Dave Llorens in San Francisco

The only concern I have is I have heard that panels connected to reverse metering have to be shut off during power outages to protect workers repairing the grid. I feel battery back-up should be used for complete system integrity.

Let me now if you’re ever hiring.

I’m a student doing a research project on solar energy and I’d like to use some of this sites information in my writings. I’m wondering if you could help me out and let me know who wrote the tax incentives in Florida article and if they kept a list of their sources. Any information you could give me would be greatly appreciated. you can reach me at emilygorman@rocketmail.com

I feel that some of the advantages of micro-inverters are presently overstated. For instance, consider 10 series connected panels. All but one are at max output, the other is dead. Because each panel has bypass diodes and neglecting forward diode losses the power will be 90% of max. On the other hand, the microinverters will also produce 90% of max power. The dead panel cannot produce any power. Also, because dP/dV is zero at the maximum power point, small variations in panel outputs will have reasonably small effects on total power.

Hi Hubert,

Yes, in simple string configurations conventional inverters can be perform just as micro inverters, with minor nuances in output/cost.

In certain home situations, I feel the benefits of microinverters can be overwhelming.

Hey Dave,

Is that a Sunpower 225-BLK you’re leaning on, by chance? (lol). I jsut finished installing 30 of them on my home!!

I’ve documented the install on my site at http://www.jjhamilton.com/solar if anyone wants to see what a home install consists of.

Rock on!

JimmyD

Dear Solar Power Rocks:

My name is Tim Nagae. I am a producer at Community Television Network, the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan’s cable TV station. We have been producing a TV program called, “Eco Sense,” a series of 30-minute talk/news programs about energy and environment. We have been posting video clips of the excerpts of the Eco Sense shows about energy issues in the Ann Arbor Energy Office’s You Tube site. I thought you may be interested in viewing these videos, so I am sending you the link to the site. http://www.youtube.com/AnnArborEnergyOffice

Also, if you are interested in viewing the entire shows, I would like to send you DVD copies with no charge. So please let me know. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Tim Nagae
Producer of “Eco Sense”
Community Television Network (City of Ann Arbor)
2805 S. Industrial Ste 200
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
(734) 794-6150 ex. 41514
(734) 649-3351 (cel)

My 4th/5th grade class at Glen Park elementary class recently measured our school roof’s solar potential. We then sent letters to our new president and mayor, urging them to invest in solar power for our school and schools around the country. We’ve also sent letters to local schools to start a chain letter urging our president to invest in “Solar for Schools”.
My Solar Potential 151 Lippard Avenue Glen Park School
________________________________________
Roof Size: 19,783
Estimated solar PV potential: 70-90 KWh/yr
Estimated electricity produced: 135,000-155,000 KWh/yr
Estimated electricity savings: $15,000-$35,000 per year
Estimated carbon savings: 100,000-120,000 lbs per year
The only information we don’t have is the cost and viability of putting solar panels on our school’s roof. If you could get us that information we would greatly appreciate it.

That’s great Jeff! Thanks so much for sharing your class project with us.

Please keep us updated on your progress getting government involved. If you send us your letter, we’ll post it for you.

Nice work!

- Dan

hey jeff,

What an awesome idea to get the students involved in this project. I live here in SF and curretly work as a lead commercial installer/electrician. Over last summer we completed an amazing project for the Pleasanton School District, totalling almost one megawatt of power production over 5 school rooftops. Over the course of the installation I had the chance to speak with classes about the installation, cleantech industry in general and current political events. It was a great experience, there was so much positive feedback from the kids as well as the teachers and staff. Schools really are excellent place for solar installations especially to serve as inspiration to future generations. Our entire project was funded as a PPA by Honeywell, so the upfront costs to the school were negligible. Now the school pays a locked rate for its power consumption for the next 25 years and can power all of its ‘educational engines’ from the sun. Please e-mail me for further info about your project, would be glad to be of assistance in helping your school.

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Hi David, I wanted to find out where I can reach you in person and set up a meeting so I can pick your brain regarding Solar Technology. I can be reached at LMC1036@yahoo.com….I appreciate your time….Lira

Hey Dave, I am a general contractor here in the bay area, San Jose ca. to be exact. I just went through a course to get an entry level certificate from NABCEP and realy did not get as much out of the class as expected. I was woundering if you could recomnend a training institution to take me up on a roof and install a PV system from start to finish. I do have more knoledge than before take the previous class but it was just class room and not enough hands on. I realy would like to turn my construction company primarily into a solar installation company. Please help!!!

Hi Dave,
I’m a renter in San Francisco and just built my own DIY 70 Watt solar panel. I’m using it to charge a 12V battery and running my DSL modem, Wireless router and 20″ LCD tv directly off the battery as it turns out all these devices actually run off 12V. I want to expand my system but batteries are quite expensive so I’ve been looking at possibility of a grid tie inverter. do you know what options are available for SF renters that are relatively easy to install, and the legalities of doing this as a renter? Thanks.

Hey, Dave. Great site. Just wanted to let you two know that I did a post about you guys and another one about 1BOG.org at my own blog, http://www.solarfred.com. Keep up the great work!

Best,
Tor

Hi,
I am interning for a solar company in New York and I’m researching landlord to tenant tax implications. The article from Robert Brownstein, CPA, in June 2008 was very helpful, and I was wondering if he sent you a more recent version, with the information he said he would look into. Some more recent info would be really useful.
Thanks!

Hello Dave, long time since I was on here. I have been on a fiber optic commo contract for the last year but before that I was getting SolarGy Services up and running. Well that contract is over and I am now ready to finish what I started last year. I need to talk with you directly about a few things when you have time so please keep in touch GO CUBS! ( I grew up in Peoria Il) PS I need some of the latest info on getting money to get started.

I do not have solar for my home yet,I live in oklahoma,(you know the state where the polititions are in the pockets of our gas and electric company)I want solar for the sole purpose is to have power,not to save money.our power shuts off way more than I like.
my e-mail is saggerr@sbcglobal.net if someone can lead me to selling some of my solar power to the electric co.

omg Dave – YOU ROCK
this site Rocks
I can’t believe I haven’t found it until now. We should get beer. My pool is green because I just moved into an old house, but you are invited as soon as it’s nice. Dan is invited too but I’m guessing he’s in Portland.

David:

Great site; I learned a lot about solar from reading your articles. I also located a solar installer via your site; I just signed a contract to add solar to my house this Monday, July 13. I am also an electrical engineer, but I design RF systems rather than power. I am about 50 miles north of you, in Sonoma.

That’s awesome, we’re glad we were able to hook you up!

Dave: This is a follow-up to my July 15 post. My 3 kW solar voltaic system went on-line on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. It’s fun to watch my electric meter spin backwards.

Dave:

I see that you were quoted several times in today’s Wall Street Journal article on solar panels, “Let the Sun Shine.” I’m impressed.

I have updated my Webshots album showing my experience with having a solar voltaic system installed; see http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/574145833JmKUTM?vhost=home-and-garden. The articles on your web site were invaluable in selecting a solar contractor, and deciding on which inverter and solar panels I wanted installed. Thanks.

Dave or Dan,
We’re an installer in Georgia and would like to be listed as a solar professional with you. Don’t see an option to do that, what am I missing?

Thanks and keep fighting the good fight.

Hey, Steve,

At this point, we’re all set with our intaller base right now, but if that changes, we’ve got your contact info and will let you know.

Thanks for thinking of us, and we wish you great solar success!

Dave:

Do you have any opinion on whether the SMA Sunny Beam remote bluetooth monitor is ever going to be available? I have a Sunny Boy inverter that I would love to be able to monitor by remote control, without having to install the SMA web box, which then requires a computer with Internet access to monitor your system. Whereas the Sunny Beam monitor, if it ever becomes available, is a portable, wireless device that should work anywhere in your house.

Well, I finally got my Sunny Beam bluetooth monitor on November 27, 2009, a little over three months after my system went online. The big disappointment was the limited communications range. But, it’s a pretty cool monitor, and was worth waiting for.

[...] and stuffYour Solar Bill of RightsContact usAbout Us:Our MissionTor a.k.a. "Solar Fred"Dan Hahn Dave Llorens State Solar Power Rebates, Incentives, and Tax [...]

[...] and stuffYour Solar Bill of RightsContact usAbout Us:Our MissionTor a.k.a. "Solar Fred"Dan Hahn Dave Llorens State Solar Power Rebates, Incentives, and Tax [...]

[...] and stuffYour Solar Bill of RightsContact usAbout Us:Our MissionTor a.k.a. "Solar Fred"Dan Hahn Dave Llorens State Solar Power Rebates, Incentives, and Tax [...]

I have been a contractor on the north shore of long island for 20 yrs and just read an article regarding 1bog and the possibility of them installing solar panels in this area. I am interested in employment opportunities available in this area. please advise

My solar panels are a year old and need cleaning. Will simple dishwashing soap and water do the trick? What about adding a bit of vinegar to the soapy water?

Last November I was thrilled to read about the passage of AB920 on 11-18-2009, which required PG&E to not zero-out any net solar generation credit during the net metering annual true-up. Although I had sized my solar generation system at 90% of my historic annual electricity consumption, because it had been such a cool Summer in 2010 I had not been running my central air conditioning much, and had thus built up about a $90 generation credit for my true-up, which had an October 2010 anniversary date.

So imagine my surprise and disappointment upon receiving my true-up statement from PG&E (my first). It stated that that any solar generation excess credit would NOT be carried forward. I called the PG&E Solar Customer Service Center at 877/743-4112 and was advised that the effective date of the carry-forward true-up was 1-01-2011, not 1-01-2010.

Further research revealed that AB920 had been modified by AB510, which was signed by Governor Schwartzenegger on 2-26-2010, and did indeed delay the effective date until 1-01-2011.

A call back to the PG&E Solar Customer Service Center revealed, though, that any solar power net generation for my 2011 true-up, which will include November and December 2010, will be eligible for carry-forward credits. Of course, if it’s a normal hot Summer in Sonoma next year, I won’t have any excess generation. So Pacific Greedy & Electric gets one last pound of flesh.

My company produces 100% solar or wind powered passenger information systems for bus stops (real time arrival digital signs, interactive touch screens, wifi, ADA compliant interactive audio, etc.) We are considering proposing our system to the city of San Francisco but would need some help to consider feasibility. Currently, the city is trying to use older technology to install solar supplemented bus stops. They have told us full solar is not possible because of shadows from buildings and limited direct sunlight at many stops. The power requirements for our systems are: 14.4 watt hours per day and 5.256 kWhrs per year. Would anyone be interested in helping us out?

Do you know anything about the “Canadian Solar” brand of panels?

i am also from shreveport, La. and would like to visit with you. I work for a reputable company and would talk to you please send me your email address