Residenial Light Series
Let the sun shine on your home

Frequently asked questions:

Will I still need to be connected to my utility company?

Most likely, yes.  The benefit of solar systems is diminished when you go off-grid due to the cost and wastefulness of batteries.  Being connected to the grid is a good thing, though.  The current mandate for “net metering” makes it a requirement for the utility company to allow you to feed unused electricity that you generate back onto the grid and your meter will run backwards while this occurs.  Then when you need more electricity than your system is producing you will draw from the grid and your meter will run as it normally would.  The net effect is that you are getting full “retail price” credit for the electricity you “store” out on the grid when not using it.

Does my homeowners association or condo association allow solar systems?
Completely dependent on the association…

Can my roof handle the weight?
The systems do add additional weight to the load-bearing roof, but the engineering of the racking system spreads that out and typically makes additional structural support unnecessary.

Is there any ongoing maintenance?
No maintenance, but your system should be inspected every so often to make sure that it is operating at its peak.

How can I tell what my system is producing and how efficient it is?
We can install monitoring equipment that can track your systems performance, similar to how a thermostat measures the temperature in your house.

How long do PV panels last?
PV panels are warranted to 25 years but will last longer.

What happens on cloudy days?
The power output of your panels is reduced on these days, however it is never completely diminished as long as it is daytime.

Do I need a new roof?
Depending on the age of your roof, if it is near the end of its useful life, you may want to consider a new one since your PV panels are expected to last a minimum of 25 years.

How are roof penetrations made/waterproofed?
On a rack system that requires roof penetrations, the various fastening systems used are all self-sealing.

Do the panels need to face south?
South is the preferred orientation for mounting the PV panels, however, depending on how far off of south they are mounted, the efficiency impact may be minimal.

Are the panels fragile?
No. The panels are silicon solar cells encased in tempered glass with plastic backing and are much more durable than one might imagine. They can withstand significant impact.

How Solar Works
This is how we plug into the Sun

If you want to know EVERYTHING we’ll put you in touch with the people wearing pocket protectors at Giant World, but here’s a quick version of how the sun can work your tenant’s copy machine or your family’s toaster.

STEP 1: The sun shines. Make sure you’re wearing sunscreen.

STEP 2: Solar panels collect the sun’s energy and turn it into direct current (DC) electricity. Yes, it’s DC part of AC/DC. The AC part comes next.

STEP 3: For the electricity to be useful to you it has to be converted, or, inverted. So an inverter changes the DC to AC.

STEP 4: This is the fun part. You know that electric meter you have that’s always spinning, seemingly faster and faster? Well, if you want to see something totally great, watch it spin backwards. That’s possible when you go solar. A bi-directional electric meter will display your home or building’s net power usage. Generate more electricity than you use and the meter spins backwards equating to lowering your electricity bill. Even if you generate less, the meter will spin forward a lot more slowly. Definitely fun to watch.

STEP 5: You’re now producing your own energy. Pretty cool.

For product and service information, please submit your inquiry here. You can also call or fax customer support at: 1-800-990-4268 P/F, or send e-mail to sales@giantworldtelecom.com

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