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Tech Help
Got a question? Take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of other CivicSolar members. Have a special skill or tip to pass on? Consider posting an article and adding to the depth of the CivicSolar knowledge base.
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DC Combining and Disconnecting Options for Ungrounded PV Arrays
Added by nicholasyeh on 03/22/2013
DC Disconnect Wiring Options for Ungrounded PV Arrays With the adoption of transformerless inverters becoming more common in the No
Article
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Protecting the Latest Solar Energy Systems from Lightning - A Growing Challenge
Added by wagonstar on 03/11/2013
Our previous article discussed aspects of the NFPA 780 code that maximize the safety of the public after an occurrence of a li
Article
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To Clean or not to Clean my Snow Covered Solar Panels?
Added by SF_Solar on 02/11/2013
Effect on Production It's a well known fact that as temperature drops below 77 degrees F (the temperature at which modules are
Article
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50% Bonus Depreciation Lives on in Solar through 2013
Added by mg on 01/08/2013
Great news, the fiscal cliff deal that is currently in place will have a significant positive impact on the solar industry. Primarily, th
Article
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A Move Towards AC Modules
Added by leventbas on 12/26/2012
Grid-interoperability has been a main focus of the solar industry since it first emerged as a competitive option for generating
Article
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Pushing Boundaries with the SMA Sunny Island
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PV Design Software and the Cloud
Added by SF_Solar on 11/12/2012
The Evolution of PV Design The design process for photovoltaic systems has, for the most part, transitioned from a simple electri
Article
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Arc Fault Detection
Added by SF_Solar on 10/15/2012
What is an electrical arc? An electrical arc is a continuous plasma discharge through air.
Article – 3 comments
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AC Coupling
Added by SF_Solar on 10/01/2012
An Introduction to AC coupling Through AC coupling, a grid-tied inverter can continue to operate when the grid goes down by syn
Article – 4 comments
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Building Integrated Photovoltaics
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Corrosive Soil and Ground Mounted PV
Added by Jason Chee on 07/25/2012
The Situation Most undisturbed soil is suitable for the average driven steel post or light concrete footing.
Article – 1 comment
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Choosing the Right MPPT Solar Charge Controller
Added by SF_Solar on 07/13/2012
Inverter and Charge Controller - a delicate balance In an Off-Grid or Hybrid (Grid-tied, with battery back-up) PV syst
Article
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How does heat affect inverters?
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Using the WEEB solution for grounding in solar applications?
Added by SunGuy on 02/27/2012
Grounding PV modules to reduce or eliminate shock and fire hazards is necessary and required by the National Electrica
Article
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Mobile Apps for Solar PV design and calculation
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How much of a load does a solar array add to a roof?
Added by onur on 02/15/2012
Evaluating the ability of a roof to support solar panels requires assessing the condition and construction of th
Article
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What are the major roof types for installing solar?
Added by onur on 01/03/2012
As long as there is enough space and enough access to the sun, solar panels can be installed on just about any roof.
Article – 5 comments
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How to find rafters on a roof for a solar installation
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Electrical Noise Emissions from a Solar PV Inverter / Charger
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How do you space a ground-mounted array?
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Can an inverter be installed outdoors?
Added by waco on 12/13/2011
There are many inverters for PV systems that can be installed outdoors.
Article
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Solar Powered Water Pumping
Added by waco on 12/05/2011
Any renewable energy source can make the electricity needed to power various appliances, including pumps.
Article – 2 comments
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Key Elements Of Solar Energy Payback Period
Added by waco on 11/29/2011
Calculating the payback on an investment in a photovoltaic (PV) system is not as easy as it seems at first glance.
Article
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String Inverter or microinverter, which is the right way to go?
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How Heat Affects Solar Panel Efficiency