Often the question is asked “Why would I choose Freedom Power over brand X ?” In our opinion there are several things that should be considered when choosing a reputable solar installer, and in the end the choice is quite clear.
First, licensing. Freedom Power was the first Louisiana state licensed solar contractor and has a state issued commercial electrical contractor’s license #52863. Beware of companies that do not have an electrical contractor’s license nor a solar contractor’s license. Why does it matter if the company you choose carries the proper licensing? Two reasons.
Licensing is based on one person in the company being able to pass an exam that ensures they are competent in the NEC code. If a company does not have an electrical license, it means there is no one in the company competent in the NEC code. The National Electrical Code is intended to ensure all electrical work is preformed to a standard that protects lives. If there is no one in the company you hire to install your solar energy system who is a licensed electrical contractor with a specialty in solar energy systems, how are you to know if they can safely install your solar energy system?
Rebates. If you hire a contractor who is not properly licensed, your installation will not legally qualify for the 50% state rebate. The Louisiana state rebate bill clearly states that for the customer to be able to receive the 50% rebate on the full cost of installation, a Louisiana state solar contractor must carry out the work. You can read the bill here.
The second thing to look at is insurance. To be totally confident in a contractor’s credentials when it comes to insurance, you should ask that a certificate of insurance be faxed directly from the insurance company of the contractor. The contractor should have no problem providing this information. Freedom Power is fully insured with workman’s comp and general liability insurance and will happily provide a certificate upon request.
Third, experience. Some companies like to talk about numbers. Despite how substantial some claims are as to how many installation one company might have done, numbers are not a direct indication of how well of a job they may do on your installation. Doing something wrong 350 times does not make it right. Freedom Power has installed a substantial number of solar energy systems and the most important thing is that our installations are done right by competent installers. Every Freedom Power installation is overseen by a person who has proven his or her qualifications as a competent solar installer by becoming a National Association of Board Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certified installer. This ensures that every part of your solar energy system installation is carried out to the highest standards.
When we quote a system it is turn key. You should never have to pay taxes on top of a turn key price. We believe you should have a choice of the size of the system, not just a certain number of panels. And the company selling you the system should be happy to disclose all details concerning the system you are purchasing, including the modules brand and sizes they are installing. Every part of the installation should be listed by purpose, including the racking. The overall size of the system should equal the number of module multiplied by the size of the module. If these do not add up, something is wrong.
Big Name Solar
Freedom Power has been called upon to inspect and repair installations done by Big Name solar installers. Big Name solar are companies who like to stand on a long reputation and large numbers of installs. We have found that Big Name solar often does not have the same level of quality as our installations. Here are some examples of Big Name solar installs and deficiencies found. Keep in mind that these Big Name companies with their cookie cutter systems all claim to be able to service you better and that they are more qualified simply because they have done more work than other companies. Hopefully they will be able to service you better because from the looks of it you will need a lot of service. Then again we were called out despite the claims.
This is a single phase, 240 VAC system where the neutral is broken by the A/C disconnect.
NEC code 690.13 states: A switch, circuit breaker, or other device, either ac or dc, shall not be installed in a grounded conductor if operation of that switch, circuit breaker, or other device leaves the marked, grounded conductor in an ungrounded and energized state.
This is a typical example of Big Name solar attempting to cut costs, but ending up wasting time and still violating code. Here they have taken an off-the-shelf plastic junction box and screwed a fuse holder to the box cover. There is up to 600 VDC on the exposed metal terminals of the fuse holders. Guess at least they have protection for the solar panels on the roof before dropping the power through the roof in PVC? Oh yeah, that is still not legal either.
NEC says: 690.17 Switch or Circuit Breaker. The disconnecting means for ungrounded conductors shall consist of a manually operatable switch(es) or circuit breaker(s) complying with all of the following requirements: (1) Located where readily accessible, (2) Externally operatable without exposing the operator to contact with live parts, (3) Plainly indicating whether in the open or closed position (4) having an interruptible rating sufficient for the nominal circuit voltage and the current that is available at the line terminals of the equipment. Where all terminals of the disconnecting means may be energized in the open position, a warning sign shall be mounted on or adjacent to the disconnecting means. The sign shall be clearly legible and have the following words or equivalent: Warning! Electrical Shock Hazard. Do not touch terminals. Terminals on both the line and load side may be energized in the open position.
690.31 (E) Direct-Current Photovoltaic source and Output Circuits Inside a Building. Where direct-current photovoltaic source or output circuits of a utility-interactive inverter from a building-integrated or other photovoltaic system are run inside a building or structure, they shall be in metal raceways, or metal enclosures, from the point of penetration of the surface of the building or structure to the first readily accessible disconnecting means. The disconnecting means shall comply with 690.14 (A) through (D). (A) Disconnecting Means. The Disconnecting means shall not be required to be suitable as service equipment and shall comply with 690.17.
In addition you can see the make shift solar racking used. In the installation the Big Name solar company in question has also used aluminum Uni-Strut for mounting their panels to. There is no NEC requirement for panel mounting; however, national building code requires all equipment be built for purpose. We at Freedom Power feel that aluminum Uni-Strut is sub standard. Like all other products we install, we use only engineered and built for purpose solar mounting systems such as products made by companies like Uni Rac, DP&W and the SRS racking systems made by Sharp.
Freedom Power was called to look at this Big Name solar installed system because the customer was not getting as much energy as they felt they should be receiving from their system. Big Name solar told them that the system was working properly. We found a screw on one of the four breakers that feed the system completely backed off like it had never been made up, reducing the output of the system by 25%. The documents supplied to the customer by the salesman of the company stated that the system size was different from what was actually installed and the customer was told by the same company that they did not have anyone who was capable of reprogramming the system.
In addition, once again here is an example where the company in question did not feel the need to protect the circuits coming from the roof before going through the roof even though they used PVC conduit.
NEC states: 690.31 (E) Direct-Current Photovoltaic source and Output Circuits Inside a Building. Where direct-current photovoltaic source or output circuits of a utility-interactive inverter from a building-integrated or other photovoltaic system are run inside a building or structure, they shall be in metal raceways, or metal enclosures, from the point of penetration of the surface of the building or structure to the first readily accessible disconnecting means. The disconnecting means shall comply with 690.14 (A) through (D)
This takes the cake. Here the company in question has taken aluminum Uni Strut avd plywood and devised their own makeshift battery box. These flooded batteries were in a closet with two gas water heaters and no ventilation. The back of the plywood cover is partly supported by a 1/2" copper water line. The "battery box" has no door or lock much less a warning sign . Big Name considers this a battery box; we consider it a bomb waiting to explode.
Let see what the NEC says. 480.9 (A) Ventilation. Provisions shall be made for sufficient diffusion and ventilation of the gasses from the battery to prevent the accumulation of an explosive mixture.
110.20 and 110.21 - Enclosures shall be marked for purpose. The built for purpose box for this application also requires a door with a lock
110.23 (F) 1 (a) Dedicated Electrical Space - No piping, ducts, leak protection apparatus or other equipment foreign to the electrical installation shall be located in this zone.
690.34 (F) The photovoltaic power source shall be labeled with the following warning at each junction box, combiner box, disconnect, and device where energized, ungrounded circuits may be exposed during service: Warning electrical shock hazard. The DC conductors of this photovoltaic system are ungrounded and may be energized.
Another disconnect, more problems. Here a fused bladed disconnect is used when a non fused bladed disconnect is required. The non fused disconnect is required by all utility companies. But more importantly than what was installed is what is missing. The metal box is not bonded meaning that if this box was to become energized, it could electrocute someone before a breaker would trip.
NEC: 250.110 Equipment Fastened in Place or Connected by Permanent Wiring Methods (Fixed). Exposed non-current carrying metal parts of fixed equipment likely to become energized shall be connected to the equipment grounding conductor under any of the following conditions: (1) Where within 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically or 1.5m (5 ft) horizontally of ground or grounded metal objects and subject to contact by persons (2) Where located in a wet or damp location and not isolated
We fixed these deficiencies also.
Once again, what is missing is just as important as what is in place. This wire has no protection from being cut from the sharp metal on the box.
NEC: 300.4 Protection Against Physical Damage (B) (1) Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable. In both exposed and concealed locations where nonmetallic-sheathed cables pass through either factory- or field-punched, cut, or drilled slots or holes in metal members, the cable shall be protected by listed bushings or listed grommets covering all metal edges that are securely fastened in the opening prior to installation of the cable.
Finally there is just poor design on the part of Big name solar. We were asked to compare a pole mount system installed by another company to what we were quoting. We found that the inverter selected was operating close to its minimum DC input voltage. What this means is that the system will work for several years; however, with time, panel degradation, soiling, and heat, there is a good chance that the array at times will drop below the inverter's minimum input voltage and stop functioning for much of the summer. The company used 10 AWG wire that meets NEC but, but has a 2.5% voltage loss. We recommend a 1% to 1.5% voltage loss for proper operation of the inverter. In addition, we could not find any documentation of where the Top of Pole mount system was sourced from, or engineering documentation to determine if the mounting structure had been installed correctly.
If you ask us, these are just a few examples of how Big Name solar lacks the oversight by knowledgeable installers to safely install solar energy systems.
How Solar Works
Photovoltaic energy systems
Photovoltaic energy systems are what most people think about when they hear the word solar energy system. Solar electric systems convert the energy embodied in sunlight into electricity. Solar electric systems include solar modules (solar panels) that convert the energy in sunlight to direct current (DC) electricity, power conversion equipment called inverters that invert DC electricity to alternating current (AC) electricity, as well as safety disconnects and various metering equipment. Some solar electric systems include batteries to provide power to household appliances during power outages or to power off-grid homes. Some systems include backup generators to supplement solar generation to keep the batteries up. There are three main classifications of solar electric systems that can be installed in your home or business: direct grid-tie, grid-tie with battery backup (hybrid), and off-grid.
Solar domestic water heater systems
Solar domestic water heater (SDWH) systems heat the water in your home's water heater using heat energy gathered by solar collectors. Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls; and passive, which don't. In most cases we recommend active systems due to their efficiency.
There are two types of active circulation systems: direct and indirect. In our climate where freezing is possible we prefer indirect circulation type systems. Indirect circulation systems circulate a non-freezing, heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger. This heats the water that then flows into the home.
Solar Pool Heater Systems
You can significantly reduce swimming pool heating costs by installing a solar pool heater. They're cost competitive with both gas and heat pump pool heaters, and they have very low annual operating costs. In fact, solar pool heating is the most cost-effective use of solar energy in our climate. Extend your swimming season using only energy from the sun.
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