FAQs

These are but a few of the frequently asked questions people have asked about Solar. But if you want ALL of your questions answered, give us a call today at (888) 635-2579.

Q: Is my home or business a good place for a Photovoltaic (PV) system?

A: Most homes and businesses have a workable solar solution. American Vision Solar can quickly analyze your solar possibilities using satellite mapping tools. Ultimately we will do a detailed site proposal that will show exactly how much electricity solar can produce at your location. Generally, solar panels produce the most electricity pointing south or west and when they are un-shaded. The panels may be mounted on your home or business roof, providing there is space where they can be ground mounted.

Q: Do I have enough roof area?

A: The amount of roof space needed to roof-mount a solar system is based on the size or generating capacity of the system. Residential systems can vary in size from 50 square feet to 1,000 square feet. A rule of thumb is that a square foot of PV module area produces 10 watts of power in bright sunlight. For example, a 2,000-watt system would require about 200 square feet of roof area.

Q: How much electricity will a PV system produce?

A: American Vision Solar uses excellent weather information that is designed to accurately track sunlight availability in your exact location. Most people are surprised how much electricity can be produced regardless of fog or periodic weather changes. Part of this design process requires an accurate site analysis in order to safely predict the amount of electricity generated and to secure the proper amount of utility rebate.

Q: What is a kW (kilowatt)?

A: A kW is basic unit of measure of real electric power or a rate of doing work. A kW is 1000 watts.

Q: What is a kWh (kilowatt-hour)?

A: A kWh is a basic unit of energy consumption. For example, ten 100W light bulbs burning for one hour will consume 1000Wh of electricity, or 1 kWh.

Q: Is an incentive program available?

A: Yes, incentives are available through the California Solar Initiative, which is authorized by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The program, which initiates on January 1, 2007, has a total budget of $2.165 billion to be distributed over 10 years.

Q: How long does a solar system take to pay for itself?

A: This depends on a number of factors including your current cost of electricity, the rate structure of your electrical service, the incentives available to you, and the cost of money on your investment. When paying cash, a typical residential system may see a simple payback in only 6-8 years. If you are financing the purchase of your solar system, you may see immediate positive cash flow or you may initially see a slight negative impact on monthly cash flow when factoring the cost of the loan against the initial savings. As electrical rates increase, and with your loan payment staying fixed, you will eventually see positive cash flow, a breakeven point, and then a positive rate of return. Financed systems typically either see immediate positive cash flow or will attain positive cash flow within three years or so.

Q: Do the solar modules need to mount on the roof?

A: No. Though the roof is the most common location for mounting solar modules, they can also be mounted on the ground or in other architecturally integrated ways such as on walls or shade structures. Ground mounted systems tend to cost more than roof mounted systems because of the need for trenching, concrete footings and (typically) a steel sub-structure. Ground mounted systems are, however, viable and common.

Q. How long will a Solar System last?

A: The main component of a solar system, the solar modules, is typically warranted for 25 years but have a design life of over 40. There are modules still operating today that were manufactured in the 1970’s. The inverters are typically warranted for 10 years. It is not certain how long they may last beyond their warranty period. A conservative set of assumptions when considering the long term financial performance of your system is to figure the performance at 30 years with the replacement of the inverters at year 15. The inverters may represent roughly 10% of the post rebate cost of the system depending on system size, configuration and system installation cost.

Q: What does a typical solar module warranty cover?

A: Solar Modules are typically warranted to produce up to 80% of their original capacity up to 25 years. Different manufactures warrant the production degradation on different schedules. When comparing solar module warranties, read the warranties to determine which has the better coverage.

Q: What kind of maintenance does a solar system require?

A: Washing the solar array with water a few times a year is a good idea but not strictly critical.  Most good solar designers have factored the effect of seasonal dust on your projected system output over time. Occasional visual inspection of the array is wise in order to identify any serious soiling of the array such as significant bird droppings or other types of opaque soiling. Checking the integrity of mechanical and electrical connections, checking the electrical characteristics of the system and logging data are other good annual maintenance practices.

Q: Will a solar system provide power during an electrical power outage?

A: Most grid tied solar electric systems do not provide electrical power during electrical power outages. As a requirement of a grid tied inverter’s safety listing, it must shut down in the event of grid power loss. Backup power systems can be designed into a grid tied solar system with the addition of a battery bank and a battery-powered inverter. This option adds complexity and expense that should be weighed against the benefit of having backup power.

Glossary

AC power (Alternating Current): AC is the form in which electricity is delivered to businesses and residences. It can be thought of as “standard” electrical power.

Annual Solar Savings: the amount of money cut or in some cases, completely eliminated from electrical utility costs.

DC power (Direct Current): Solar panels capture energy from sunlight in the form of DC. In order to power your home, this current must be converted to AC by an inverter.

Electric Panel: the main point at which electricity is distributed throughout a building. Otherwise known as a breaker box. The circuit breakers can be turned on or off, thus restricting or permitting the flow of electrical current to electrical outlets.

Fossil fuel: fuels that are derived from natural resources, usually in the form of coal, oil, or natural gas. There is a limited supply of these resources, and they are only located in certain parts of the world, causing them to be subject to political and international maneuvering, and making energy prices unstable.

Greenhouse gases: gaseous components in the atmosphere that contribute to a gradual warming of the planet. This slow warming has been termed the “greenhouse effect.” Since solar energy does not have any gaseous by-products, it is considered “clean.”

Grid Connected System: a solar system connected in parallel with the electric utility grid.

Ground Mounted Systems: a solar system that is not attached directly to a home, but is supported by a structure that is built specifically to support solar panels. Ground mounts are ideal for buildings with shady or undersized roofs.

Inverter: a device that converts DC power captured by solar panels into AC power that can be used to power your home. This device is an integral part of a solar system. Large solar systems may have more than one inverter.

kW (kilowatt): a measurement of power based on the Watt. The Watt is the standard unit used to measure power. A kilowatt is one thousand watts. A typical household requires a solar power system that produces between 3-5 kW.

KWh (kilowatt hours): a measurement of energy consumption. One kilowatt hour equals one “unit” of electricity. One kilowatt hour is defined as the amount of energy consumed by a 1000-Watt appliance running continuously for 1 hour. This is the measurement your utility company uses to calculate your electric bill.

Net Metering: an agreement between a solar system owner and the local electric utility that allows the system owner to buy and sell energy in the form of electric credits. When the solar system produces excess energy, it is sold back to the electric utility at peak prices, literally causing the electric meter to spin backwards. When the system is not producing energy, the system owner can use the credits to buy back energy at off-peak prices!

Photovoltaic cells: the small elements of semiconducting material that capture sunlight and convert it into DC power. A group of photovoltaic cells make up a solar panel or a photovoltaic module. Often abbreviated PV module.

Roof Mounted Systems: a solar system in which solar panels are mounted directly on the roof of a building or adjacent structure. The majority of solar systems are mounted on a roof.

Solar Energy: electromagnetic energy transmitted from the sun. In order to power buildings, this energy must be captured and converted to AC electrical power.

Solar Panel: a group of solar cells arranged into a panel that can be installed onto a flat surface. The panel captures sunlight and converts it into DC power.

Solar Monitor: a device that continually tracks the performance of your solar system and reports the data, ensuring that you never have to worry whether your system is performing at peak levels.

Tilt Angle: the angle at which a solar array is tilted towards the sun. Depending on the geographic location of a building, a solar array might be installed flat or tilted.

Utility Grid: the infrastructure that delivers electric power to homes and businesses. The utility grid is owned and managed by electric utility companies.

Utility Meter: the device that measures the flow of electricity between a site that uses electricity and the electric utility company.