This article details our current design modeling criteria and deliverables expected from all approved design platforms. Following these modeling inputs is required on all LightReach sales.
Failure to follow design requirements, or intentional misuse of modeling criteria to artificially impact homeowner value propositions, may result in the termination of access to the LightReach product.
General Approved Inputs Agnostic of Design Platform:
Key Input | Details |
Approved Modeling Software/ Production Engine (In conjunction with Approved design platform only) |
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Approved Weather Data | In order of preference:
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Shading | Must be used when available. If not available for the property, manual accounting for any surrounding objects casting shade (trees, structures), etc must be accurately modeled. Acceptable Shade Models:
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Inputs by Platform
Platform | Inputs |
Aerialytic | Inputs are set and locked by Aerialytic - no installer action required |
Aurora |
Click here for inputsNavigating to project settings for Individual Aurora projects.   * Images above for illustrative purposes
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Boston Solar | Inputs are set and locked by Boston Solar - no installer action required |
Eagleview |
Click here for inputs **Image above is for illustration purposes and does not depict actual LightReach Inputs.
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OpenSolar |
Click here for inputs 
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Scanify |
Click here for inputs **Image above is for illustration purposes and does not depict actual LightReach Inputs.
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Solargraf |
Click here for inputsDue to platform not displaying a total system loss, please following the data below along with the snow loss per state:
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Solo | Inputs are set and locked by Solo - no installer action required |
Subcontractor Hub | Inputs are set and locked by Subcontractor hub - no installer action required |
SunRebel | Inputs are set and locked by SunRebel - no installer action required |
System Loss Settings
Note: Massachusetts and New York states are broken up by County due to widely varying snow loss in these states. To find out which county your project is in, you can use the following to look it up by address: https://geocodify.com/what-county-am-i-in
State(s) | Snow Loss (Only use if design platform does not have a total value) | Minimum System Loss without Shade Loss (Includes Snow Loss) |
| 0% | 9.1% |
| 2% | 10.5% |
| 4% | 12.3% |
| 0% | 14.1%* |
| 7% | 15.1% |
| 10% | 17.8% |
| 16% | 23.3% |
M1 Deliverables: Design Package Documents
Key Deliverables | Details |
1) Production Model | Confirmation that the Inputs were set properly by the user:
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2) Shading Report | Confirmation that Shading was properly modeled:
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3) Plan Set | Required pages of the Engineering Plan Set submitted to the building department:
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Examples by Platform: Design Package Documents
Platform | Production Model | Shading Report | Plan Set |
Aerialytic | Not required. Upload a placeholder file. | ||
Aurora | |||
Boston Solar |
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Eagleview | See Production Model (left) | ||
OpenSolar |
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Scanifly | |||
Solargraf | |||
Solo | Irradiance Map | ||
SubHub | |||
SunRebel | Not required. Upload a placeholder file. | ||
SunRaise | Shade Report (Any approved design platform) |
Planset & Line diagram requirements: As built & Revisions
General rule of thumb: If local jurisdiction requires new engineering plansets, please upload revised copy to LightReach portal.
As built layout or one line changes are categorized into two:
Minor revisions: Require a simple redline diagram on the existing planset if,
Any slight layout or orientation change on the same mounting plane.
Major revisions: Require a new planset if,
Layout changed, where modules have been rearranged to different mounting planes or new mounting planes/structures were used.
Racking layout onsite has been changed from the engineered planset
Example: Orientation, spacing, cantilever changed onsite.
Racking used onsite differs that what was specificed in the engineered planset
Any electrical components were added or removed compared to the existing line diagrams.
Example: Planset suggests 1 x AC disconnect, while 2 x AC disconnects were installed and vice versa.
Interconnection method changes
Example: Interconnection change from line side tap to a backfeed breaker or vice versa. Or, Interconnection moved from main service panel to a sub panel, etc.
Module count / model / size changes
Example: Planset suggests 25 x Canadian CS1Y 400W, while 24 x Canadian CS3N 400W were installed or vice versa.
Inverter / Micro Inverter count / model / size changes
Example: Planset suggests 1 x SolarEdge 10000H, while 2 x SolarEdge 5000H were installed or vice versa.
Module manufacturer changes
Example: Planset suggests Trina 400W, while REC 400W were installed or vice versa.
Inverter / Micro Inverter manufacturer changes
Example: Planset suggests SolarEdge 10000H, while Enphase IQ8+ were installed or vice versa.
Module Wattage changes
Example: Planset suggests Trina 400W while Trina 405W were installed or vice versa.