equipment

A solar system is only as strong as it's components. As the solar industry has matured equipment has seen a significant improvement in reliability and efficiency. We take it upon ourselves to be your expert and make sure only the best equipment goes on your roof. 

 
 
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modules

The most obvious part of the solar system, the module is where the magic of solar happens. As light hits the specially designed silicon wafers the suns energy is absorbed in the form of DC electricity. For a more complete explanation click here.

There are many different types of modules, Moncrystalline, Polycrystalline, Thinfilm and concentrating to name a few. We focus on the following factors when choosing which modules to offer our customers:

  • Efficiency - How well the panel converts sunlight into electricity.
  • Value - The cost per watt of the module.
  • Reliability - Solar modules are exposed to a harsh environment, huge temperature swings, rain, wind etc.
  • Bankability - Will the companies be around to support their product.
  • Aesthetics - Optics count, especially for something that will become a part of your home.

We have chosen LG and Jinko solar modules for their strong industry position, performance and innovation. LG also provides one of the best warranties in the industry

 
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inverters

The heart and the brains of the solar system. At a basic level these devices take the DC electricity from the panel, convert it into AC and synch it with the Grid. But they do so much more than that. Inverters handle shade mitigation, grid safety and system performance monitoring. 

There are two main types of inverters, String inverters and Microinverters, as well as hybrid string inverters with DC Optimizers. Each of these technologies has its pros and cons and if you do a quick search you'll find endless comparisons and opinions about which technology is best. We based our evaluation on the following:

  • Performance - How well the inverter converts DC Electricity to AC, mitigates shade, soiling and other performance issues.
  • Safety - Lots to consider here AC vs DC electricity, wire runs and grid interaction to name a few.
  • Reliability - Inverters handle the most demanding function of a solar system, typically the inverter is the weakest link

We use microinverters on all of our systems. They are the most reliable in 2 ways, first robust solid state design with 25 year warranty, second as a distributed technology if 1 microinverter ever fails it only impacts one module, the remaining modules performance is unaffected. Microinverters also provide greater safety, system design flexibility and better monitoring data.

We feel Enphase microinverters are the best option for their proven track record, performance and innovation.

 
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racking

Not quite as obvious as the modules and inverters, but still important. The racking is the mechanical structure that holds the array together, as well as attaches it to your roof, trellis or property. Racking also electrically bonds and grounds the system improving safety. There have been some innovations in racking like panel integrated racking, BIPV (Buillding Integrated Photovoltaics) and rack-less arrays, although most are very limited  and less developed. We evaluate racking on the following characteristics,

  • Aesthetics - Racking plays a big part in array aesthetics, it sets the height off the roof and levelness of the array, good racking should also come in an all black option to match the modules. 
  • Simplicity - A well designed racking solution should go together easily, have few parts and use high quality materials.
  • Waterproofing - The flashing is part of the racking and will need to preserve the roof integrity for the life of the system (30+ years).

We use IronRidge racking on all of our systems, their products are well engineered and offer great array design options.