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Solar Installation Orlando

Emerald Sun Energy / Solar Installation Orlando

Questions you should ask your solar company – part 5

Questions you should ask your solar contractor – part 4

29. What happens during the solar power installation process?

The Solar power installation process consists of engineered drawing that is submitted for permit approval.  After permit approval and installation, a date is scheduled. Most installations for homes will take 1-2 days. After installation, it will be submitted for a final inspection.  After the inspection is completed your local power company is notified with an interconnection agreement which they will come out and swap out your meter for a bidirectional meter that will be able to monitor the power your solar power system will produce for the power company.  The total installation process takes 4-8 weeks depending on permitting, interconnection agreement and weather.

30. Should I ask for a solar monitoring system for my solar panels?

Yes.  Most solar contractors will not include the monitoring.  You would be advised to ask for it. You can always get your energy output readings from the inverter if it is a string inverter system.   However, you will have to go to the inverter and familiarize yourself with its report settings in order to get your solar energy production readings. It is a microinverter system you will need monitoring or you will just have to rely on the power companies tracking numbers.  If you have a string inverter system by SolarEdge w/ power optimizers you need to have the cellular chip upgrade to your system. Then you will be able to track the energy production from your solar panel system through an app you can download onto your phone. You will be able to see the day to day energy production, weekly, monthly and yearly solar energy output.

31. Do I need to install solar batteries with my solar power system?

In Orlando Florida, you are able to tie the system into the power companies grid nullifying the need for the solar batteries.  You might want to consider a Tesla Powerwall as a backup generator system. Keep in mind when you use a Tesla Powerwall it will not back up your entire system but rather provide power to critical energy sources during a power outage.  Mainly your main loads are what you are backing up. Refrigerator and stove with an outlet for a light and fan. If you wanted to back up for the entire house you would probably need 3 Tesla Powerwalls. I typically do not recommend battery backups where grid access is available.  There are a few reasons for this. First, off I feel a traditional generator is a better power outage backup then solar batteries, because when the power goes out it is usually accompanied by bad weather that will reduce the systems overall production and leave you with intermittent power outages.  Secondly, Solar battery solutions only last 7-10 years, meaning you will have to replace the batteries 3 times during the life of your solar panel systems life, more than doubling the cost of the system. Finally, solar batteries put off a strong magnetic field that I do not like putting near the home.  If you had a shed that was 100 feet from the home then I might put the batteries there. There are some great whole home generators that you can install for the same price that will actually give you enough power to power your entire home for a week.

32. Can the local Homeowners Association (HOA) stop me from installing a solar power system on my building?

It is illegal for an HOA to prevent you from installing solar panels on your home.  Some will have requirements such as they need to face the back of the house but even those are speculative.  Meaning if the performance of the system mandates that the solar panels need to face the front of the house for peak performance then they can not stop you from placing them there.  I do recommend checking with the HOA for any guidelines they request and whenever possible adhere to those requests. In cases when you cannot adhere to their guidelines then your solar company can send them a letter explaining why we must break there suggested guidelines.

34. How will Solar Panels be mounted?

Solar panels will be mounted to a racking system and it is that racking system that will be mounted to the roof.  More specifically to your homes truss system when available. That means no solar panels will be mounted directly to your roof.  This method reduces and potential leaking factors that may arise if the panels were installed directly to the roof.  Ironridge solar mounts are the most durable mounts on the market and graded to withstand 140 mph winds.

For more Questions you should ask your solar company check out our ongoing series:

Questions You Should Ask Your Solar Company – Part 1

Questions You Should Ask Your Solar Company – Part 2

Questions You Should Ask Your Solar Company – Part 3

Questions You Should Ask Your Solar Contractor – Part 4

Solar Companies / Solar Installation Orlando - 09/04/2018

Solar Water Heaters Worth the Investment? What you need to know before you buy one

Are Solar Hot Water Heaters worth the Investment?

Discover what contractors arent telling you about Solar Water Heaters.

Follow this tips in this article to purchase the right solar panel solution.

Solar-Hot-Water-Heater

 

Solar hot water heaters are the most common solar panel purchased in the Orlando Florida market.  The question is should they be.  The answer is a resounding depends.  However how they are being sold to consumers leaves a lot to be desired.  Solar hot water heaters are also the most over exaggerated performance product, they are often claimed to reduce your power bill by excess of 30%.  In reality you are lucky if the solar hot water heater will reduce your power bill by 10%-15%.  We will get to why this miss representation is so important.

For some people the savings might even be less than that.  The reality is they can not accurately measure the amount of hot water you are consuming per month which makes it impossible to accurately predict how much you will save on your power bill.  A family of 5 who doesn’t like hot showers and washes their clothes in cold water may use less hot water than a family of two who likes long hot showers and hot water for their clothes.

The next issue with solar hot water heaters is there is built in maintenance that is needed to be done.  Like cleaning out the collectors so they don’t clog and back up.  This point is often never brought up to the consumer which then leads to the system not being maintained properly and reducing the lifespan of the system by 10 years.  If the system is adequately maintained it can last up to 20 years.  Other common issues that affect solar water heaters in Orlando are the heat that they encounter sometimes wears out the pvc piping and causes them to leak.  I am sure you have noticed those homes with the water stains on their roof right under where the solar water heater is.

The biggest issue against solar hot water heaters are the pricing and how dishonest contractors fool homeowners into believing the system is worth the over inflated price they are selling them at.  According to Home Advisor the average price for an installed solar water heater is $3289 nationally and hear in Orlando its $4371.  This price represents an average of people who are shopping and buying solar hot water heaters.  I have often seen them sold for as much as $12,000 but often for $10,000. This is the difference between when they are sold verse when when are shopped for.  

Contractors trick homeowners with creative math.  Let's take a look at an example.  Let's say you have a $250 electric bill.  Said contractor will say that your hot water portion of your bill represents $75 of your electric bill.  What he/she has done here is free up $75 to put towards the purchase of the hot water heater.   Now the contractor will show them that with a 20yr 5.99% loan they can have the solar hot water heater for $72 per month.  Saving $3  a month right away on their electric bill.

Screen-Shot-2017-05-04-at-9.12.56-AM-e1493904247319

In reality they are only saving 10-15% on their power bill.  Let’s say that they will save $25 per month because of the solar hot water heater.  With an expense of $72 per month the homeowner is really coming out to pocket $47 and have to pay that for 20 years.  For more information on how to spot dishonest contractors read our Solar Buyer's Guide  “The Secret Guide To Buying Solar”

 

However, If you are able to purchase a system at a reasonable rate like $3500 then a solar water heater system can be a cost effective investment.  Ultimately the price of PV Solar Panels in Orlando have come down so much that I recommend a pv solar panel system to power the entire home and save close to your entire power bill and use those funds to finance the full solar panel system.  When you power the whole home it will power your hot water heater plus all of your appliances, AC and electrical equipment.  The long term saving are tremendous and then you don’t have to worry about the maintenance issues with the solar hot water heaters.  I will also often recommend a hybrid or tankless water heater over the solar water heater because they rival them in efficiency and are even more economical financially.  You can get a Hybrid water heater installed for under $2000.  Same is true for a Tankless Water Heater.

If you are shopping conscientiously you can find a good deal for a solar hot water heater.  Although if you are shopping for a good deal I believe you will always find yourself going for the PV Solar panel system for your home.  Use other efficiency hot water heaters at a much cheaper price and save on your entire home power bill with an in home solar panel system.

Solar Installation Orlando - 07/03/2017

When Buying a Solar Power System – Understanding The Math Is Crucial To Getting The Right System

Solar Math For Sizing The Right Solar Panel System

I think you will agree that understanding the math required to size a solar panel system for your home can be tricky.

It doesn't have to be if you follow the equations laid out in this article.

Discover the exact size of the Solar Panel System you need to power your home.

Understanding the size of the solar panel system you need is crucial to getting the right system installed for your home or business.  Knowing the math will do two things.  First, it will help you to understand how much energy you need to produce to counter the amount of energy you consume.  Secondly, it will arm you with information for when you are meeting with a solar consultant so you can test if they are being honest with you and recommending the right sized system.  For more information on checking out your solar consultant, I recommend reading my "Dummies Guide For Buying Solar" you will discover how to spot solar sales tricks and how to protect your family from them.

One of the best parts of solar energy is that it is math based.  That is a benefit you can figure out how much energy you need to produce down to the kilowatt hours (kWh), based on what you're using during the course of the year.  With this information, you have won 1/2 the battle.  You can then check your math with PVWatts.  PV Watts is a government sponsored site that utilizes calculations from NASA in regards to the amount of sunlight your area receives per day.  Which is an important variable in sizing your Solar Energy System?  In Central Florida, the average sunlight per day ranges from 5.34 to 5.60 depending on if you are located on the west coast in Tampa or inland in Orlando or in the east coast of Melbourne Florida.

Using the calculations included here will allow you to size the solar panel system you need for you home or business.  It will even help you to get and estimated the cost of your system.  Follow the steps and the math equations will take care of the rest.

Calculating Amount of Watts a Solar Panel System will produce

  1. Size of System being recommended – 6kw
  2. Times by the amount of sun per day – 5.6 (florida hrs)
  3. Times by 80% efficiency – 20% is lost by inverters and wiring
  4. times 365 days a year gives you annual production
  5. Divide by 12 for monthly number

Example :  6kw x 5.6hrs = 33.6 x .8(80%)= 26.88 x 365 = 9811.2 wpy / 12 = 817.6 wpm

Calculating System electricity savings

  1. Take watts per year
  2. Times it by electricity rate .12
  3. Divide by 12 to get monthly savings

 

Example 9811.2 wpy x $.12 = $1177.34 / 12 = $98.11 savings per month

Calculating System Cost

  1. Take the KW in System
  2. Times it by 1000 to get watts
  3. Times it by rate $3.5 per watt

 

Example 10KW x 1000= 100000 x $3.50 = $35, 000

Calculating The amount of Watts needed

  1. Get electric bill and add up the 12 monthly average daily usage rates
  2.  Times by 30
  3. Divide by 12 for monthly watts

 

Example 49+50+50+40+27+32+31+35+34+34+42+49+63=536×30=16,080watts

16080/12=1340 watts per month

 

Calculate Annual Electricity costs

  1. Take total annual watts
  2.  Times it by average electricity cost per watt $.12 FL
  3. For monthly average divide by 12

 

Example: 16080 x $.12= $1929 / 12 = $161 per month

 

Calculate How many Panels you need

  1. Take the total amount of KW system
  2. Times by 1000 kilowatts to watts
  3. Divide by efficiency of panels (Canadian Solar is 250)

 

Example 7.5 KW (system) x 1000 = 7500/250 = 30 panels

Calculate size of PV system needed

  1. Take your annual wpy and divide by 365
  2.  Take your watts per day and divide by amount of daily sun exposure 5 – 5.5
  3.  Take the daily KW needed and divide by a .72 efficiency factor

 

Example  16080 / 365 = 44.05 kwd /5 =  8.8 kw / .72 = 12.23 kws

 

Efficiency Factor of 72%

The 0.72 efficiency factor is based on the following assumptions: average solar access of 95% (shading derate factor); modules with a positive-only production tolerance; inverter efficiency of 96%; module temperature derate factor of 0.88; DC and AC wiring derate of 0.98 and 0.99; module soiling derate = 0.95; module mismatch derate = 0.98; system availability derate = 0.99:

0.95 × 0.96 × 0.88 × 0.98 × 0.99 × 0.95 × 0.98 × 0.99 = 0.72

Armed with this information you can find out the best way to size any solar installation project.  No matter if you are installing a solar panel system in Orlando Fl or anywhere else in the country.  just check for the usable sunlight hours.  You can always call Emerald Sun Energy Florida's Premier Solar Power Company to assist you in your equation calculations and have a Free In-home Solar Consultation.  Fully understanding this will protect you from dishonest contractors.  To find every dishonest contractor tip you can read our buyers guide "The Secret Guide to Buying Solar".

Solar Installation Orlando - 04/03/2017

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