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Inverter Rating Versus Solar Panel Rating

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In the context of solar power systems, when we refer to inverter ratings being less than solar panel ratings, it means that the capacity or power rating of the solar inverter is lower than the total capacity of the solar panels it is intended to support. Here’s a breakdown of these terms: Solar Panel Ratings: The rating of a solar …

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Should I Mount My Solar Panels Landscape or Portrait Orientation

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You might notice that some solar panels are mounted in landscape (horizontal) and some are mounted in portrait (vertical). Why is that, and how should you mount yours? The answer might surprise you, and it’s actually quite important. We see a lot of contractors mounting solar panels in landscape orientation because rectangular panels just fit better on a triangular or …

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Your Roof Is Not Good For Solar Panels

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Well, maybe not YOUR roof, but you would be surprised at how many people we have to let down. Not every roof is great for solar panels. This can be a big disappointment to homeowners. Believe me – we are equally disappointed in knowing that we have an eager client’s goal that we cannot fulfill. There are several things that …

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Net Zero Home With Solar Panels

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One of the goals our clients bring to us is a net zero home. This means they want to generate as much energy with solar panels as they consume on an annual basis. It doesn’t mean off-grid, and it doesn’t mean that each month they will produce as much solar energy than they need. Some months they will produce excess, …

Rooftop Solar Panel Fire Safety – Why Microinverters Are The Only Prudent Choice

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When businesses contemplate a solar panel installation, the main goal is usually return on investment, or ROI. That means the solar panels and other equipment must be the most cost-effective possible and the installation often goes to the lowest bidder. Homeowners often seek top quality, features, and gadgets. They want a good deal, but they also want the latest technology …

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PV Shopping Quick Tip: Ask The Right Question!

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When shopping for solar electric panels (photovoltaic or PV), most clients first ask what brand of panel we offer. While it’s a legitimate question, it’s not the most important question they should be asking. Solar panels have become extremely reliable and purchasing from an established source should yield good results. Solar panels are solid state devices with no moving parts …

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Hurricane Irma Solar Panel Report

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To all of our affected neighbors, we understand that this is a difficult time for many of you. Our local employees and company have been adversely affected too, but we are staying positive about the future. We are ready to help where needed. Summary of Hurricane Impact on Southwest Florida Solar Panels We are pleased to report that there are …

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Why “Oversize” A Variable Speed Pool Pump

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We have heard it over and over again. A client tells us that their pool builder or service company said a 3 horsepower Pentair Intelliflo pump is too big for their pool. It’s oversized. It’s overkill. It will destroy their pool plumbing. It will drain the oceans dry, trap baby seals, and eat all of the lobster in the sea. …

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Ground Mounted Solar Pool Heaters

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Once in a while we get asked about ground mounted solar pool heaters. We normally install solar panels on roofs, mounted flush to the roof. This is the easiest and most economical installation method. It makes sense for many reasons. Some of the reasons people cite for requesting solar panels on a ground rack are: Avoid seeing the solar panels …

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Best Orientation for Solar Panels in Southwest Florida

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We have a fair number of seasonal residents in Southwest Florida who have solar electricity at their northern homes. They all talk about how their solar panels are tilted to the south. We call this the orientation of the solar panels. Orientation is comprised of tilt (angle from horizontal) and azimuth (degrees clockwise from true north). Note: This article applies …

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New Southwest Florida Community Gets Solar Panels On Every Home

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Lennar, one of the nation’s largest home builders, is building a new community called Mirada off of Bass Road in Fort Myers. But this is no cookie cutter community. Every home in this Southwest Florida development will have solar panels. This isn’t the first time Lennar has outfit an entire community with solar panels. Through its partnership with Sunstreet, the builder has …