FAQ

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Grape Solar Grid-tied system FAQ

· How many solar panels should a home have?

This depends on the home's energy consumption, the owner's budget, and any space constraints

the owner may have, especially roof square footage. In the U.S., optimal systems for most homes

contain 20-30 panels which are about 5 1/2' x 3 1/2' each.

· What is the energy cost offset per solar panel?

Our panels are available in sizes ranging from 50 to 300 watts, but a 300watt panel can be

expected to produce around 0.9 kWh per day in most U.S. locations.

· How are they installed and what do you wire them to in order to store and use the

energy?

Solar panels can be installed on the roof, on poles, or ground-based racking systems of

virtually any size. Systems fall into 2 categories - grid-tied and off-grid. Grid-tied systems are

wired to your local electrical utility, so you don’t have to worry about storage. They are designed

so that power produced by your array is fed out through your meter to the utility, offsetting your

usage. Grid-Tied systems do not directly power anything in your house.

Off-grid systems directly power the items to which you wish to supply electricity. Rather

than connecting to your utility grid, these systems rely on batteries for storage. Off-Grid systems

offer mobility, and can supply you with power in places where electrical utilities can’t. They are

more expensive than Grid-Tied setups because of the added cost of batteries, charge controller,

and specialized inverters.

· How expensive is a typical setup?

There is no "typical setup". Each system is tailor-made for the customer based on their

consumption, location, and whether they have a grid for storage. Get in touch so we can design

and quote one for you! You can expect to pay around $3.50-$4 per watt for grid-tied systems,

and this includes the separate installation cost payable directly to your installer. For a standard 5

KW grid-tied system, this is typically around $20,000 total upfront cost before any tax credits,

rebates, or incentives are applied. Off-grid options for residences with power ratings comparable

to grid-tied systems are generally at least double the cost of a grid-tied (see above). Grid-tied

systems are a much more cost-effective option for these reasons.

· Do I need a professional to install them? Do we offer recommendations?

We work with and maintain a nationwide network of professional installers, many of which are

licensed electricians and contractors. These guys really know the ins and outs of your local

power companies and regulations imposed by city and state governments. They are a great

Summary of content (4 pages)

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Grape Solar Grid-tied system FAQ · How many solar panels should a home have? This depends on the home's energy consumption, the owner's budget, and any space constraints the owner may have, especially roof square footage. In the U.S., optimal systems for most homes contain 20-30 panels which are about 5 1/2' x 3 1/2' each. · What is the energy cost offset per solar panel? Our panels are available in sizes ranging from 50 to 300 watts, but a 300watt panel can be expected to produce around 0.
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resource for the homeowner, and can do a lot of other things to your house which may be prerequisite to solar installation. Of course we provide recommendations and introductions. · What can solar energy power? o Entire house? o Low voltage landscape lighting? o Electric car? o Battery charger? The only limitations of what solar energy can power are imposed by your method of storage.
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have all of your components in stock, but this can be up to 14 days if there are special-order components required. Installation times vary according to installer schedules and complexity of your job. Although the physical installation only takes a few days, the permitting and utility interconnect process can take up to 120 days.
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· Are they ugly or can they be concealed or made to look nice? We can only speak for ourselves, but we think they are gorgeous, and our customers are generally happy with them as well. However, some customers prefer to install them on the “back side” of the house. · Can I use them with the Tesla Powerwall Battery? What other brands? Absolutely, and most other batteries too, though results may vary – this depends more on the inverter than the panels themselves.