Solar Basics

The best way to get started with Solar Energy is to understand Solar Energy Basics:

• What basic information do you need to get started with PurHarvest Energy? The best way for PurHarvest Energy to  properly asses your solar opportunity, is to have specific items available makes assessment very easy.  The first item PurHarvest will need is current electric bill available to help us size the system. Our goal is to match your annual consumption to the output of the system we recommend for you. If you happen to have an understanding of the south facing space you believe would present the best opportunity for solar success, that is very helpful, but not necessary as PurHarvest always does a site survey prior to any solar installation. PurHarvest can walk you through the solar process in person...simply call us at: 732-886-5300.
  
  
• So how does Solar Power Work?  A solar panel uses a series of small photovoltaic cells that generate about .5 volts in series, similar to a battery powered flashlight.  These photovoltaic cells add their voltage to produce DC (Direct Current) electricity.  At this point, the DC electricity is converted into usable AC (Alternating Current) energy through the use of a solar power inverter.  This AC current is supplied directly to your service panel, or directly into the grid.  You receive credit for the electricity used and it therefore reduces your bill.  Solar Power is just that simple to Harvest!
  

• What is the importance of roof orientation to having an effective solar system? Your roof orientation is the direction the roof is facing.  The ideal roof should face directly south, or 180°.  This south facing direction results in optimum exposure during all months of the year.

• What factors affect the design of a solar system? Design factors include shading, the angle of the roof (which should be around 34°, the orientation of the roof  to 180° south), the number of shade trees and other panel obstructions.
  

• What is the difference between kilowatt (kW) and a Kilowatt Hour (kWh)? A kilowatt is the measure of power at any one given time.  If you measure the power produced for one instant, that would be a kW rating of the system.  A system is rated by the kW size.  An example of this would be a 10 kW system.  A kWh is a rating of energy.  Kilowatt Hours are what your appliances, lights and other things that use power in your home or business.

• What is your system size based on and how does PurHarvest calculate it for you? We size systems based on what your current or planned consumption of energy will be.  This is the primary reason why we request a copy of your electric bill for evaluation.  Typically on the last page of your bill, it will have the annual kWh usage.  This is how we size the system.  A house that uses 13,000 kWh annually will typically require a 10 kW system.

• What if you don't have a roof facing to the south? PurHarves can provide you with a ground mounted system.  A ground mount system utilizes a series of poles either pile driven, encased in cement or screwed into the ground with a series of rails set across them to support solar panels.  PurHarvest then digs a trench to your house to hook up to your electrical panel.  This is a great option for larger scale projects or for people with east/west facing roofs.

• How much maintenance is there with a solar system? This aspect is what makes solar systems so appealing to homeowners and commercial entities alike.  There is little to no maintenance on the panels.  The rain cleans them off and, because there are no moving parts, there is nothing to fix!

• Does PurHarvest Energy provide a  “turnkey” solar solution? Absolutely PurHarvest is your "Turnkey" solar solution. We take care of all applications, paperwork and installation of the system.  We arrive at your location, and when we leave you have a solar system.

• Will a Photovoltaic Solar System produce on a cloudy day? PurHarvest Solar Systems produce on cloudy days.  Production is affected, but you will still be producing energy.

• What is a Grid-Tied Photovoltaic System? It is a photovoltaic (PV) system interacting with the utility, and can be with or without batteries, that utilizes relatively new breed of inverters that can actually sell any excess power produced by your solar array back to the utility grid.

• Is a battery system necessary with a Photovoltaic Solar System? No, ya battery backup system is not necessary. PurHarvest Energy does have battery backup systems available if you do have concerns about losing power, as the system will shut off when power is lost to the house. The primary reason for this is that if the lines go down, there are people working on the lines and that it is not a good idea to have power going back out onto the lines that are being maintained.

• How much shading does it take to shut down a solar panel? If you shade as much as one cell on a panel, the entire string of panels can shut down. This will reduce your output and delay your payback on the cost of the system.  This is why shading is such a large concern for solar power systems and why PurHarvest does a thorough site survey before installing any solar panels at your location.

• What is the effect of shading on your return on investment? When PurHarvest Energy performs a site survey we make sure to minimize shading. This is due to the fact that if you have even partial blockage of a system for a significant portion of the day, this shading may negate you from qualifying for state rebates as well as not provide you with optimal system production, delaying your return on investment significantly.
  
  Contact us at 732-886-5300 for a FREE site specific evaluation and analysis!