A new interface for owners on Enphase

The following message is from Enphase

KEEP this NUMBER handy, it is hard to find.    Enphase tech support 1-877-797-4743.      It is probably best to call Enphase if you think you have an inverter out, or are getting warning type emails regarding inverters.    They have proprietary methods of looking at your system that is very powerful.   Plus, if you do need replacement parts under warranty, they are the only ones who can issue the RMA (return material authorization) and send out parts.  

Enphase Tech Support 1-877-797-4743

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We're excited about the launch of MyEnlighten. MyEnlighten is now the default view for all new system owners. Existing array owners will continue to use Enlighten Manager until they choose to opt into MyEnlighten.

Installers and Integrators will continue to use Enlighten Manager. The following links will be very helpful moving forward.

For a high level summary of Enlighten Manager and MyEnlighten
http://enphase.com/enlighten/

The MyEnlighten Tutorial:
http://enphase.com/enlighten-help/training-center/

How to sign up for MyEnlighten now.
http://enphase.com/enlighten_content/myenlighten-beta/

After watching the MyEnlighten tutorial, if you have any questions please let me know.

Thanks for using Enphase Microinverters.

An Email from a reader - HECO Halts Solar Boom

A resident of Oahu sent this email out to all the solar stakeholders on Oahu, OK, well maybe she didn't send it to HECO.

Aloha! My name is Cathryn Takanishi, I am an Oahu resident. I have been following solar articles in Hawaii.

In the year of 2014 finding that there is a problem with solar panel installation, solar in Hawaii can no longer excel.

I wonder, why has it been taking so long to make a transition; while more and more people suffer over these limited resources? If we were all more progressive with solar, we could prevent hundreds of people from their suffering because of the battles to obtain these resources. I still see lights left on all night at empty schools, parks and recreational areas and think about the lives of the people who got that electricity there, I think of my son who in the future may not be able to live in such a beautiful place because of the constant rise in the cost of utilities and living here in Hawaii. Thinking if there were proper solar systems installed into these schools (and residential homes) how many lives it could save and how it could improve our large family here at home.

Thank you!

Scientific American A Solar Boom So Successful, It's Been Halted - 12/20/13 
Bloomberg Utilities Feeling Rooftop Solar Heat Start Fighting Back - 12/25/13
Daily Finance Utilities Set Stage for Long Battle with Solar Power - 1/2/14
Sourceable Industry News Hawaiian Electric Halts Local Boom in Solar PV - 1/10/14

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/1/9/hawaii-s-solar-boomistoomuchof

2014 Solar Tune, Limited Time Sale

2014 Solar Tune-Up Sale, Jan 17 until 40 slots have been filled
Very Important to do the Tune-Up at least every 3 years, to protect system and keep warranties in effect!

Please respond by Jan 13 (Monday) If you want a guaranteed slot in this sale.

How is your New Years Resolution Going?    Either way, Resolve to take better care of your Hot Water Solar. Scroll down to see what the tuneup is and why you should do it often.   in the long run it gets you higher savings and saves money on more costly maintenance.

Doing the Solar Tune-Up is EASY!   It just takes an EMAIL or a phone call, and we will make it happen.

If you neglect your solar system, it will cost up to $1600 to replace your solar tank.    If your pressure relief valve doesn't work when it needs to (solar=high temp=high pressure), you can rupture up your house piping and if the piping is under the concrete slab, it can cost $8000 or more to fix.

We like to get as much Tune Up done as we can in Jan and Feb.



Email (best) or call to be assured of a slot in the sale price.    We try to do 3 Tune ups a day, in the same neighborhood, so after you Email (or call) we will contact you with a proposed  date for the neighborhood.


The tuneup takes 3 hours, it is a serious service, It is 3 important parts, not JUST an anode change which some people pretend is a "tune up".

Tune-up Extends System Life and Prevents over pressure pipe blowouts

If you haven't done the solar hot water tuneup in the last 3 years......It is time for a Solar Tune-up.
You wouldn’t drive a brand new car for three years without performing the suggested maintenance, right? The same is true for your solar hot water system.
Hawaii’s water can be hard on hot water systems. A small investment now can prevent huge repair bills later.

Email to "solar@pacific-energy.com" to get a sale price slot for your 3-Year Tune-Up at this low price!
(or call 265-5971)

We Highly Recommend The “3 Year Tune-Up”

There are THREE important parts that require periodic replacement, and we do a complete check on the system, controller, pump, valves.
1)      Sacrificial Anode Rod (keeps the whole system from rusting, just like a Zinc on a boat)
2)      Pressure and Temperature Relief Valve (P&T) – Keeps pipes from bursting in the house or under the slab
3)      Pressure Relief Valve – Same, keeps pipes and the solar panels from bursting, except up at the roof level.

Also--do you know?   That the customer is supposed to be doing an annual flush of the tank and panels?    It only takes ten minutes?    Do you know how?    If not this is the perfect time for training or retraining, you just have to be there.


See picture below...a clogged up P&T relief valve.    This may not open, causing a house pipe to over pressure and rupture.



Recently, we have heard about companies offering a “Tune Up” service, and offer to “inspect” the parts and replace if necessary.   We find this to be misleading, since you cannot inspect a P&T Relief Valve unless you shut down the tank, remove the valve, put it on a test bench, and test it. If it passes, they reinstall the old part back into the tank.
Does this make sense to you? Will they really do the test?   It is not possible for a service technician.

We always replace the P&T. If the P&T fails to operate when your tank gets hot and the pressure builds, that pressure might blow a hole in any of your pipes.Those pipes may be on your roof, or underground... Or under your house. If something were to happen, where would it happen?

 

Protect your solar investment and protect your home..

Our service includes 25 other service checks, check the temperature sensors, controller, pump, wiring, timeclock, valves insulation cleanups, and inspections to make sure everything is working the right way. 

And if you add Solar Electric (PV) through our companies within the next 12 months, we will refund the whole cost of the Tune-Up.
 

 

THIS TUNE-UP PRICING WILL APPLY TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS ON OAHU
PRICE IS GOOD UNLESS YOUR SYSTEM IS IN A TIGHT CABINET

3 Year TUNE-UP Preventative Maintenance— 28 Point  Solar Service including:

Replacement of (3) Three very important safety and Corrosion protection items:

1. Sacrificial Corrosion Preventing Anode (to reduce corrosion on tank and whole system)

2. Pressure/Temperature Relief Valve (to relieve pressure from within tank and panels, prevents your plumbing systems from getting over pressurized and possible rupture)

3. Pressure Relief Valve on the Panels for safety and equipment protection.

 Replacement of up to 8 feet of insulation at rooftop, if needed. Coat all insulation on rooftop with protective UV coating.

 25 additional little tune-ups, set point verifications, and system checks.

 Pricing based on good access to the tank. If the tank is in a tight closet or under-house, we may need additional time to complete the task, we may need to even drain and move the tank to allow the replacement of the anode, in these cases we charge $55 /hour for the extra work.

*This price is based upon an easily accessible water heater, if the heater is in a tight closet, or tight area, there will be extra costs.

BIGGEST SALE EVER!

Regular Price - 3 Year Tune Up....................................................        $390 + tax
Winter Sale Jan 17 to Around Feb 15, about ......................................-$50 and we pay the tax
Your Cost...............................................................................................$340 all tax included

All taxes included, does not include any other system problems that we may troubleshoot for you if you are indicating that the system is not performing properly.
See Standard Pricing Sheet for replacement of other components like pumps, controllers, temp sensors, etc.

If you don’t already have a Solar Attic Fan or would like an Additional Solar Attic Fan let us know ahead of time, we do a $150 discount on the Solar Attic Fan, which comes with a 25 year warranty and is the best on the market.   In asphalt shingle, the NET cost after tax credits is around $380!   Do this before you suffer through another summer or have to pay high air-conditioning bills.

Email to solar@pacific-energy.com today to schedule your 3-Year Maintenance at this low price!

Petitition to Restore Solid Support for Nascent Solar Industry

 The solar industry was just breaking into a stride, exactly what a decade of Utility and Governmental support was trying to achieve.     Then the State abruptly chopped off a good amount of support, last year, with a large and confusing tax credit cut.   Then the electrical unions tried to take over the market utilizing DCCA "rules", when that happens, costs will go WAY up.   Then HECO started throwing impediments into peoples way, delaying or not allowing NEM agreements and meters, or adding unexpected costs.

All of these are questionable not just in practicality, but in legality.   There is a long standing State Energy policy related to renewable energy, and that is LAW.

Using temporary administrative rules to change the tax credits is not right.      They should NOT change the LAW--the State Energy policy by using a "temporary decree".

Nor should the DCCA use rules to favor a union over others who have been in the business for decades, there should be a well studied law change to make such a critical decision.

And finally, HECO should not just change the "rules" in midstream.   The rules should be well thought out and only changed by PUC law change.

Amazing that an up and coming industry can be attacked from so many directions. 

How to save electricity

FREE Hot Water Solar System for a Non Profit 501(C)3 Charity on Oahu

Solar HOT WATER System Donation -- FREE!

We are gearing up to do a Charity 501 (c) (3) HOT WATER Solar Donation.         This is not Photovoltaic (solar electric).

We WILL do this system in April of 2013, before the summer rush starts.   This is a $6500 GIFT, do not delay. 

If your organization meets all these requirements, then email us with your information

1) Valid 501 (c) 3 Charity
2) On the Island of Oahu
3) Have an existing electric water heater, and use a good amount of hot water
4) Have room for a 24" diameter solar water heater.
5) You are ready to start saving money right away
6) Must be an organization that directly helps people or animals

REPEAT--this is for solar Hot Water, this IS NOT for solar electric

IF your organization meets all these criteria, please write us with the the Charity name, 501 (c) 3 number, size of existing tank, what your charity does at this facility, and a 1 or 2 line explanation of why you can use solar hot water.

EMAIL to

solar@pacific-energy.com

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We have in stock -- (1) Refurbished 80 gallon tank and (1) 4x10 panel and the balance of system, this will be a complete working system.    This can handle up to 4 people for normal household usage as an example.   The savings would be between $75 and $125 a month.

Your usage can be higher, and we can use the solar tank as a preheater for the your existing tank.    There just need to be room for  a 24" diameter solar tank next to the existing tank. 
 
We are looking for a legitimate Charitable Organization -- 501 (c) (3)

The facility must have an existing hot water heater, preferably electric, and must have significant demands for hot water usage in order to make these really worth it!

The savings from a simple  Hot water solar system can be in the range of $48,000 to $74,000 over the life of the system, so we think this is an awesome gift for someone who can't afford it. Non-profit organizations also cannot use the tax credits, so in order to do a solar they would have to pay "Full List Price".

So this is the perfect way to help out a non-profit charitable organization who has hot water usage. 

If you know the organization that has a need for free hot water, please let us know.





Mahalo!

HECO Bill from recent PV customer

Permit Fees for PV installation

From today's StarAdvertiser.    You can double click below for the larger view. 

Solving Communicating with EMU

Troubleshooting “Connecting” problem

If your Microinverter system is listed by Enphase as “connecting” then something is wrong.  It should connect easily when the right elements are in place.

First questions

1 1) Do you have the EMU and Bridge (the Bridge is a pair of small repeaters or amplifiers which lets you plug in the EMU and one Bridge electrically closer to the microinverters, while the other Bridge goes by your computer router)

2)   Do you have a computer router?    If you want to use the monitoring system you need a computer router, they are not that expensive, around $40 to $50. 

http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Linksys-WRT54GL-Wireless-G-Broadband-Router/dp/B000BTL0OA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1357664609&sr=8-5&keywords=router

We show a wireless router above since they are very common these days, but it doesn’t have to be wireless, and in fact the EMU itself is NOT WIRELESS at all.   Wireless routers also have wired connections ports in the back, you need to plug the EMU (or bridge) into a wired port on the router.

If you don’t have a router and don’t plan on getting one, let us know by email at

solar@pacific-energy.com

and we will stop trying to get you connected

   3)  After the EMU (and maybe the bridges) have been plugged into the power for a while – then does the EMU say “+web” on it?    If not, it means you are not connecting to the web, and until you get it connected to the web, nothing will work on the communications side.   NOTE that it can take some time for the EMU to “find” the router even after plugged directly in (5 to 30 minutes would be normal).  It can take the Bridge even longer to find the Web even when plugged in correctly (5 to 4 hours)

   4) NOTE the lack of a “+Web” communication verification doesn’t affect your power production, the microinverter operate on their own.   The EMU is a monitoring system only, NOT a control system.

   5) Diagrams of Hookup WITHOUT Bridge, and Hookup With Bridge

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Hookup withOUT Bridge

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Hookup WITH THE BRIDGE looks like the below

Electric Vehicle (EV)