Ever wondered what actually happens during a solar install? In this full behind-the-scenes breakdown, Mitch from Big Dog Solar takes you step-by-step through a real installation — no fluff, just the real process from start to finish.

Solar panel installation Pocatello

Solar panel installation Boise

Solar panel installation Grand Juntion

Solar panel installation Helena

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We cover:

✅ What happens before our crew shows up

✅ How panels are mounted and wired

✅ What electricians and inspectors are looking for

✅ What it takes to pass inspection and get PTO (Permission to Operate)

Whether you're just curious or seriously considering solar, this video will give you a clear, transparent look at how professional solar installation works — and why experience matters.

📍 Big Dog Solar has installed 12,000+ systems across Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Montana & California.Subscribe for more real-world solar insights, and let us know your questions in the comments!

Chapters

‍0:00 Meet the crew + today’s plan

‍0:35 Panels, racking & roof prep (leak-safe mounting)

‍1:24 Inverter overview & wiring to the main panel

‍2:06 Battery system: FranklinWH aPower 2 + aGate

‍3:00 How to prep your home (driveway, garage, attic)

‍4:06 After install: inspections, PTO, monitoring

About Big Dog Solar

Big Dog Solar Energy, installs and services residential, commercial, and agricultural solar + battery systems across the Mountain West. Since 2008, our in-house team (sales, design, install, and service) has completed thousands of projects, with local crews operating out of regional hubs for faster timelines and long-term support. We help homeowners cut electric bills, add outage backup, and finance smartly—no fluff, just clear numbers and options.

Mitch: If you’ve thought about going solar, you’ve probably wondered what an install actually looks like. I’m with our crew today to cover three things: what the crew does on site, how you can prepare, and what happens next after install. I’m Mitch, and our lead is Vince—he’s been installing solar for almost nine years. As a company, we’ve completed well over 12,000 installs. Let’s jump in.

Part 1 — What the crew does
Panels & racking: No matter the panel brand, they’re mounted to racking—ground or roof. Today’s a roof job. The racking is anchored to structure using flashed feet/boots to keep your roof watertight. That prep work went in yesterday so everything’s tied in correctly.
Inverter: Every home needs an inverter to make solar power usable AC. This one’s a ~10 kW unit. The crew mounted it and is finishing wiring. If there’s no battery, power feeds your service panel and can export to the grid.
Battery & aGate: This project includes a FranklinWH aPower 2 battery plus aGate control unit. The aGate provides an additional safety disconnect and acts as the battery’s “brain.” The aPower 2 is a 15 kWh unit, giving solid outage backup and (with eligible utility programs) the ability to discharge to the grid when rates are higher.

Part 2 — How you can prepare
Honestly, not much—that’s our job—but access helps:
• Space for the truck/trailer near the work area.
• Clear the garage or wall area where components will go.
• If needed, clear a path to the attic for wire runs.
(We’ll email each step so you know exactly what’s coming.)

Homeowner Q&A
The homeowner says the crew exceeded expectations—professional and clean-cut—so the whole experience felt comfortable. They got a call ahead of time, secured dogs, and cleared the garage. If a neighbor asked? “It’s painless for you.” Not a DIY job—it’s technical.

Part 3 — After the crew leaves
Your system won’t turn on day one. Next comes local inspection and utility approval (Permission to Operate, PTO). Once PTO is granted, we finalize your monitoring so you can track production and performance.

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