Nine Crucial Solar Installer Considerations

[...] So you want to get solar, but how do you pick a company to give you a quote? Once you have a quote or two how do you pick the company? Well, I’ll tell you want to look for. Ask for their contractor’s license number, and then look it up. … Read More [...]

Bob

You have described solar energy very well. I understand now what is involved in evaluating, selecting and installing a solar power system. The financial benefits make solar energy an easy choice or the average household. Great for the earth too!!

Can you help me with the next step….I would like to a get a solar energy system on my roof ASAP.

Bob

David Llorens

Hi Bob!

Have we met?

Email me at dave AT solarpowerrocks DOT com and we’ll get things moving.

praveen

David:
How do I protect the panels from falling objects, weather, Vandals or even a thief. Have you heard of Solar panel robberies. I would think that something that expensive should have a secondary underground market.

David Llorens

Praveen:

1. falling objects? Most panels can handle golf ball size hail. They are rated for it. Now, baseball size hail, which is a once in a lifetime thing, is unstoppable. They will break your panels, but honestly, they’re probably going to mess up your house too. Solar panels are STRONG. you can walk on them. As for other falling items… where the hell do you live that you have other things falling out of the sky?! haahahhhahaha

2. Vandals? They are going to have a tough tough messing up your panels, they would have to be on the roof. they may throw a rock or two and be dissapointed. If they heave a giant rock up there they could crack one I suppose… but man, why, in that case, would they just not break your windows? The things they could vandalize are the wiring. Question here really is why would they go after that over your windows? Just check, again, with your home insurance.

3. Good question. This is RARE, but it DOES HAPPEN. very rarely. Not much you can do about it really. Check your home insurance policy. It’s extremely unlikely they will steal solar panels off of your roof. Typically thieves don’t have that much planning and foresight. They would need a ladder and tools and patience and a WHOLE LOT OF KAJONES. Most thieves like low hanging fruit. But I suppose it’s possible and I have personally heard of only one case and those panels were not even attached yet. You could lojack them

RON

Hey David..THANK YOU!!!! I’m in Kansas and I will be the one to put an extra dot next to my state! Thanks for all the info.

Jan

Wow! Hello from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. I’ve gotten one estimate for a 5kw system, and a much cheaper one for a 2kw system. 1.) I swear I was told that if I do a really great job in my net metering here and have an overage at the end of the year….I LOSE IT!! 2.) There seem to be some roofing contractors getting into this on the ’side’. Am somewhat concerned about that. I’ve been interested in this for 20 yrs. Let’s generate our own energy! Comments???

Bob Campbell

Hello,
I live in Michigan and my 9yr old (inground)swimming pool heater has stopped working. I am intereseted in going solar to heat the pool. Not sure where to start. Can you help me out.
Bob

David Llorens

Hi Bob,

fill this out and we’ll connect you with someone in your area.

Thanks, Dave

Becky

Hi – thanks for the info. I am working on a service project with the neighborhood church to improve their energy efficiency, and to become a green model for the community. My biggest task will be heading the project to get solar power installed. Do you happen to know of any resources for grants or rebates for religious institutions? Point me in a direction maybe?

Mike

There seems to be so much talk about drilling for oil in more places.
Why does the Federal Government not increase the tax incentives or rebates for Solar??? They only give about $1500 for a complete system??

Nathan

Great comments and questions! Thanks for all the info. Please recommend someone or sometwo in south east NC for an extimate.

Jeff

I want to put a partial system on my home and business in GA. I have been in the Cell Tower Ind.
for ten years so, I would like to look at self install.
I am not really sure what suppliers to trust or really where to go, due to information overload on the net.
Can you help?

Mark

I was just wondering if their are any other options on storing the energy other than batteries? has anyone experimented with using capacitors?

sara

I called your favorite SunPower company to see about getting some solar power going at my house, and they told me that there was no way I could purchase their products because they only sell thru dealers and there are NO DEALERS in my state.
Gee… how… how… Lehman Brothers.

Stephanie K.

I am wondering how the solar panels deal with Midwestern weather – mainly snow and the winter months. Just curious if you have had any success stories from Wisconsin.

Kristal G.

I am still a bit confused on where to find tax incentive/gov.-funding info? Is there a site that lists this for various states? Or one for VA at least?

Shree

Hi. My husband and I are building a home in TN and moving out from CA. As you rightly pointed out, there is little/NO support for solar-sensitivity in TN. But we are going to do it. What options are there for: 1) heating an in-ground pool; 2) leasing or purchasing from a solar company that would install the solar on our home (I heard about this, but don’t know anything about it). Thanks.

Kelly

I am the manager of a small business which operates in a small ranch style builing. Wondering the effectiveness of solar panels for powering a business with 7 work stations and a couple of servers. Your input would be greatly appreciated, as I would like to take our company as “green” as possible! Thanks!

Rayna

Read all the info on weather, but haven’t seen a question on hurricanes. Our roof is “hurricane proof”, but what about panels? They would fly if the roof flies, but on their own?

[...] Nine Crucial Solar Installer Considerations [...]

Steve

Am I correct that there are programs under which you can sell “excess” solar power-generated electricity BACK to the utility company? If so, does CL&P (CT) participate?

Dan Hahn

Hi Steve,

You are indeed correct there are programs where you can sell excess electricity back to the utility. That’s called “net-metering”. CL&P and UI are both required to buy back excess energy you produce with solar. This law was in effect in 1998 and is still in force today.

CEric

On Point 1 Above: Each state deals with licensing differently. Some states leave it entirely to local jurisdictions. Having a blanket statement out there that says “all contractors must be licensed” is determent to those contractors that live in states that don’t license contractors.

martin

Most people are installing a solar energy system for the first time. If not all people?

Simply, would suggest a criteria matrix of what’s include and not included from each proposal. You may wish to compare energy estimates with actuals. Energy is asymptotic over time. The modules are typically clean when first installed, some may choose to use a water hose ~once or ~twice a year at specific times. Estimates on Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) of various components may be discuss including any service level agreements, shading, … and degradation projections.

Suggest purchasing a system you are able to afford. With the use of micro-inverters, smaller systems may be implemented. For string inverters, there are best practice with regards to string sizing based on the lowest ambient temperature and NEC 690.7 to maximize the photovoltaic source circuit. With derate factors, depending on location, one module may provide as much energy as one month of usage. Options for PV may be the roof, ground, … Some ground-mounted structures may be beautiful alternative, if the roof would not be a viable option.

For some locations there are both requirements and issues:

http://www.dsireusa.org/solar
http://www.newenergychoices.org/uploads/FreeingTheGrid2009.pdf

If California, a contractor requires “four (4) full years of journeyman-level or higher experience in the classification”

For example, install and use PV systems ~5 years, with only one situation. A tree fell on and switched off the visible “readily accessible” AC disconnect means Switched back on.

Sunlight, a “good and perfect gift is from above”