
  • Quick Mount PV QRail
  • K2 Crossrail
  • SunModo SMR

For all others, the max rail span can be calculated using the racking manufacturer’s design tool. These can be found on the manufacturer’s website.

 

Project Properties

 

To generate an Instant Planset projects need additional Project Properties. These include: 

  • Electrical Code*
  • Fire Code*
  • Additional Codes (e.g. building, residential, and plumbing codes)*
  • Wind
    • ASCE year*
    • Wind Speed*
    • Risk Category*
    • Wind Exposure Category*
  • Other
    • Ground snow load*
    • Topographical condition
    • Average grade of property
    • Spectral Acceleration (SDS)*
    • Elevation*

Note: fields in bold are required. 

* These fields should populate automatically. It is pulled from multiple third party sources and there are gaps in their coverage occassionally. If these fields don’t populate or there is more accurate data, they can be updated. 

 

Customization Settings

Once you are ready to download your permit package you will be able to navigate to the Plan Set Customization area. Here you will be able to add or enable the following settings.

 

General:

  • Project reference ID (optional) -This would be any reference number your team uses to organize or differentiate projects. If added, it will appear in the title block. 
  • Reviewer full name (optional) - If added, the reviewer’s name will appear in the title block. 
  • Watermark (optional) - The plan set can be watermarked with 4 different watermarks: 
    • Not For Construction (NFC)
    • For Quotes Only (FQO)
    • Draft
    • Preliminary
  • Include DWG - A .dwg (AutoCAD) file of the single line diagram can be generated in the plan set .zip file. This can be helpful if changes to the single line diagram are being made to the plan set outside of Aurora. 

Engineer of Record: 

If the plan set is or will be stamped, this allows you to input the engineer’s information into the title block. Specifically:

  • Engineer name
  • Engineer license number
  • Engineer address
  • Engineer phone number

Note - be sure to enable the “Show engineer of record in the title block” field in the advanced settings section. 

Design Files

Design files are documents such as equipment elevation drawings, array elevation drawings/details, load calculations, panel upgrade details, equipment datasheets, other certifications, forms, and more.

You have two options about how they will be displayed in your permit package, as Appendix or Sheet. Design files designated as a sheet will be displayed with a title block and page number, as shown in the example below. The name of the file will be included in the title block. Design files designated as an appendix will be displayed at the end of the permit package without a title block.

Tips and Important Notes

  • Design files must be uploaded in pdf format.
  • Design files will display on the Directory of Pages with the file name.
  • One 17x11" page will fill one full page of the permit package.
  • Two 8.5x11" pages will be displayed side-by-side and fill one full page of the permit package. If the file uploaded includes more than two pages, only the first two pages will be displayed. In that scenario, it’s best practice to split the document into multiple files.

Advanced:

The advanced plan set customization gives you even more options to alter the plan set. 

  • General

    • Customer identifier in the title block - the title block presents the customer identifier and the address. The customer identifier can be customized to be one of three options:
      • Customer of record, e.g. John Smith
      • Name of residence, e.g. Smith Residence
      • APN, e.g. 010-0101-011-0000
    • Show installer logo in the title block
    • Show installer info in the title block - this would be company name, license number, address, and phone number.
    • Show engineer of record in the title block
    • Include electrical calculations worksheet

  • Site placards

    • Show all non-ANSI safety labels as red - by default these will have a white background but they can be changed to red with this feature. 
    • Show site map placard, even if optional - Site map placards may not be required by the NEC year adopted in your area but unofficially required by reviewers in your area. It’s recommended to opt to include this. 
    • Show site map placard as red - by default this is yellow but it can be changed to red with this feature. 

  • Site plan

    • Base map style:
      • None - This base map style will show only the traced structures and will denote the street with a single pin. 
      • Arial - This base map style will show an aerial view of the structure with modules superimposed on top of the image. 
      • Street - This base map style will show the same as the base map style None except the street will be shown as a labelled road. 

  • Show parcel boundary distance lines - This will add a distance marker between the structure and parcel boundaries.
  • Show gas meter clearance requirements - This will add the following note in the General Notes section, “NO NEW ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT SHALL BE INSTALLED WITHIN 36″ OF GAS METER OR RISER PER NEC 110.26”
  • Rotate site map placard to orientation of main service panel location - This means that the diagram will be rotated to a layout that matches where the reader is standing at the main service panel. This toggle will not be shown if the NEC or CEC requires this. 

  • Attachment Plan 

    • Show attachment points - by default the permit package will show where the rail attachment points will penetrate the roof into the framing. If you don’t intend on following this plan then you can opt to not include it. 
    • Show dead load calculations - each Attachment Plan page will include a dead loads section showing the weight of each component, square footage, and distributed load. This is included by default but can be disabled with this toggle. 
    • Show roof face edge length - Display roof face edge lengths on each plane shown on the Attachment Plan pages.

  • Electrical diagram

    • Electrical diagram style - we offer the electrical diagram in single, three-line, or both. 
    • Include voltage drop in conductor table - option to display the circuit length and voltage drop for each wire run in the conductor table on PV-3.

  • Fire safety plan 

    • You have the option to include or disable the fire safety plan. This page displays:
      • Roof access points
      • Fire access pathways
      • Fire ventilation setbacks
      • Compliance with fire codes

Revisions 

Once you’ve created a valid design and started an Instant Plan Set, your Instant Plan Set will appear in the Instant Plan Set Card on the project page.

Once you’ve completed the Electrical, Circuit Table, Mounting, and Customization steps, and Generated your Instant Plan Set, the PDF will be available for future downloads from the Instant Plan Set page in the project page.

 

Editing Incomplete Instant Plan Sets

If you left off during one of the Electrical, Circuit Table, Mounting, and Customization steps prior to generating your Instant Plan Set, you can use the Edit button to continue from where you left off.

 

Revision to Instant Plan Set design inputs - Electrical, Circuit Table, Mounting, or Customization

If you need to make an edit to one of the Electrical, Circuit Table, Mounting, and Customization steps as part of a revision, and do not need to adjust your solar design itself, you can click the Edit button, navigate to the step where you wish to make your change, then re-generate your Instant Plan Set. The most recent Instant Plan Set PDF will be available for download from the Instant Plan Set card on the project page.

 

Solar Design Revision

 

If you need to make an edit to your solar design itself (Ex: change module types, Storage selection, panel layout, make a property line adjustment), you will need to create a new Instant Plan Set within the project. Duplicate your design from the project page, make your desired design changes, then create a new Instant Plan Set.

 

AHJ Rejections 

After experiencing a rejection, please email our team at permitting@aurorasolar.com and include:

  1. The submitted plan set
  2. All rejection notes provided by the AHJ or utility

A full account of all rejection notes is necessary to meet all requirements so please include as much detail as possible.
Note: Instant plan sets cannot accommodate revision requests without documentation from an AHJ or utility. If this is a preference, we encourage you to explore our plan set services offering to meet your unique requirements.

 

Plan Set Settings

Instant Plan Set defaults 

 

 

Aurora admins can now configure defaults for Instant Plan Set permit package and circuit table settings. Reduce clicks and improve consistency by overriding the Aurora defaults to align with your tenant’s unique preferences for permit package look & feel, or wiring defaults within the circuit table.

Open Settings > Instant Plan Set from within the Plan sets section, then click Edit.

Make adjustments to Permit package or Circuit table defaults as needed, then click ‘Save’. Any IPS created after this point will apply the new tenant defaults. These can always be overridden from within the Circuit table or General/Advanced permit package settings within the Instant Plan Set design tool on a one-off basis.

 

Contractor Profiles

 

Aurora’s Contractor profiles in Settings Plan Sets now auto-populate the Contractor information block in the Project Summary page of the Instant Plan Set, if the IPS is created in a state with a corresponding Contractor profile. Learn more about how to configure Contractor profiles here.

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