As decade-long global leaders in solar monitoring, we understand the importance of being ahead of the curve with technology and how easy it can be to underutilize specialized features on your solar monitoring device. This is why we've put together this comprehensive list of the 5 most common solar … [Read more...]
20 Common Mistakes Installing PV Systems
Even the most experienced professionals make mistakes, and PV systems present many opportunities for errors. In this paper we list some of the more common issues we've seen or heard about often enough to be worth mentioning. … [Read more...]
Simplified Solar-Plus-Storage with the Pika Energy Island
There's no debating the values battery storage adds to a solar PV system, but conventional approaches to solar-plus-storage have been far too complex and costly. With new, increased demand for smart battery technology, installers need an easier option to offer customers who want batteries with their … [Read more...]
The hows and whys of higher voltages in solar
Why did the industry move from 600-V to 1000-V solar arrays? The answer is simple: to reduce system costs. The value of increased system voltages is realized in infrastructure savings, reduced installation costs and end-to-end efficiency improvements. That is the same reason the industry is now … [Read more...]
How much granularity is enough?
In the age of data, solar contractors, maintenance crews and system owners can see more system performance details than ever. But collecting and analyzing too much data can be a waste of resources. So what is the ideal granularity for a PV installation? In this whitepaper, HiQ Solar examines a … [Read more...]
How to save up to 7 cents/Watt in your next commercial solar project
Explore three case studies which compare costs between inverters in commercial rooftop systems of varying sizes and three-phase voltages. Learn how the installer saved with HIQ inverters based on real bids that were submitted last year in California. … [Read more...]
Saving Install Cost by Using Connectors as Means of Disconnect
Additional AC and DC disconnects add cost and complexity to PV systems and introduce several points of potential failure, thus reducing reliability. In the US disconnecting means are mandated by the governing electrical code. Several cents/Watt can often be saved in installation cost if separate … [Read more...]
Taking the Nuisance Tripping out of AFCI – Useful Changes to Testing of PV Inverters
The ability of a PV inverter to detect and interrupt series arcs is a useful safety feature. In the US the National Electrical Code requires PV systems to be capable of detecting high voltage DC arcs. However, this has been a controversial topic. We'll take a brief look at the issues with arc … [Read more...]
The Evolution of Solar Sales
Explosive growth in developing markets too often lead into growing pains and other unintended consequences. To find out how solar companies are handling the sales opportunity and intensified competition, Velocify conducted a lead response study of residential solar installers' sales tactics. Click … [Read more...]
The Future is Now
The grid-tie Solar energy is a clean source of independence and decentralized power for everyone. Every person can be a part of the energy future, powered by solar technology. The sun is sending enough energy per year to power the world’s energy demand 10,000 times Millions of solar arrays are … [Read more...]