Solar Panel Mounting Systems

A couple of weeks ago, we discussed how solar can work in the northeastern US with its cold and often snowy weather. It is true that solar performs well in the northeast, but there are other factors to take into account when determining if your home is “solar ready.” Is your roof south facing? Are there trees or other buildings that will block the sun? If trees are an issue can they be trimmed or removed? Is the roof even large enough to fit the size solar system you would like?

Luckily, for those whose homes have one or more of the issues mentioned above, there are viable solutions that will enable your home to incorporate solar. Solar panels are not restricted to a roof-mounted system only. There are other ways to have solar panels and still get maximum efficiency, even if you have an east/west facing roof, or a large tree or building shading your home

Ground Mounted System
A ground mounted system generally has a steel frame and a concrete foundation. These systems are ideal for those who live in rural areas. They can be set back on the property and made to point directly south. They may be a bit bulky, but they are easy to clean off and cost little, if anything more than a roof mounted system.

Pole Mounted System
Pole mounted options are the most expensive of the options, but can be more aesthetically pleasing. In this situation the panels are mounted on top of a steel pole that is anchored into the ground. The additional cost can be offset by the added efficiency of this option. These systems can generally be a couple percentage points more efficient than the other two options due to the fact that the pitch of the panels can be changed throughout the year to capture more sunlight.

To learn more about a solar system that would work best for you home, contact us at Earthsponse today!

-Lisa Dougherty

Micro vs String Inverters

There has been a lot of talk lately about microinverters.  Microinverters are small inverters that mount on the racking system directly under each solar module.  There is a one to one correlation between microinverters and solar modules.  For example, if you have 20, Kyocera KD230GX-LPU modules on your roof, you would have 20 microinverters.  Microinverters have been gaining in popularity lately due to the advance of one manufacturer in particular: Enphase. Enphase recently came out with a new microinverter.  It's the model M215.  The biggest change is that this new inverter comes with a 25 year warranty. For the first time, the inverter warranty last as long as the module warranty.   This could be a game changer for the solar industry.

Some of the benefits of installing microinverters:
-Each module/inverter works independently, so shade affecting one module does not affect the whole system.
- No central point of failure, if one microinverter stops working, the rest of the system still functions
- Truly advanced data logging showing power output at the module level
- No high voltage DC wires to run.  DC-AC conversion takes place at each module on the roof and each microinverter is connected with an AC trunk cable.  This cable is then run down and connected in your main AC panel.

For more info on the M215, visit http://enphase.com/

Call the Earthsponse Solar Solutions Center at 866-94EARTH and ask for a system quote using microinverters, you may be pleasantly surprised at the results.

-Andy Young