Solar Panel Warranties - Are You Really Covered!? Let’s talk grid-tie solar for a moment. Solar installation warranties are a hot topic, and yet the true information relative to solar panel warranties are often buried in the fine print, or easily misunderstood. The fact is, a solar panel’s warranty is only as good as the limited materials and workmanship warranty. We have put together a solar panel warranty side-by-side comparison chart on the most popular monocrystalline solar panels on the market. The more you pay per watt, the better the long-term warranty guarantees. Most of the time. In some cases...

The Pros and Cons of Combining Wind and Solar Off Grid When working on your own off grid solar setup you might start thinking about capturing more free energy, in the form of wind. Should you go down this path? We say probably not. It’s more trouble and cost than it’s worth, particularly compared to solar.Those closely familiar with small scale wind turbines will say that nearly all wind generators have somewhat generous ratings, and the power output is usually specified at the max output. In reality, you will almost always get less energy than those ratings. There is a...

Connecting and Disconnecting a Solar Panel, Charge Controller and Battery You've got your solar panel and charge controller. Now you bought a battery or two. Yes, in fact, it does matter the order in which you connect the 3 most important components of an off grid solar power set up.It’s not complicated, but it is important to do it correctly. If you bought a DIY Kit, be sure to follow the instructions closely. If you are winging it, here is a simplistic explanation:Step 1Connect the charge controller negative and positive terminals to your battery(s) negative and positive terminals.Step 2Connect the negative...

Solar Tip Tuesday - Peak Sun Hours Yes, your solar panels produce energy throughout the day. But, is that energy production consistent? Obviously not. Peak sun hours are an important part of the equation that will determine how much power your solar panels will generate for you.The amount of energy generated by your solar panels can be thought of in terms of a bell curve - a graphical depiction of, in this case, energy produced. The peak of this bell curve is at the height of your solar panel's energy production on a given day. And, the daily height of...

Rockville, MD: Combine 2 Must Haves in 1 - SOUL GEAR will revolutionize the way we listen to music outdoors! This summer you can rock on down the river to your favorite tunes with SOUL GEAR, the innovative new waterproof drybag backpack that features a built-in fully waterproof wireless Bluetooth speaker that connects to your smart phone. Connect your favorite playlist, and use the dry sack as a waterproof phone pouch for your mobile device, car keys and other valuables. It's the perfect source of music entertainment for any outdoor water sports - kayaking, rafting, boating, canoeing, tubing, swimming, and...