A: No - The electricity generated by your system is used directly by your property when it is produced. Any power generated in excess of your building's requirements is sent out to the utility grid, spinning your meter backwards. This establishes an economic credit that is used to buy back the utility's power at night, or any other time that your building's electricity demand is greater than your system's production.

A: Systems come in all sizes, and produce as much or as little power as required. Many systems produce a portion of the building's required power, leaving room for additional conservation or generation in the future.

A: A good rule of thumb is to allow 100 sq. ft. per every kilowatt (kW) of electricity the system produces. A typical solar electric system for a business will require approximately 5,000 square feet.

A: Racking systems on the market today are made entirely from anodized aluminum and stainless steel for long life without rusting. The racking system attaches directly to the roof rafters and there are several ways for us to do this. Racking systems for flat roof installations utilize a ballast system that requires no roof penetration.

A: With rebate paperwork, utility interconnection agreements, permits etc., our turn around time is 4-8 weeks. A commercial solar electric system will depend on the system magnitude, location, and other variables.

A: Systems come in all sizes, and produce as much or as little power as required. Many systems produce a portion of the building's required power, leaving room for additional conservation or generation in the future.

A: An inverter converts the DC (direct current) power produced by solar panels to AC (alternating current) power.

A: Even though your roof gets sun for most of the day, it may or may not be enough to make a solar electric installation cost-effective. On a site evaluation we’d be able to determine this for you. If there is not full access to the sun, year-round, it may take longer for the system to pay for itself, which would increase the return on your investment.  Removing or trimming back some trees around your property can help with better access to the sun.

A: No - You will not have any electricity if there is an outage. While we could offer you a storage solution, the cost of batteries combined with their short lifespan and maintenance requirements makes them a product we choose not to offer. Unless you’re in an off the grid situation, batteries rarely make sense.

A: No - South is best, but panels installed facing east or west still generate a very high percentage of possible power. It is usually more effective (and more attractive) to install the panels in the same plane as the roof direction, rather than build an awkward mount to angle them.

A: No - While the panels are made of tempered glass, it is quite strong. They pass hail tests, and are regularly installed in Arctic and Antarctic conditions.

A: No - Batteries are only required if you want backup power when the utility is out of service. Without batteries, the system has no way to store power, and for safety reasons cannot produce power without the utility in operation.

A: Most solar panels come with a 25 year power output guarantee and are expected to last at least twice that long.  The power output guarantee on the solar panels in provided by the manufacturer of the panels and states that at the end of the 25th year, the solar panel will still produce a minimum of 80% of their original power output.

A: No - Solar panels will last many years (over 25). Because of this, we want the roof to be in decent condition, as it does not make sense to remove and reinstall the panels after only a few years. However, after the panels are in place, they will greatly reduce the wear on the roof by blocking ultraviolet rays, keeping most snow and ice off the roof, and keeping anything from hitting the roof. Most installations do not require a new roof prior to PV installation.

A: Equal to the latitude.

A: It depends on the panel. A single panel has an operating voltage between 20 and 60 volts, depending on the model type. When the solar panels are wired together in high voltage string they have an open circuit voltage between 200 & 400 volts.

A: Yes, there are state rebates and incentives that vary state by state. The federal government currently offers a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost of the system. For more information about your state rebate program, go to http://www.dsireusa.org/.

A: Net-metering measures the difference between the electricity you buy from your utility company and the electricity you produce with your solar energy system. Any excess electricity produced by your solar energy system spins your existing meter backwards, effectively storing the electricity in the utility grid until it is needed. Your meter then spins forward when it is not producing all the electricity you are currently using and tracks the “net” difference as you generate electricity and take electricity from the utility grid. New Jersey and Pennsylvania have very favorable net-metering environments

A: For the most recent rebates please go to our Rebate and Incentives section of the website.

A: Dynamic Solar takes care of your rebate forms, every step of the way.

A: A:  No, the federal tax credit is a one time benefit.

A: Solar electric systems are designed to withstand most weather conditions. Lightning, wind up to 80 miles per hour, and extreme temperatures are all things your solar system can handle. However, these conditions will temporarily reduce its energy production. When Dynamic Solar designs your solar electric system, we use a method based on national data that takes these weather conditions into consideration. 

A: Yes, solar panels are guaranteed to withstand 3/4 inch hail balls at 120 miles per hour.

A: In fog, your system will still produce about 25 - 30% of the normal production. A steady rain can cut production slightly but is great for cleaning your panels.

A: You're absolutely right that during the time immediately following a snowstorm when the panels are covered the system production will be minimal.  However, we place solar systems in the exact spot where sunshine is greatest.  The first area to melt will be where the solar panels are located.  Plus, the panels are tilted with a surface made of tempered glass allowing snow to easily slide off.

A: The solar electric system is designed to sustain lightning by being sufficiently grounded under National Electric Code.

A: With grid-connected solar electric systems, you will experience loss of power when the utility grid is down. This is intentional: when there is an electricity outage, there are people working on the power lines. If your system were allowed to stay active during the outage, the people working would run the risk of being electrocuted by the live wire.