Step 5: Monitor & Maintain

Checking Performance and Maintaining Your Solar Electric System

With a real-time monitoring system, you can view total power output (on an in-the-moment, daily, monthly, yearly and cumulative basis), hours of operation, AC/DC voltages and amperages and more including:

Real-time monitoring gives you the satisfaction and confidence of seeing your system at work, and also the ability to detect and troubleshoot any problems that may arise.

In commercial systems greater than 100kW, state rebates are determined by actual performance, requiring accurate, verifiable readings to get the maximum rebate.

The highly sophisticated system offered by Energy Recommerce Inc (ERI) that we recommend measures several performance parameters for each inverter in a string of inverters and panels, as well as for the system as a whole, with accuracy within two percent. Less-expensive third-party solutions offering fewer features are also available.

REC Solar offers a full suite of monitoring tools and our solar sales consultants can help you choose the right solution for your situation.

A solar power system is unique among all electricity generation technologies in that it has absolutely no moving parts. In fact, solar technology has proven so reliable that solar equipment manufacturers now provide warranties and power output guarantees ranging from 10 to 25 years. In actual practice, your system will probably provide safe, clean, dependable solar electricity for 40 years or more.

Once your system has been installed we provide you with the manufacturers’ standard operating booklets plus an REC Solar owner’s manual that contains all the information you need. In addition to maintenance tips your REC Solar owner’s manual covers panel and inverter information, engineering records, your signed inspection card, solar tax credit information, power production estimates, and equipment warranties.

Our customer care team stands ready to answer any questions or concerns that you might have throughout the life of your solar power system.