Installing electronics (part 2)

With our music set, we get to work setting up the solar panels to do their job.

Before turning on the speakers, I had set the central junction box to divert all remaining power to the freezers in Woolworths as well as our sound system.

I help Hailey lift the solar panels onto the roof and into position. Then we work together to connect the wiring. Hailey solders all the output wires to a few central cables from the solar panels, while I connect the central cables together and ready the system to switch over to solar power.

On a whim, I drive back to the electrical grid and pick up a few battery chargers and capacitors, to store and use some excess power, in case we ever need it.

I connect most of the circuit, and wait a few minutes for Hailey to finish before I disconnect the electrical grid power.

She gives me the thumbs up from the rooftop, and I go back to the junction box. I turn off all the speakers and unplug them, before disconnecting the grid power and connecting the solar panels to the junction box, completing the circuit. I give the thumbs up to Hailey, and she switches on the master switch we built into the circuit.

The panels turn on and I can hear the slight hum of electricity as the sun's energy starts to power the complex’s systems. Hailey climbs off the roof and I high five her.

‘We did it!’ I say. She smiles. ‘That we did. Up for some lunch?’ As she speaks, my stomach rumbles loudly. I notice both how hungry I am, and how thirsty I am. I nod. ‘Let’s get some water too.’