Purchasing solar is a big investment for your home that will have lasting positive impacts if done correctly. There are some key factors to think about when purchasing a solar energy system.  We are going to review the main factors you should be thinking about when purchasing solar.

Manufacturer – Who manufacturers the panels?  This is a key question to ask.  Some solar contractors will sell you solar systems with multiple manufacturers making different components.  One supplies the racking for the solar to mount to, another manufacturer supplies the inverters used with the panels.  A separate manufacturer makes the solar panels.  A system like mentioned above can create headaches down the road, if anything goes wrong, you will have to figure out who to call and if it lies under your warranty.  SolarTech installs SunPower products.  The advantage of using SunPower solar products is everything is made by SunPower and all covered by the SunPower warranty.  One call if something were to happen, making it an easy process to fix if needed.

Experience – Purchasing solar from a contractor that has just started business, may provide lower costs, but if that business does not exist in 5 years, then who can you call to have something fixed, or add more panels?  SolarTech has been in business for over 20 years.  We install residential and commercial solar systems.  We are growing and expanding into new territories and use SunPower products.  SunPower being its own brand provides an extra layer of protection for our customers, just in case we did go out of business, SunPower has a network of dealers able to service the solar systems SolarTech has installed if something were to happen.  Give SolarTech a call, learn why customers choose us, 619-743-9193 to get started. Click here to receive a Free Solar quote.

Monitoring – Is it available and what type of monitoring?  Some solar contractors will install solar systems that have no monitoring available, or they may not know how to install monitoring, so they just don’t offer it.  Some solar companies have monitoring available that monitors the whole system.  SolarTech offers panel level monitoring.  The advantage of panel level monitoring is customers can see what each panel is producing.  Different times during the day some panels may be shaded, or not, this will affect the performance of the system.  Being able to read what each panel is producing and seeing those readings over time customers can monitor more accurately their system performance.

Panel Output / Watts – When purchasing a solar system, customers tend to want to purchase the highest watts available per panel to get the most output they can out of their solar systems.  There are factors that come into play when contractors give quotes on panels.  They may be pushing certain panels that are more cost effective because they buy them in bulk.  It can be hard to compare exact watt panels from different manufacturers because contractors can get deals when purchasing so they can undercut competitors when providing pricing.  This refers to price per watt.  Another factor to consider is the actual output of watts the panels produce.  Some panel manufacturers say their panels will produce a certain amount, but there is an allowance of 2% plus or minus that actual output.  SunPower panels are guaranteed to produce the watts specified or more, SunPower panels do not under produce even when less then ideal environmental factors come into play.

Micro Inverters vs String Inverters – Solar systems use inverters to convert the energy produced in the solar panels from DC to AC energy so you can power your home or provide energy back to the grid.  Some contractors are going to install solar panels that use string inverters.  They have a lower cost to install, but less reliability.  Meaning if one panels is only producing half power, because there are multiple panels on a string (like a circuit) between 6-12 per string, all those panels in that string will be producing half power.  Whereas if you have microinverters installed with the system, only the one panel will be affected.  When using microinverters it is easier to expand the system, you can add per panel, rather than effect a whole system using string inverters.  SolarTech installs premium microinverters made by SunPower to ensure optimal energy output and better lifespan for the system.

Roof or Ground Mount – where you mount your solar system can make a big difference.  There are 2 options when mounting a solar system.  Roof mounted, there is no need for extra racking and the structure needed to hold the racking off the ground.  Roof mounted tends to be less expensive then ground mount, it is an easier run to the electrical panel.  Ground mounts usually involve trenching for running the wires from the solar to the electrical panel which adds to the system pricing.

Shading – Shade can affect the amount of sun light your panels get, therefore produce in a days’ time.  Shade can be produced on cloudy days, sunlight will still be absorbed into the panels producing electricity, just not as much as a full sun day.  Shade can also come from structures and trees.  SolarTech uses a combination of shade analysis software and trained solar analysts to create an optimal and unique layout for your property.

Current vs Future – when purchasing a solar system it is important to review your current utility bill.  You need to consider if anything is going to change in the future.  Thinking of adding an electric vehicle, a pool/spa, or room addition?  These are things that will significantly impact your utility bill in the future and you may want to oversize the system your are thinking about purchasing now.  Speak with your solar analyst and review how you envision growing with your solar system so you get the most life out of your system.  SolarTech can help you assess your current electric usage and think about anything in the future.  Call 619-743-9193 or Click here for a FREE solar quote.

Energy Storage – Looking at purchasing solar but not sure if you need energy storage.  Energy storage is a great way to combat rolling blackouts, stop peak utility rates and avoid flex alerts.  Want to charge your electric vehicle when ever you want, energy storage is a great way to avoid having to deal with any of these problems.  Energy storage allows you to charge your vehicle when you want, you can avoid costly utility charges charging at night and stop worrying about not having power.  When your neighbor loses power, you can feel secure knowing your home is working with your major appliances still on and ready for use.  Ask for a FREE solar + storage quote, stop worrying about your power.

Financing – how are you going to pay for the solar system?  Cash, loan, PPA, lease.  There are many ways to pay for a solar system installation.  Knowing what is right for you and your situation can help you save money and eliminate your utility bill.  Every homeowner is unique in their home layout, utility bills and financial situation.  So what is right for your when considering financing may not be for your neighbor.  SolarTech offers all financing types with low rates so you can choose what is right for your needs.

Call 619-743-9193 to Go Solar