Solar Power System

1Solar Panels – Sunlight hitting the solar panels is converted into DC electric power. The glass and aluminum framed solar panels encase strings of silicon cells which are specially prepared to create a current of electricity when hit by photons found in light. The solar panels are mounted on a system of racks to form your solar array.

2Battery (Optional for emergency backup or off-grid systems) – It is a myth that all solar power systems have batteries. In most home or business solar power systems, a system of batteries is not used. If you are looking to have your solar power system provide emergency backup power, or provide power for a location that is not connected to the grid, a battery storage system is an optional feature that can be provided.

3Inverter - This device converts the DC power coming from the solar panels into the AC power that our homes and businesses use.

4Monitor - You can check the performance of your solar power system online and on your hand-held device. It also helps us check that your system is operating as planned.

5Electrical Panel - This is the panel that currently supplies power to your home or business from the grid. Your new solar power system connects to an open circuit and replaces grid power with clean renewable power.

6Net Meter – This meter spins forwards when you use electricity from the grid and spins backwards when you produce more electricity than you are using. The grid therefore acts as your battery - absorbing excess electricity you produce, and providing electricity when you need more. Usually, it makes sense to produce most of your solar power in the summer and use any excess to offset any power the grid is supplementing your solar power system in the winter.

7Power Grid – You stay connected to the power grid to act as your battery - absorbing excess electricity you produce, and providing you electricity when you need more. Sometimes your solar system will produce excess power that you “sell” back to the power company. Sometimes you will need to buy grid power when your solar system cannot meet your total electric needs (at night, in winter).

8Isolation Switch (not shown) – If you are tied to the grid, your solar power system has to shut down when the public power grid goes out. This is to prevent your solar power system from backfeeding the grid and creating a dangerous condition for the workers restoring the grid. So even if sun is hitting your solar array, your solar power system is shut down when the grid goes out unless you have an optional battery system specifically designed to protect the grid.

9Panel Optimizers (at each panel) – Sunzera uses panel optimizers to increase the energy output of each panel. Without panel optimizers, a single panel can drag down the performance of other panels. Attached to each solar panel, panel optimizers increased energy output by tracking each panel. These also provide individual panel data that allows your monitoring system to include performance of each panel, and allow for adjustments if needed.