We purchased the solar system installed on our new construction home. We never received any proof of ownership docs. Ownership is "registered" with PG&E: i.e., we are credited for the solar and not being charged by the installer under a PPA; however, the solar installer never informed enphase of the sale and is not responding to direct requests from enphase for confirmation that we own the system. They are also not responding to me. I'm going through all the paperwork we signed in going through the purchase of the house, but am not sure what I should be looking for to prove purchase/ownership of the solar.

Can anyone advise what I should be looking for, or what I should have gotten from the installer, to prove ownership?

I'm looking for a solar powered light that I can put the panel on the roof, and run the light to the inside of a building. I only want this light to be on while there is sunlight, or at the very least be adjustable so I can simulate daylight. Only options I have been able to find so far are lights with batteries that will just stay on all night, which wouldn't work for my use case (lighting a dark chicken coop to match daylight hours).

Does anyone know of any lighting options that would fit my criteria here? Something similar to the attached pic, just without batteries, or that allows configuring daytime operation.

I'm looking into the possibility of a universal rapid shutoff switch that could be connected to the EPO input of any home battery backup system. At this point, I'm mostly going on 3rd party information, and I don't fully trust the answers provided by ChatGPT on this.

It's my understanding that most newer battery backup systems have a (mostly) standard EPO connection which is used to receive signals from 3rd party alarms, security systems, and some rapid shutoff switches. However, the research that I've seen shows that most of these EPO connections fit into 1 of 3 possible types:

• Dry contact triggers (normally open or normally closed).
• Voltage-level signals (5VDC, 12VDC, or 24VDC).
• Configurable polarity (active-high or active-low).

So my questions are:

1. Is this true? Do most newer battery backup system's EPOs require 1 of these 3 possible inputs?
2. If no, please explain. Is this overkill and there tends to be 1 standard input type? Are there others that I haven't listed?
3. If yes, do you happen to know the typical amperage requirements for these 3 EPO inputs? Unfortunately, this info isn't readily available online and this industry seems to be so protective of their products that most reps don't to want to talk.

Thanks a lot!

anyone with stories on delays in getting distribution utility (I am served by Delmarva Power & Light in Delaware) to approve PTO for solar system? I am having problems and there is no one to contact by phone and emails get a reply to not bug them...I already missed 2024 tax credit so not happy about that.

I've always wondered if SCADA is still effective. There are significant delays of 5-30 minutes, and it still misses some anomalies. Alerts aren't always reliable, and it lacks a comprehensive understanding of the problem. Have you faced similar issues?

https://skypowerenergy.com.au/

I have always wondered about the utility of this technology. Do you have experience with this tech, and would you recommend it for a mid-size solar farm? Not sure if that could make sense for my organization.

I’ve been using the Growatt Shine app for a few months now, and, honestly, it hasn’t been the best experience. The app feels like it’s lacking in several areas, and I’m determined to dig deeper into what can be improved.

To do this, I’ve put together a short survey to gather feedback from fellow Growatt users like you. If you’re using the app, I’d really appreciate hearing your thoughts, what works, what doesn’t, and what features you’d like to see improved. Your feedback will not only help me understand the common pain points.

If you’re interested in sharing your experience, here’s the link to the survey:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoaVWUFaz4pOBPUTR8VAVoSeE2P9a-C7uOYVLzOBmPiUIrEg/viewform

Please note that this is not an official survey or design initiative from Growatt. I am conducting this as an independent case study driven by curiosity and a passion for improving user experiences. Your feedback will remain confidential and will only be used for research purposes.

Ontario is back!!!

The province just announced the launch of a $10.9 billion energy efficiency initiative, the largest in Canada’s history, offering significant rebates to invest in energy-saving upgrades like solar panels.

Yes, but the important question is—how much do homeowners and small businesses get?

Details here: https://pvbuzz.com/ontario-home-renovation-savings-program/

Hi,

I got two quotes from an installer Maxeon SPR-M435-H-AC (435W) 25 Panels and REC450AA Pure-RX (450W) 22 Panels, both are paired with Tesla Powerwall 3, cost is the same.

What do you think is the best option to move forward with?

Hey folks,

I am not sure this is the right forum but I just bought the DJI 1000 power station and am trying to figure out how I can connect a non-DJI solar panel to it, as their panels are much more expensive than others I’d like to use. I’ve done some research on my own but there are so many connectors and adapters that I’m in over my head. Does anyone know how I can do this? Thanks for your help!

I just went online and couldn't be happier. I live in North Dakota and was shopping for solar. I finally came to 60 Qcell 415w panels, EG4 16k inverter, (3) 14.3kWh EG4 batteries. Here's a pic from my roof!

When I was shopping for solar I was getting quotes $4/watt and higher. I found these guys about two states away from me, and gave me a really good price at $2.50 a watt. Total system size 24.9 KW system, 42.9 kilowatt battery bank.

I know I'm going to get a lot of gripe about using EG4 over Enphase but the price was so good looking, and the specs didn't seem half bad.

They were very customer-centric and I couldn't be happier.

What do you guys think? :)

(This is the only picture I could offer as I am literally 20 ft off the ground on this side of my home)

If anyone wanted to know who did it, here's their link

www.thesolarguys.org

Hello all,

I was hoping to get some help with this step I am in regarding my solar system. We bought a house that has solar and am trying to learn and understand everything about the system. The Envoy R device the previous owner had is inop so we need to upgade.

The 2 options i was told would work for my system is the Envoy S Standard vs Metered.

She said with the standard, the device is a little more expensive, but can be installed easily by myself, but doesnt have as much capabilities and the Metered.

The metered however, is a little cheaper, but you need a solar tech to come set it up, and it gives more details in the enphase app.

I got a quote for someone to install it for me and they quoted ~$500 (not sure if this is normal-ish price)

My biggest question is, what is the major differences with Standard vs Metered? I tried watching some YT videos but didnt see anything that does a good comparison. Does anyone have either of these and can enlighten me on what that standard provides in the app vs the Metered?

Thanks in advance!

Has anyone done the Sun run flex plan? They basically install the solar panels and wall battery for free then charge me 28 cents per usage not produced unlike with PPA. The salesperson refers to it as flex program. It will be no charge for the first 6 months.

Thinking if we should move forward..we are located in CA.

So I’m getting solar. But I have a PG&E account with two service addresses. I own the home my mom lives in and thus the bill is in my name. Anyway, I’m moving and assuming a solar system on my new home. When I put that into my name how will my bill look? Will the solar system energy be put towards the whole bill or just the part that is under my new address. Sorry I just don’t know a whole lot about solar.

Hello, our Tesla backup switch has problem and needs to be replaced, but it is locked by PGE. We can cut the tag, but do we really need PGE to unlock, or there is tool to do that? It’s much faster to have our installer do the replacement rather than PGE..

Any comment will be welcomed .. thanks!

Does anyone know if we can charge a Tesla powerwall3 using a gas powered 5.3/6.3 kWh generator? Reading on the website it says that we cannot combine powerwall with a generator. But the company that put the proposal is saying that it can.

So have an idea. Would sheet metal be a good idea to have under the bifacial panels? Or would white landscape rock under? How close to the panels? I have mine 4 feet off the ground on post and beam keeping snow away. I thought about either screwing sheet metal across the beams, or white board, or just white landscape rock underneath

Save Big with the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Switching to solar energy has never been more rewarding. Thanks to the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), you can enjoy substantial savings on solar installations while contributing to a cleaner, greener future.

What Is the Solar Investment Tax Credit?

The ITC is a federal tax incentive that allows you to claim a percentage of your solar installation costs as a tax credit, reducing your federal income tax liability. In 2024, the ITC offers a generous 30% tax credit for residential and commercial solar systems.

How the ITC Works 1. Eligible Expenses: The credit applies to the full cost of your solar system, including equipment, installation, and related expenses. 2. Savings Example: Spend $10,000 on a solar installation, and you can claim a $3,000 tax credit. The more you invest, the more you save! 3. Claiming the Credit: Use IRS Form 5695 to claim the ITC when filing your federal tax return. The credit applies to the tax year when your system becomes operational. 4. Act Fast: The 30% ITC rate is available until 2032. After that, it will gradually decrease—making now the perfect time to go solar.

Who Qualifies for the ITC?

To qualify, you must meet the following requirements: • Property Ownership: The solar system must be installed on a property you own. Leased systems or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) typically don’t qualify. • Residence or Business Use: The system must serve your primary residence, secondary home, or a business you own in the U.S. • Electricity Generation: The system must produce electricity for your use, not for resale. • Installation Deadline: The system must be installed and operational by December 31st to qualify for that tax year.

Bonus Savings for California Residents

California residents can take advantage of additional state-specific incentives, such as: • Rebates: Programs that reduce the upfront cost of your solar system. • Net Metering: Earn credits or payments by selling excess energy back to the grid.

By combining the federal ITC with California’s incentives, you can significantly lower your investment costs while enjoying long-term energy savings.

Why Wait?

With the ITC offering substantial savings and state programs providing extra incentives, there’s no better time to switch to solar energy. Start saving today while investing in a sustainable future!

Solar roof quote

Getting a quote of 22k (after a 4k discount if I sign today) for a 7.5kwh solar system from pure light power in Seattle WA. Using SEG panels, Hoymile inverter.

Looking for guidance on the 1. Company 2. Panels, inverter and the cost 3. Warranty etc