SolarStar®
FAQs
SolarStar®
Electrical Energy System
How Solar Energy Operates
A
photovoltaic (solar electric) system literally means photo, (produced by
light) and voltaic, (electricity produced by a chemical reaction).
With
a solar electric system you get 100% clean electricity from the sun and in
essence become your own power company.
The Sun as a Electricity
Source
Light
rays from the sun produce electricity in the panels.
The
sunlight's interaction with certain materials in the PV module form direct
current (DC) electricity. DC electricity is then converted by an inverter to
AC power for your use.
PV
systems produce power intermittently because they work only when the sun is
shining.
More
electricity is produced on a clear, sunny day. Cloudy days will reduce
output, and no power is produced at night.
PV
systems work best during summer months when the sun is higher in the sky and
the days are longer.
The
Mechanism and Mounting Structure 
The
SolarStar® modules are the power producing mechanism
assembled from solar cells. Each cell produces electric power when exposed
to sunlight.
The
panels we use are the most energy efficient panels on the market.
Other
manufacturers may produce panels that are cheaper, but their panels are
larger, and are actually less energy efficient per square inch.
Our
panels can be mounted on the ground, or on a rooftop using aluminum and Our
panels can be mounted on the ground, or on a rooftop using aluminum and
stainless steel support racks.
The Inverter
The
inverter converts DC (direct current) power to AC (alternating current) to
the standards of your local power company used to run your home appliances
and lighting fixtures.
The
inverter is enclosed in an attractive cabinet that can be mounted inside the
home, garage, or on an outside wall.
Wiring
- The Electrical Panel and Circuit Breaker
Part
of your SolarStar® system is the wiring to your home or office's
power system and will be connected to
the load center (circuit breaker box
or electrical panel) of your home or office.
If
you choose the battery backup option that will give you power during an
outage, a new electrical panel will be installed that holds essential
circuits. The existing electrical panel retains non-essential household
circuits that do not require power during an outage.
The
Batteries (Optional Feature)
Batteries
can be included in the system to provide backup power in case of utility
power outages. The solar panels recharge the batteries during the day.
System
Location and Size
The
best orientation for a SolarStar® system is on a south-facing
roof; however, roofs that face east or west may also be acceptable.
Flat
roofs also work well for the SolarStar® array .
Your
PV array can also be placed on the ground in a fixed ground mounted grid
system.
Most
residential and small offices use a 5 kW to 10 kW SolarStar®
system. Several factors will influence the size of the SolarStar®
system you select. As a starting point, consider how much of your present
electricity needs your SolarStar® system should supply: part of
the current usage, all of the current usage, or all of the current usage
plus potential growth.
Net
Metering
Net
metering allows utility customers to be credited for all the electricity
their SolarStar® system sends back to the utility grid.
This
means that you get to use the excess electricity you’ve produced when you
need it, at no charge to you.
Currently,
there is no provision to compensate the customer if their system produces
more electricity than they use.
When
the system produces more power than is being used at the premises, the meter
will spin backwards!
At
the end of your annual billing cycle your utility company will send you a
“True-up Statement” showing the history of charges and credits over the
last 12 months.
For more information or a
FREE site survey,
please call 209-267-5225, or
email us at sales@renewable.com.
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