1. What happens when the sun doesn’t shine?

The system that is described on the previous pages is called "grid-connected."  The PV system works in parallel with the utility power grid. At night, when you need electricity, this electricity is drawn from the utility power grid. You will notice no difference from your current electricity availability.

In remote, off-grid sites, the PV system is connected to a battery storage system.

2. What kind of maintenance does a PV system require?

A fixed PV system is solid state and has no moving parts, making it the single-most reliable form of commercial electricity generation. Nearly no maintenance is required. In areas where it does not rain for many months at a time, solar panels can accumulate dust and dirt. Washing systems a few times a year during the summer months is recommended in such climates. In Westchester, rainfall will be enough to keep panels clear of debris and dirt.

3. How much does a PV system cost?

Please check the page "Cost Residential" if you are a homeowner or the page "Cost Business" if you want to install a PV system on your business property. There you can find out how you even generate income by installing a PV system. We have created two different "Cost" pages because the incentives are different for residential and commercial customers. Please contact us and we would be happy to give you a detailed proposal based on your specific situation.

4. How much power can I expect the system to produce or save me?

In Westchester, a 5 kW PV system will generate about 6000 kWh per year. Of course you can install a smaller or larger system depending on how many kilowatthours you want to produce. We would select the optimal system for your needs, taking into account the specifics of your location, lot size and orientation, electricity needs, etc.

5. What type of warranty will my system have? 

The PV modules have a warranty of 25 years and the whole system has a warranty of 5 years. The manufacturers expect their products to have a lifetime of more than 30 years. The DC/AC inverters carry a warranty of 5 years and are expected to have a lifetime of 15 to 20 years. 
During that time the most common components that will require replacement are the large filter capacitors and cooling fans.
Many inverters will require removal from the site in order to repair.  The inverter that we use in the Prudent Power System can be serviced on site as all components are designed for quick field replacement.  In case you need to replace the complete inverter, you can expect that inverters will be significantly less expensive in 20 years as we continue to drive the cost of all system components down. Just think of the price for DVD players, VCRs or digital cameras 10 years ago and now.

6. Will the system produce electricity when it is cloudy?

Yes. Photovoltaic modules are less efficient in cloudy or low sun conditions but the output is reduced by only 5-20% of their full sun output. Sometimes under cloudy conditions the modules produce even more electricity than under full sun due to the reflection of the sun off the clouds. Many sucessful installations are in areas with occasional daytime cloudiness. In our calculations, we factored in the typical weather conditions for Westchester.

7. Do I have to have a southern exposure?

No. While a southern exposure is ideal, shallow pitched roofs facing west or east still produce 86% of southern exposure systems. We will take this into account when designing your system to maximize output for your conditions.

8. What are the roof size requirements ? 

As a general rule, in order to produce 1200 KWh per year you will need approx 110 sq ft. If you want to produce five or ten times as much, you would need to multiple the size by five or ten, etc.

9. How long does it take to install it?