Solar Panels

The radiant energy in sunlight (photons) produces electrical voltage when light strikes certain types of conductive materials. The process of releasing trapped electrons to create an electrical current is known as the photovoltaic (PV) effect, first discovered in 1839 and made commercially viable in the 1950s.

Modern silicon-based solar panels represent more than 90% of the solar generation market and have become a near-commodity product – all manufacturers’ panel specifications and features are bound in a tight range. Dynamic Solar selection of solar panels is heavily influenced by the economics and risk mitigation of each specific project.  We conduct a cost-benefit analysis to compare features, pricing and warranty coverage and ensure the appropriate panel is selected to meet each project’s goals.

Racking

Extruded aluminum racking systems provide the support and substructure for solar panels, fix the panels at the desired tilt angle, and connect the panels to the roof. Racking for commercial flat roofs consists of an aluminum framework and tray to hold ballast weight against wind loading and require no penetrations to the roof surface. Peaked roof systems consist of mechanical or penetrating fasteners and aluminum members for panel attachments.

Inverter

Solar power electrical inverters connect the solar array to a building’s electrical supply and the utility grid. Inverters transform the direct current (DC) energy into usable alternating current (AC) energy; condition the energy into the required voltage; and phase configurations and manage the flow of electricity to ensure seamless power availability. Inverters are manufactured in a wide range of sizes and can be a single central inverter or multiple smaller inverters, depending on project specifications and space constraints. Typical inverter features include outdoor-rated enclosures; power ratings from 30kW to 1MW; five-year standard warranty; UL, CE and IEEE certifications; and 95-97% peak conversion efficiencies.

Wiring & Combiner Boxes

UV-Rated, High Temperature-Rated Conduit and PV Wire

To ensure the longevity of the solar power system, all wiring and output cables are outdoor-rated and sunlight resistant. Wiring is additionally chased in outdoor-rated, sunlight resistant surface mounted conduit. Direct current (DC) wiring employs copper conductors sized to minimize voltage losses and is joined in combiner boxes with blocking diodes, fuses and surge suppression for safe operation and easily accessible test points.

Monitoring System

Active system monitoring provides dynamic feedback on the solar electric system, including current and average output, usage, early warning alerts for system declines, and logging historical data for analysis. A robust system monitor is essential for accurately – and remotely – measuring output to maximize the value of generated solar renewable energy credits. The onsite monitoring system collects relevant performance, usage and fault data for solar arrays. The data is automatically communicated via the Internet and stored at a secure data center. The data is Internet-accessible through web views, reports, downloadable data and alerts. The system can be upgraded to interface with a company’s website or stream usage and generation data to a public-area display.