Balcony Solar System Example Balcony solar is starting to show up in cost charts and conversations, and for good reason. It’s simple, accessible, and finally gives renters and apartment dwellers a way to participate in solar without needing a roof or a full installation crew. It is starting to show up on renewable energy graphs like this one from https://www.dw.com/en/solar-is-winning-the-energy-race/a-76517556 But let’s be honest about what it is and what it isn’t. These sys

MLPE are not the issue. These are. And they are an issue because of installer error. There’s a new Heliovolta report making the rounds claiming that MLPE - and specifically rapid shutdown devices (RSDs) - are increasing fire risk in commercial solar. And like clockwork, people are running with the headline instead of reading the report- or worse, using the report as anti-MLPE ammo. Let’s get something straight: This report does not prove that “MLPE causes fires.” What it ac

EV owners in Pennsylvania are now getting a $250 road-use bill. It’s the transportation version of what solar owners already learned: when the revenue model breaks, someone fixes the spreadsheet.

Every once in a while, the Tigo service team sends over a photo that tells an entire installation story in a single frame. This one came from an inverter enclosure where the installer routed AC conductors, PV DC conductors, and communication wiring through the same conduit. At first glance, it may look like efficient wiring- why run multiple conduits when one will do?! Because the National Electrical Code – and basic signal integrity – say otherwise. Power conductors and comm

If you’ve been in this industry longer than five minutes, you already know this question never has a clean answer. The cost of a solar installation isn’t a fixed price. It’s the sum of design choices, site conditions, local rules, and how well the job is executed. Change any one of those, and the number moves. Anyone quoting a flat “cost of solar” is either oversimplifying or selling. I touched on this moving target a little bit in my Amazon Best Seller: The Battery Powered H

When the solar industry faces uncertainty about tax credits ending on December 31, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and, well, pissed. But sometimes, the best way to find calm is to step away from the noise and enjoy something simple and comforting. My mom’s crock pot ham and beans recipe has been a family favorite for years, falling into the Soul Food category for us, and I guarantee it will become a family favorite if you don't have your own recipe. Plus, the house w

Well, it happened. The Big Beautiful Bill passed, and with it, the 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit got yanked out from under us like...

MC4 Connectors Galore! The solar industry has long been plagued by "substandard" installation practices - not the word I would use, but let's keep this PG-13! PV connectors are the number one cause of PV-related fires. If we don’t clean our own house, regulators (i.e., government oversight) will do it for us, and they won’t be kind or precise about it. Unfortunately, “pretty please with sugar on top” incentivization does not always resonate in our industry, so we will probab

I’ve always said there’s more to fishing than catching fish. It’s about the patience, the process, the quiet moments when nothing’s...

This bill is undoubtedly a kick to the residential solar industry collective crotches, but it’s not the end. It’s a forced course...

Energy storage systems (ESS) are pivotal for renewable energy solutions, especially in areas where extreme weather conditions pose unique...

A solar inverter's maximum output is like a car's top speed. Imagine you're driving a car that can go up to 120 mph, but most of the...

This video covers a lot of ground including the National Electric Code's definition of a qualified person and why it is important to a...

Who doesn’t love a plateful of good chicken wings? They are easy to make and fun to experiment with. I am a big dry rub wing guy and I...

Axiom æksiəm // An axiom is a statement everyone believes is true, such as "the only constant is change" or, "If you eat Taco Bell, you...

Regardless of the company in the solar industry, the number one cause for a service call is bad communication. It doesn't matter if it is...

Check out my latest video that talks about this important question.

The first episode of a continuing series kicks off with the most misused term in the solar industry.