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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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Enphase M215 - Next Generation Microinverter
Added by leventbas on 06/02/2011
Enphase Energy has just launched their next generation microinverter.
Article – 4 comments
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Fuse Ratings and Choosing the Correct Fuse
Added by leventbas on 05/23/2011
One of the most important aspects of electrical wiring of photovoltaic systems is fusing.
Article – 2 comments
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Galvanic Corrosion and Protection in Solar PV Installations
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NEMA Rating and IP Code for Enclosure Types
Added by leventbas on 04/14/2011
NEMA stands for National Electrical Manufacturer Association.
Article
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Mounting Grounding Lugs and Grounding Clips
Added by leventbas on 04/11/2011
Grounding lugs and clips rank among the most important parts of photovoltaic systems.
Article – 2 comments
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Technical Support Contacts of Solar Manufacturers
Added by leventbas on 03/29/2011
Below is a list of direct technical support contact telephone numbers of the solar panel, inverter, charge controller, battery and racking
Article – 2 comments
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Buy American (ARRA) Compliant Solar Panels
Added by leventbas on 03/28/2011
A detailed desciption on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Buy American provision can be found in the recent artic
Article – 4 comments
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How do MPPT charge controllers work?
Added by leventbas on 03/17/2011
The maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is a higher efficient DC-DC converter technology compared to "shunt controller" and &quo
Article
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How to Mount Unirac SolarMount Tilt Legs
Added by leventbas on 03/09/2011
Unirac Solarmount low profile and high profile tilt legs are great options for both roof mount and ground mount solutions.
Article – 3 comments
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Ironridge Pole Mount Sizing and Installation
Added by leventbas on 02/28/2011
Since Unirac no longer manufactures their Top of Pole Mount product line anymore and they have limited availability in their stocks, most
Article – 2 comments
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What components does a Solar PV system require?
Added by leventbas on 01/21/2011
Solar photo-voltaic systems do not only consist of solar modules and inverters.
Article – 3 comments
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Types of Solar PV Connectors and Couplers
Added by leventbas on 01/06/2011
Connectors are among the main distinguishing features of the modules. They are used in order to prevent misconnection.
Article – 6 comments
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Enphase D380 Twin Pack Micro Inverter Installation
Added by leventbas on 12/09/2010
Enphase Energy D380 Twin Pack micro inverter is the "dual" version of the Enphase Energy M190 Micro inverters .
Article – 6 comments
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Wire Resistance and Voltage Drop
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Electric Cargo Bikes Powered by a Solar Charging Station
Added by SF_Solar on 12/04/2010
Here's an experiment put together by the staff at CivicSolar in San Francisco and Splendid Cycles in Portland, OR.
Article – 3 comments
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Battery Life and Performance Factors
Added by leventbas on 12/03/2010
There are multiple factors that significantly affect the life of a battery.
Article – 2 comments
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RV and Marine Solar PV Systems with Batteries
Added by leventbas on 11/15/2010
Installing solar PV modules on an RV has become very popular among American and Canadian families in recent years - with the objective of
Article – 4 comments
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Solar PV Racking Options - Comparison Chart
Added by leventbas on 10/12/2010
Racking and mounting can often be the most complicated portion of a solar PV system installation.
Article – 2 comments
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Design Your Own Solar PV System
Added by leventbas on 09/29/2010
A solar project smaller than 2.5 kW takes only a few days to design and install.
Article – 5 comments
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An Intro to Circuit Breakers and Main Electrical Panels
Added by leventbas on 09/15/2010
Marc Donavan of HomeEditionPlus talks about the use and importance of circuit breakers in home electrical wiring.
Article – 3 comments
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Wire Types for Solar PV Installations
Added by leventbas on 08/19/2010
Wire types vary in conductor material and insulation.
Article – 5 comments
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What is an Inverter/ Charger?
Added by leventbas on 08/18/2010
Inverters/Chargers are reliable power sources for continuous backup applications. Usually, an inverter/charger has two modes: 1) I
Article
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Maximizing Residential Solar Panel System Performance
Added by Residentialsolar101 on 08/10/2010
We recently attended the Intersolar North America conference in San Francisco and spent some time talking with installers, distributors,
Article – 3 comments
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Mounting Solar Modules and Estimating Parts
Added by leventbas on 07/27/2010
Some of the most important questions for most installers and DIY solar enthusiasts concern mounting solar panels. There are many high qual
Article – 13 comments
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Home Solar System with Batteries
Added by leventbas on 07/23/2010
Dave shares his experience with solar through this video.
Article – 10 comments