Solar Panels: How wired can they be?
The answer is: pretty wired! Now, not every person interested in learning about solar is this interested. I get it. But some inquiring minds need to know. We see all those panels on the roof, over a hundred in some cases, with one, two or three invertors. So how do those all connect? The answer […]
Solar: Just move on…
Solar guy, yes, real estate expert, no. First off, I’m not recommending making solar part of the investment during a property flip. However, should a new property be purchased to move into, with the possibility of a future sale, then certainly, yes. There are many factors to consider when deciding whether or not to make […]
Hieroglyphics: Deciphering your utility bill…
First, let’s have the utility themselves try to explain. Here is a link to an APS example: https://www.aps.com/~/media/APS/APSCOM-PDFs/Utility/Regulatory-and-Legal/Sample-Bills/Residential-Plans/SampleSaverChoicePlus Once you have been overwhelmed by this explanation, the following will try to simplify things. Utilities offer their customers a few different plans depending on whether the service is residential or commercial, how much power is used […]
Solar: Does size matter?
Maybe not. Covering all of your electrical needs with solar is an admirable objective, though not always the correct one. If you are financially constrained to a certain solar investment size, then spending that money most prudently is more important than supplying all of your electricity with solar. If future property investments include replacing inefficient […]
Solar: It’s not just a bunch of hot air…
Thinking colder winter temperatures reduce solar panel output? Think again! Panels actually thrive in colder weather, while the sun, lower on the horizon and contributing less daylight, reduces output on a typical winter day. The sun’s rays striking the panel’s silicon cells cause their electrons to be released as electricity. Higher temps mean more excited […]
Declining Utility Prices: Do pigs fly?
Occasionally, maybe… APS has decreased its electrical power prices twice in 35 years. Yep, 1996 and very slightly for the upcoming 2022. In fact, across the US, residential electricity prices did flatten from 1995 through 2000. But from 1970 to 1995 and 2000 through 2021 prices increased each year. The last 50 years have shown […]
Tiny or Ginormous: An array of possibilities…
Grid-tied solar power arrays vary from 6 to over 100 panels. This depends on consumption needs, utility power and buy-back price, and system size limits set by the utility. With less than 6 panels, the fixed cost of the grid-tie equipment can erase the benefits of installing solar. Take a pass. Off-grid, direct current, solar […]
All Revealed: What’s behind the array…
Solar panels are the most visible parts of the system, working with other components to collect the sun’s energy and deliver electricity to a property.
