Solar Southwest Florida

I just had to share this photo of a small system we just installed. Fafco Solar is now offering starter photovoltaic systems with 8 panels (this one is 10). What has made  this feasible is the flexible and modular nature of the Enphase microinverter. In the past, the fixed costs and semi-fixed costs have been prohibitive when considering what I consider a “Starter PV System.” We have figured out how to do these solar electric systems cost effectively, helping more people go solar with more modest budgets. The best part – future expansion is easy!

Small “Starter PV” System

With so many people in Southwest Florida preparing to head north for the summer, Fafco Solar is getting lots of calls from people with solar panels. How do you get your solar pool heater ready for summer?

If you are not planning to use your solar pool heater in the summer, the most important thing you can do to protect your system is to drain and isolate it completely. Most of the systems Fafco Solar has installed, and all of the systems we have installed in recent years, have isolation valves that allow you to stop the flow of water into and out of the solar panels and roof plumbing. Just closing the 3-way solar bypass valve is not enough. There are two ways that water can continue to rise to the roof when the bypass valve is closed (through the return line if there is no check valve present and through a small hole in the 3-way valve that is present for daily draining purposes).

Solar Pool Heat Valves Closed (Isolated)

If you do not drain your system completely, water can stagnate in the panels and plumbing causing excessive temperatures. While usually not a problem, occasionally this leads to severely warped or swollen PVC pipe on the roof. Black pipe exhibits this problem more than white pipe, but extreme temperatures can also cause white pipe to discolor and warp. This phenomenon may be more pronounced in Southwest Florida due to our long, hot summer and numerous part-time residents. Roof plumbing issues due to improper operation of your system is not covered under warranty.

Your system is likely plumbed to drain automatically when the pool pump is turned off, or a manual drain may be installed. To isolate your system, first turn your pump off, let the system drain completely for a couple of hours (or drain panels manually if necessary). If you are able, opening the lower header end cap on the roof is a fail-safe way to make sure your panels are completely empty. Once the system is completely drained, close your isolation valves. Please keep reading, especially if you have automated valves!

It is critical that the 3-way solar bypass valve remains in the solar-off (bypass) position. If the 3-way valve is turned to the solar-on position and the isolation valves are closed, your pump will “dead head,” possibly causing catastrophic failure of your plumbing or pump.

Click here for additional information about how to identify open and closed valves.

If you have an automated controller, there are multiple ways to turn your solar pool heater off, but generally speaking you can turn the desired temperature down as far as it can go. Some controllers have manual off switches. The motorized actuator on the 3-way solar bypass valve has a switch that can be used to stop the valve from turning. Unless you are very comfortable with your automation system and/or pool valves, it is not recommended that you attempt to isolate your solar pool heater for the summer without professional assistance. For a nominal charge, Fafco Solar can come out to fully drain and isolate your system and return after summer to start, test, and optimize your system.

Enphase, leading manufacturer of microinverters for solar energy systems, recently changed their website to a fresh new look. Since the beginning of the microinverter revolution, Enphase has maintained a list of “Reference Systems” that show system monitoring for system owners who have allowed public access. The Reference System page has a cool zoom-enabled mapping feature that shows system throughout the world.

Enphase Solar Energy Systems in Florida

Southwest Florida has many Enphase systems installed. We have installed systems in Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Sanibel, Rotonda, Bonita Springs, Estero, Alva, Lehigh Acres, Pine Island, and beyond! Sarasota and Tampa are also hotbeds of Enphase based solar electric systems according to the map.

There are hundreds of systems in the sunny places like the Virgin Islands and Hawaii with over 20,000 Enphase systems, but solar energy systems are not limited to the sunniest places on earth. There is a system as far north as Inuvik in Canada’s Northwest Territories at the Western Arctic Research Center (ARI), and even a few systems in my gloomy-weathered hometown of Winnipeg.

Enphase has made big waves in Hawaii and the rest of the the United States, and we are proud to be an experienced installer of microinverter systems. The monitoring system is one of the key features of a microinverter system. Being able to see real time, historical, and time-lapse energy production data and troubleshooting issues remotely makes these systems stand out in the solar energy world.

Here is a direct link to one of Fafco Solar’s customers’ Reference System in Cape Coral, FL. https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public/systems/NNQk126038.

Rating :	5
Brand Name :	Enphase Energy
Product Name :	Enphase M215 Microinverter
Category :	Solar Energy
Price :	Priced as System
Availability :	Available in Stock

You may have seen the guy standing with a sign under the Veteran’s Parkway overpass or the truck driving up and down Del Prado Boulevard protesting Cape Coral’s proposed Public Service Tax that will “increase your electric bill by 10%.” Just like other utility electric taxes, you can beat the tax with simple conservation efforts, but also with solar electricity!

First to clarify, the tax would not actually raise any bill by 10%. The currently proposed 10% tax would be assessed on the customer charge and base utility rate only, excluding the power cost adjustment and all other taxes and fees. The real impact would be closer to 7% of the total bill. One of the major complaints is that it doesn’t tax unimproved property owners and many landlords whose tenants foot the bill. The tax is seen as unfair by many as a result. It also penalizes heavy energy users, even if their physical footprint or assessed property value is very low. It doesn’t take into consideration the impact of the taxpayer on public services, either. There is a Q&A on the subject from the City Manager dated 4/22/13 that you can download here.

Now that that’s out of the way, how can you reduce the impact of the proposed tax with solar electricity? Fortunately, LCEC has a netmetering program that allows you to offset your electrical usage with energy produced with solar panels. A grid-interactive photovoltaic (solar electric) system produces energy for your home that reduces your dependence on energy delivered by LCEC, and even sends excess energy back to the utility grid, further reducing your “net metered” electricity consumption. That means you have a lower billed energy use, and thus a lower tax!

Since other taxes on your bill are computed based on the net amount of energy consumed each month, those taxes are also reduced proportionately. If you completely offset your electrical consumption with solar electricity, your taxes will be reduced to almost zero – only small fixed taxes and tax on the base customer charge would be applicable.

Whether you’re ready to take the plunge and reduce your net energy consumption to zero, or you want to get started in solar energy with a small solar electric system or other solar product, Fafco Solar is ready to help its neighbors with the threat of increased electricity prices and taxes. Call today: (239) 574-1500.

Fafco Solar, 901 SE 13th Pl, Cape Coral, FL 33990, Florida State Solar Contractor License CVC56701

For the fourth year in a row, Fafco Solar will provide free solar energy to power the stage at the Earth Day event at Koreshan State Park in Estero Florida. Using its mobile solar generator, Fafco Solar will demonstrate the power of the sun and provide solar electricity for musicians and the PA system.

Join Fafco Solar and all of the supporters of Earth Day this Saturday, April 20, 2013.

Estero, FL – Fafco Solar Powers the Earth Day Stage

Event :	Earth Day Festival at Koreshan State Park, Estero, FL - Featuring Fafco Solar's Solar Powered Stage
Event Description :	For the fourth year in a row, Fafco Solar will be powering the stage with solar energy at the Earth Day Festival in Estero, FL at Koreshan State Park.
Location :	Fafco Solar,
	Koreshan State Park,
	Estero, FL,
	Florida
GEO :	26.43136 - -81.81491
Start Date :	2013-04-20
End Date :	2013-04-20

I receive monthly energy production reports from every one of Fafco Solar’s customers that has an Enphase microinverter based solar energy system. It’s great to see at a glance if systems are performing as expected, especially relative to the prior month and relative to other systems of similar size.

It’s already April, and the numbers for March are in. There is a link below to a typical monthly energy report that I get via email. This is a summary report that has a lot more data available behind it on the Enphase Enlighten portal online.

Monthly Energy Production Report

It shows what I’m seeing across the board, and what is expected for this time of year. Solar electric production was up 10-20% in March over February in Southwest Florida.

I can’t say enough about the importance of monitoring solar energy output, identifying shading and soiling issues, along with ensuring equipment continues to meet specifications. Enphase makes this easy by providing rich data sets and graphic representation of each microinverter’s output. Below is a graph for the same system in the report above for March, 2013.

Daily Solar Energy Produced

You can essentially “tell the weather” with a solar energy monitoring system. March 12 was clearly the cloudiest day. You can dig even deeper into the daily power production over time. Check out the difference between March 12 and March 27, the best day of the month for energy production.

March 12, 2013 was mostly cloudy with a bit of sun at mid-day.

March 27, 2013 was a nearly picture-perfect day for solar energy in SW Florida.

Patriot Stor-All Ribbon Cutting in Bonita Springs, FL

The mayor of Bonita Springs, FL, Ben Nelson, and several other dignitaries attended the ribbon cutting for a 75kW Solar Photovoltaic (Electric) System at Patriot Stor-All on March 11, 2013. The system is believed to be the largest privately owned solar electric system in the City of Bonita Springs.

Fafco Solar installed the system on three of ten buildings at the site, which provides self-storage space and small business storefronts. Owner Jim Nickerson worked with Fafco Solar’s Dominick Zito to evaluate the facility’s utility bills and come up with a strategy to use the large expanses of roof to the benefit of the owner. With various incentives, Nickerson will see a great return on investment from otherwise underutilized roof space.

Zito remarked, “Jim recently purchased the business and needed to have some roof work done. Reroofing is a great time to go solar, providing economies of scale by coordinating activities between roofer and solar contractor.” He went on to say, “Patriot Stor-All is setting an example for businesses that want to make a green statement and realize a return on investment that is hard to find with similar risk and time horizon.”

There are three separately grid-interconnected systems comprised of a total of 313 solar photovoltaic modules from Canadian Solar, 313 microinverters by Enphase Energy, and a mounting system by Unirac.

The actual installation was complete in three weeks, with a few additional weeks of design, permitting, and coordinating with officials by yours truly. Special thanks are in order to lead solar installer Thomas Gunn, who completed the work on schedule and on budget, and Crowther Roofing who was instrumental in ensuring waterproof integrity of the system on the new TPO membrane roofs.

Event :	Patriot Stor-All in Bonita Springs Commissions 75kW Solar Electric System by Fafco Solar
Event Description :	The mayor of Bonita Springs, FL, Ben Nelson, and several other dignitaries attended the ribbon cutting for a 75kW Solar Photovoltaic (Electric) System at Patriot Stor-All on March 11, 2013. The system is believed to be the largest privately owned solar electric system in the City of Bonita Springs.
Location :	Patriot Stor-All and Fafco Solar,
	10928 K-Nine Dr,
	United States,
	Florida
GEO :	26.32664 - -81.77343
Start Date :	2013-03-18
End Date :	2013-03-18

Tonight I was invited to part of a panel before a public group at the Naples Community Hospital. I guess you could call it a Solar Panel.

Here is the text of my brief speech:

“I would like to address the most common misconception about solar energy: Solar energy is expensive and cannot survive without government and utility incentives.

The most common solar product installed in Southwest Florida is not solar electric or solar water heating for the home; it’s solar pool heating. Solar thermal energy has been effectively heating pools for four decades in Southwest Florida, and forms the bread and butter of the local solar energy industry. For virtually all of the 38 years that my employer has been installing solar pool heaters, there have been no rebates or tax credits. There has always been a clear and attractive return on investment with solar pool heaters vs. gas or electric heat pumps without any incentives whatsoever.

Solar electricity has long been seen as out-of-reach technology for the masses, and was admittedly expensive in the recent past. What most people don’t realize is that solar electric systems have come down in price dramatically in the last few years. In fact, wholesale solar electric panel costs have come down over 80% in just the last three years! The total installed price of a system has come down by 60%. Here’s a key fact: The cost of purchasing a solar electric system today without incentives is less than the cost of the same system with incentives three years ago! I should mention that there is still a 30% Federal Tax Credit available for solar electric systems.

Some effective solar energy products like solar water heaters currently have great incentives available, but don’t garner much attention. Others like solar attic fans and solar tubular skylights may have no incentives, yet the price point makes them a popular entry-level solar energy product.

Incentives can be very disruptive. They skew the market and create the perception that the true cost of a product is too high for it to stand on its own. The FL State Solar Rebate program (which is long behind us) was underfunded by the Florida legislature and left the industry with a black eye. Incentives encourage sellers to artificially inflate selling prices. Limited incentive programs like some utility rebates create an unfair playing field for potential buyers and ultimately reduce the adoption of customer owned solar energy systems. The solar industry and its customers gladly embraced all available incentives over the years. The news and marketing message from the industry ingrained the public perception that incentives are a fundamental requirement for solar energy.

The local Southwest Florida solar energy consumer has little to worry about when it comes to net installed prices. This happens to be the most price competitive area in the nation for solar pool heating systems, brought on by fierce competition and strong demand. Typical solar electric prices locally are a full $1 per watt lower than the national average – about 20% lower than states that have healthy incentive programs. While incentives have helped spur demand for solar energy in many states, the demand is largely a result of a slew of leasing companies chasing rebates, which has the effect of reducing the dollar benefit to the ultimate consumer. Incentives are, and should be, a short-term stimulus to an emerging industry.

The solar industry has emerged. We shouldn’t worry about solar rebates anymore. The likelihood of expanded Federal programs or new State programs for distributed solar power generation are less than remote. Utility rebate programs currently in place are ineffective and should not be renewed, at least in their current form. The combination of plummeting component costs, a highly competitive local marketplace, and a growing demand for solar products nation- and world-wide is great for the industry. The misconception that solar energy needs incentives to be successful is old news. Hopefully we can put the myth to bed here tonight!”

Note: my actual speech may have varied slightly from what I had prepared.

“How much will it cost to get me off the grid?”

It’s not a bad question. You’re probably just asking the wrong question about solar energy. Why is it the wrong question?

1. You probably don’t want to “get off the grid.”
2. What you probably mean is, “how much is it going to cost me and how much am I going to save?”

You’re not alone – just about everyone starts their journey into solar thinking they are going to say goodbye to the utility company.

Getting “off the grid” technically requires eliminating your connection to the utility grid. The fact of the matter is that running a home or business on solar energy and stored energy alone is usually very expensive, requires quite a bit of maintenance, and may require that you change your lifestyle significantly. You probably want to stay connected to the grid and offset your electricity bill while selling excess energy back to the utility company at a fair price. Does that sound like what you meant to say?

Once we get over this initial clarification about solar energy, the learning process goes much better. There is a chance that you do want to “get off the grid,” or maybe you want battery backup with solar energy instead of a generator. If that is the case, I can certainly help you with that! The vast majority of people learning about solar energy quickly learn that they just want to save money, change the source of their energy, or contribute to a better future for our planet.

Whether you are interested in truly getting off the grid, or just reducing your bills and dependence on utility electricity, I would be delighted to discuss your solar energy needs. Contact me at (239) 574-1500!

Pool plumbing can be confusing. Solar pool heating valves can add to that confusion. If you want to learn how to turn off and isolate your solar pool heating system with manual valves, you’ve come to the right place. The images and videos below show you how to turn the valves correctly to change the flow of water in your system.

What’s pictured below is what we call a solar pool heating manifold. It is a system of valves to bypass and isolate your system. To prevent pump damage, you must bypass the solar loop before isolating the system for service or repair. This article focuses on high-quality two-way and three-way valves installed by Fafco Solar. It applies to valves made by Pentair, Praher, Jandy, and Hayward – all work basically the same way. Note that this does not apply to basic red, gray, or blue handled ball valves, which are far inferior to the valves shown. Ball valves have different handle orientations, so this article should not be followed for those systems.

(Click for Larger Images) Note – this manifold is shown with the 3-way valve on the right. In some systems this will be flipped and the 3-way valve will be on the left. The concept is the same, but you may click here for left bypass images.

Solar Pool Heat Valves Open

In this position, water is travelling through the 3-way valve to the solar panels and returning to the pool.

Solar Pool Heat Valves Bypassed

In this position, water is bypassing the solar, turning solar heating off.

Solar Pool Heat Valves Closed (Isolated)

In this position, water is bypassing the solar, turning solar heating off, and the isolation valves are closed, ensuring that no water can pass to or from the panels. It is critical that your 3-way (bypass) valve be in the proper position before isolating your system. Otherwise, the water would have nowhere to go, and you pump may be damaged.

Here is a video showing the procedure to go from solar on mode to bypass mode to isolation mode.

 

For more information on how these valves work, here is another video.

 

Note that the OFF tab on the valve handle always points to the pipe that is blocked. Your system may or may not have labels, but the important thing to remember is that the OFF tab is where the gate that stops water flow is located. In the picture below, the solar panels are bypassed, and water is returned to the pool without going to the roof.

Solar Pool Heating 3-Way Valve (Solar Bypassed)

 

Your valve configuration may be different, on the ground rather than the wall, or may not contain all of the pictured valves. If you have any questions about how to turn off and isolate your solar pool heating system, call Fafco Solar at (239) 574-1500.

 

 

 

Here’s a cool interactive panoramic I took with my iPhone of a Solar Pool Heating installation in south Cape Coral, FL.

http://360.io/bWPjLH

It’s that time of year. People start calling to get solar pool heating systems installed as pool temperatures drop. New system owners get to experience the luxury of a warm pool at no operational cost for the first time. Existing system owners are faced with a few common issues.

• “My pool level is going down. There must be a leak.”
• “My solar pool heating won’t turn on.
• “My pool is ‘only’ 80°. Just last week it was 85°.” (Also, “My pool is ‘only’ 80 degrees, but I have the controller set at 85°.”)

Each of these issues can be resolved without a service call in many cases. The answer is often very simple:

Pool Level Going Down

A leak in a solar pool heating system can cause the pool level to go down as pool water leaks from fittings or panels. Tree branches falling on equipment, animals chewing on things, and other physical trauma can occur during the summer when solar pool heating systems are turned off and isolated or bypassed. A leak should be evident, with water coming off the roof, at the equipment pad, or through gutter downspouts. However, there is a more obvious reason for pool levels to go down this time of year… evaporation! Pool owners often forget that dry, sunny, windy weather causes the rate of evaporation to skyrocket this time of year, meaning that you need to periodically add water to the pool. New homeowners often do not realize this fact. A suspected leak may simply be water evaporating faster than recent experience. A few inches per week can easily be lost to the atmosphere this time of year.  (Word of caution: if you suspect an underground leak, contact a pool leak detection specialist to diagnose the problem.)

Motorized Pool Valve Actuator in the Manual Off Position

Solar Pool Heat Won’t Turn On

Solar Pool Heating systems often use automatic controllers and motorized valve actuators to turn the system on and off. If your solar pool heating system is not turning on, your valve actuator may have been placed in the manual off position (middle). You may need to experiment to see in which position the switch should be. Important: if you solar pool heating system has manual 2-way isolation valves, it is critical that you open these valves before turning on your solar pool heating system. Do not adjust your motorized actuator until you confirm that the solar pool heating isolation valves are open. Other reasons for solar pool heating systems not turning on include faulty sensors and incorrect controller settings. A call to your solar pool heating professional may help solve the problem. Otherwise, an annual system tune up is always a great idea to keep your system working properly and optimally.

My Pool is not Warm Enough

As temperatures dip, especially nighttime temperatures, the highest temperature of a solar heated pool will also drop. In Southwest Florida, optimally sized and oriented solar pool heating systems can achieve pool temperatures around 10 degrees higher than the Gulf of Mexico temperature. Higher temperatures are possible with the use of a pool cover, which traps the heat, especially at night. (Pool covers also reduce evaporation significantly.) Although solar heated pools will not reach summertime temperatures this time of year, the temperature is still very comfortable for most people. For example, the Gulf temperature today is 73° and a solar heated pool could be in the low 80′s. Because the high ambient air temperature today is expected to be 72°, an 80° pool will feel quite luxurious! Before you conclude that your solar pool heater is not working as effectively as it should, consult the local Gulf temperature page on the Solar Southwest Florida blog!

If you are still concerned that your solar pool heating system is not working properly or optimally after a long summer with the system off, give Fafco Solar a call and ask for an annual tune-up. It’s a cost effective way to make sure everything is in tip-top shape. Make sure you are home at the time of service and get re-familiarized with your system!

FPL Solar Rebate Demand High, Supply Low

FPL made an important and appreciated change to their solar rebate program for this round of funding. They said they would take applications after the funds were exhausted to put applicants on a standby list, as many customers do not go through with installations. I was surprised to see that the standby list was limited, and applications were eventually rejected.

That really does not make sense, unless FPL does not really want to know how many people want rebates but cannot get one. Wouldn’t it make sense to take all applications in the order received? That way we could gauge demand and adjust the rebate amount accordingly to maximize the installed capacity with the limited rebate funds! Why cut off accepting applications at all?!

While it looks like we were able to secure several rebates for Fafco Solar’s customers this time around, the system is still frustratingly broken. I am certain that so many more people would go solar if the rebate program was fixed and the rebate amount was more in line with demand for rebate funds.

Business PV funding was still available, with $715,000 still out there as of 9:00 am. I find that interesting, indicating that commercial PV installations aren’t seeing the same feverish demand for rebate funds. That’s strange because business customers are typically making decisions on an ROI basis, and the ROI for a business can be sensational with the rebate funds.

As expected, plenty of rebate money is still available for residential and commercial solar water heating, and funding will likely be available for months.

FPL will open up the next round of solar rebate applications on October 16, 2012 at 8:30 am. Rebate applicants will need a licensed solar contractor to install their system, and are advised to contact Fafco Solar urgently to get an evaluation, conditional contract, and in the queue for a rebate application submission.

The total funding for this round of rebates is $9 million.

FPL took one of FlaSEIA’s recommendations and is allowing applications to go through once the available funds are exhausted. If successful applicants do not pursue an installation, the next applicant will be offered a rebate approval. That’s a step in the right direction for the beleaguered rebate program.