Solar Power units are cropping up all over and you’re sure to have one in your own neighborhood. When you purchase any item that promises to last for a period of twenty years or longer, be sure to choose an installer who knows his business. You sure don’t want one who is all talk without any knowledge of the product.
The Better Business Bureau may be the first place to start, and if you’ve already decided on a couple of contractors, the BBB may have complaints on many of them. They keep tract of complaints filed by their customers. You could also investigate the company through Workers Compensation. Just enter their license number and the entire history of the company shows up. Things like the owner’s name, the date they opened the business, and complaints, if any. If you find complaints, see if the company dealt with them because not all complaints are legitimate.
The contractor you hire should have a place of business, licensed with satisfied customers. Don’t hire someone who works out of his car with a cell phone in his pocket, and a contract without a typed name and address. When someone asks for the entire amount up front, shy away from them fast.
Question your contractor and ask if he uses an independent system or a grid-tied system. The grid-tied system allows the customer to sell unused power back to the utility company. The off the grid independent system stores the power in batteries, and you may need a backup generator for emergencies. If the contractor doesn’t know the definition of those systems, tell him to take a hike.
You’ll want quality parts installed and quality and cheap don’t go hand in hand. Educate yourself so you’ll know one from the other. Insist on a printed contract that spells out the entire process including cost and payments. High prices don’t necessarily mean quality nor cheap doesn’t mean cheap products.
Do you live in an area where solar power will work to your advantage? If you live in the Northeast or Alaska they aren’t good reception areas.
Research the different types of solar power systems because they upgrade the systems regularly. Now you can buy solar shingles instead of the large ugly solar panels. One word of caution, whenever you install anything on the roof or your home, make sure your homeowner’s insurance covers the new addition. They may disqualify your claim if you don’t check it out first. Be cautious so you won’t be sorry.
SolarGem specializes in Orange County solar power, Riverside solar power, San Bernardino solar power.
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Monday, February 27, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Orange County Solar: Know the Solar Panel Components
Whether you’re doing the work yourself, or hiring a professional, you still need to know the components of the solar panels. Knowing what to look for and what is actually needed will be a tremendous help and will save you money in the process.
You don’t want to use parts that won’t work well together. Quality parts installed with inferior parts will cause your solar panels to work inefficiently. So before you decide educate yourself.
The basic part of solar power is the solar cell or photovoltaic. The cells are made of materials that will create a reaction when exposed to the sun. This harnesses electricity from this reaction. Compare the solar cell with a small hand held solar calculator that works on the same principle but on a much larger scale.
The most identifiable part of the solar power system is the solar panel. It will also be the most expensive and most important element of the entire system. They come in a variety of sizes and depend on the homeowner’s needs and budget. They have improved them so vastly that they mount directly onto the roof instead of shingles. The design only requires a ½ pound ballast without drilling or penetration of the surface of the roof.
The second, the power inverter, a critical component that takes the low voltage DC power generated and converts it to high voltage (110v) that you use in your home. Make sure the inverter is high in quality components with large heat sinks. That will keep your equipment working at high capacity so you won’t lose energy while it transforms.
You need the right gauge of wiring with shielding that brings it up to code without potential fire hazards.
When you have a monitoring system you will be able to accurately check the system and it should give you a read out of the amount of power your system generates. Many panels come with an extended warranty of 20-25 years depending on the quality of the system.
If all of this sounds too difficult for a home handyman to tackle, then consider contacting a professional. The solar panel contractor will come to your home and tell you exactly what you will need to upgrade your power needs. Just be sure the contractor is licensed and will have a contract that will have everything spelled out including cost. When any contractor asks for the entire payment up front, beware, but be fair and give him a decent down payment and withhold the final payment until the job is done.
SolarGem specializes in Orange County solar power, Riverside solar power, San Bernardino solar power.
orange county solar power, riverside solar power, san bernardino solar power, los angeles solar power, orange county solar, riverside solar, san bernardino solar, los angeles solar, orange county solar panels, riverside solar panels, solar panels san bernardino, los angeles solar panels, los angeles solar energy, orange county solar energy, orange county solar companies, los angeles solar companies
You don’t want to use parts that won’t work well together. Quality parts installed with inferior parts will cause your solar panels to work inefficiently. So before you decide educate yourself.
The basic part of solar power is the solar cell or photovoltaic. The cells are made of materials that will create a reaction when exposed to the sun. This harnesses electricity from this reaction. Compare the solar cell with a small hand held solar calculator that works on the same principle but on a much larger scale.
The most identifiable part of the solar power system is the solar panel. It will also be the most expensive and most important element of the entire system. They come in a variety of sizes and depend on the homeowner’s needs and budget. They have improved them so vastly that they mount directly onto the roof instead of shingles. The design only requires a ½ pound ballast without drilling or penetration of the surface of the roof.
The second, the power inverter, a critical component that takes the low voltage DC power generated and converts it to high voltage (110v) that you use in your home. Make sure the inverter is high in quality components with large heat sinks. That will keep your equipment working at high capacity so you won’t lose energy while it transforms.
You need the right gauge of wiring with shielding that brings it up to code without potential fire hazards.
When you have a monitoring system you will be able to accurately check the system and it should give you a read out of the amount of power your system generates. Many panels come with an extended warranty of 20-25 years depending on the quality of the system.
If all of this sounds too difficult for a home handyman to tackle, then consider contacting a professional. The solar panel contractor will come to your home and tell you exactly what you will need to upgrade your power needs. Just be sure the contractor is licensed and will have a contract that will have everything spelled out including cost. When any contractor asks for the entire payment up front, beware, but be fair and give him a decent down payment and withhold the final payment until the job is done.
SolarGem specializes in Orange County solar power, Riverside solar power, San Bernardino solar power.
orange county solar power, riverside solar power, san bernardino solar power, los angeles solar power, orange county solar, riverside solar, san bernardino solar, los angeles solar, orange county solar panels, riverside solar panels, solar panels san bernardino, los angeles solar panels, los angeles solar energy, orange county solar energy, orange county solar companies, los angeles solar companies
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