Tujunga, Los Angeles, CA · August – September 2022 · LADWP / LADBS
Modules on tilt legs over a flat roof, and a main breaker de-rated to 175 A
A mostly low-slope roof with skylights and a rooftop air conditioner, modules raised and angled on tilt legs, and a main breaker de-rated from 200 to 175 amps to connect them to the existing panel.
Cali Energy installed this Tujunga system on tilt legs over a low-slope roof, with a SolarEdge HD-Wave inverter on the wall. To connect it to the existing panel, the main breaker was de-rated from 200 to 175 amps. The installation was in the last week of August 2022, the final inspection was set for 31 August, and LADWP set the new meter at the end of September.
At a glance
- Roof
- Low-slope, with a shingle section
- Mounting
- Tilt legs on round bases
- Inverter
- SolarEdge HD-Wave
- Main breaker
- De-rated from 200 A to 175 A
- Final inspection
- Set for 31 August 2022
- New meter
- Set by LADWP at the end of September 2022
The story
Most of this roof is low-slope, with a smaller shingle section, skylights and an air conditioner on top. On a low-slope roof the modules do not lie flat: here they sit on tilt legs, raised off the roof and angled toward the sun, each leg standing on a round base on the roof.
The electrical side had one condition. The main breaker was 200 amps, and to take the solar breaker it was de-rated to 175 amps, so the panel's busbar stays within its rating with solar feeding it too. Whether a de-rate is enough or a panel upgrade is needed depends on each house, and it is a call for a licensed electrician.
The installation was set for Wednesday 24 August. The final inspection was set for 31 August.
At the end of September LADWP set the new meter at the house.
How it ran
| Mid-August 2022 | Project scheduled; main breaker de-rate to 175 A planned |
|---|---|
| Late August 2022 | Array installed on tilt legs |
| 31 August 2022 | Final inspection set |
| End of September 2022 | LADWP sets the new meter |
From the scheduled install to a new meter in about five weeks.
What we did
- Set the modules on tilt legs over the low-slope roof.
- Mounted the SolarEdge HD-Wave inverter beside the service.
- De-rated the main breaker from 200 A to 175 A for the solar connection.
System specifications
| Mounting | Tilt legs on round bases, low-slope roof |
|---|---|
| Inverter | SolarEdge HD-Wave |
| Module electronics | SolarEdge optimizers |
| Main breaker | 200 A de-rated to 175 A |
| Utility / AHJ | LADWP / LADBS |
Is your project like this one?
- Your roof is low-slope, or part low-slope and part shingle.
- You have skylights or equipment on the roof.
- You have been told your main breaker needs to be de-rated.
- You live in Tujunga or the foothill neighborhoods around it.
Cali Energy in Tujunga
Tujunga is a neighborhood inside the City of Los Angeles: permits run through LADBS, interconnection through LADWP.
Tujunga's hillside houses come in every roof type, and a good number have low-slope roofs, alone or beside a pitched shingle section. Tujunga is inside the City of Los Angeles, so the permits are LADBS permits and the grid is LADWP's.
- License and classifications: CSLB #1032379
- Official reference for this process: SolarEdge — support resources
- Official reference for this process: LADBS — plan review and permitting
Frequently asked questions
How were the modules mounted on this Tujunga flat roof?
On tilt legs. The modules are raised off the low-slope roof and angled toward the sun, and each leg stands on a round base on the roof surface. The groups sit between the skylights and the rooftop air conditioner.
Why was the main breaker de-rated to 175 amps?
On this house the main breaker was 200 amps, and de-rating it to 175 amps let the solar breaker go into the existing panel while keeping the busbar within its rating. Whether that works for a given house depends on its loads and panel.
Does Cali Energy install solar on flat roofs in Tujunga?
Yes. Tujunga is inside the City of Los Angeles, with permits through LADBS and interconnection through LADWP. Cali Energy installs here on low-slope roofs as well as shingle, including systems on tilt legs. License CSLB #1032379.
What this would look like on your roof
Planning solar in Tujunga? Tell us your utility, your roof and what your bill looks like now, and we will model what a system like this would do on your house before you commit to anything.
Or call +1 (323) 844-7777 · Cali Energy, Northridge · CSLB #1032379 (B, C-10, C-39) — design, permits, install and electrical under one licensed contractor.
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Updated October 2026.