When designing an off-grid solar energy system, one of the key considerations is determining the appropriate battery capacity. Battery storage ensures that you have a consistent energy suppl… Read More

Florida Solar Desing Group Enphase Off Grid System Training CertificatePreviously, Enphase only allowed their battery systems to be operated in a grid-interactive manner, meaning that you ha… Read More

When we think of home battery systems, we often picture simple energy storage devices. However, many of the latest “batteries” on the market are much more than that. Modern batte… Read More

Remember that solar eclipse back in April 2024? I have been waiting to share some data with you, but we were in the middle of a website refresh, so it took me a bit of time to get this out… Read More

It’s no surprise that off-grid solar is pretty rare in Southwest Florida. Lee, Charlotte, and Collier Counties are densely populated and well-covered by utility services. Off-grid sola… Read More

Are you tired of the noise and hassle of running a portable generator during power outages? As a Florida resident, there’s a smarter, quieter, and more efficient way to keep your light… Read More

The Microgrid Interconnect Device (MID) has had a significant impact on the National Electrical Code (NEC), particularly in the context of distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar phot… Read More

Some people think that swimming pool electric heat pumps use the same amount of power any time they are running. In fact, some people think that heat pumps use less energy as the pool water… Read More

We have been tracking the performance of our Solar Hybrid Electric Pool Heating, and have been able to analyze several sites in detail. The great thing about these systems is we can gather t… Read More

In the world of solar energy, warranties are often touted as a mark of quality and reliability. After all, who wouldn’t want the assurance that their investment in solar panels is prot… Read More

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is all the rage right now. It is beginning to seep into solar panel layout and design work already. The tool we often use to lay out solar panels on roofs has a… Read More

If you already have an Enphase system and you need service from us, this video will show you how to grant Florida Solar Design Group access to the Enphase Enlighten monitoring app. This will… Read More

If you are installing a Tier 2 solar photovoltaic system, you will need to provide evidence that you have $1 million of personal liability insurance. This is usually done through a homeowner… Read More

If you are experiencing reduced solar panel output, buy a lottery ticket. Solar panel failures are exceedingly rare. Most people worry about their solar panel putting out less power over tim… Read More

Solar panels are a weather-dependent technology. Although solar electric panels will generate electricity in all weather, the amount is highly dependent on the irradiance, temperature, visib… Read More

If you are selecting a solar panel based on the degradation rate, I’m here to tell you something. It’s not a degradation rate at all. What you are reading is a promise. It’… Read More

Solar Panel Wire Management Clips Like These Keep Wires Properly Suspended Above The Roof You might think you have asked a solar salesperson all of the essential questions. But did you ever… Read More

It gets hot here in Southwest Florida. And if you didn’t already know, solar photovoltaic panels lose performance as the temperature increases. You heard that right. Solar panels want… Read More

The solar energy industry has exploded in the last several years. At the turn of the century, there were a handful of local solar contractors in Southwest Florida, and a decade later, that r… Read More

Modern lithium ion batteries for solar with battery backup have been around for years now. The early adopter stage is ending, and 2024 is shaping up to be the year for battery backup in Sout… Read More

You might be wondering how to best attach solar panels to a flat roof. There are many ways to do it, but in Southwest Florida we recommend using a Quick Mount PV QBase with Chemlink e-Curbs… Read More

They are called all kinds of things. Solar Generators. Portable Power Stations. Portable Battery Backup. Portable Power Stations. Solar Battery Banks. Whatever. These are just words without… Read More

The choice between a solar pool heater and a pool heat pump depends on various factors, including your specific needs, budget, and your specific pool and home. Here are some considerations f… Read More

In the context of solar power systems, when we refer to inverter ratings being less than solar panel ratings, it means that the capacity or power rating of the solar inverter is lower than t… Read More

The ideal flow rate for a pool heat pump depends on the specific model and specifications of the heat pump, as well as the size of your pool. Generally, heat pump manufacturers provide guide… Read More

We were selected to participate in the Enphase Energy IQ8 Commercial Microinverter beta program. Only a handful of contractors nationwide participated in this important Beta test to allow En… Read More

We are delighted to have surpassed 250 five star Google Reviews as of September 2023. New clients are often quite impressed with this, but our existing clients are not surprised. Why? How di… Read More

You might notice that some solar panels are mounted in landscape (horizontal) and some are mounted in portrait (vertical). Why is that, and how should you mount yours? The answer might surpr… Read More

Solar pool heating can be a great way to heat your pool, but there is an alternative. I once heard the phrase that pool heating is one letter away from pool hating. Heating a pool can be exp… Read More

For mission-critical solar energy projects, when visualizing the outcome is critical, we have you covered. We have the in-house capability to take aerial imagery with drones and superimpose… Read More

The IQ8 series of microinverter has been out for a while now, and it has proven to be another great product from the leading microinverter manufacturer, Enphase. But is the IQ8 better than t… Read More

This is going to be a pretty short article. Unfortunately, it might burst your bubble. The promise of bi-directional Electric Vehicle use for homes, also known as Vehicle to Home or V2H, is… Read More

Most solar panel with battery backup systems have options for how to use your batteries. There is often confusion around this because some of the modes of operation sound great. However, in… Read More

Pentair IntelliFlo 2 VST 3HP Variable Speed Pool Pump If you have a Pentair variable speed pump and receive an Over Current Alarm, this can be caused be a variety of issues. Sometimes this i… Read More

As part of the Enphase IQ family of products, the company has released details on its Enphase IQ Battery 5P. This battery offers some improvements for select clients in Southwest Florida, b… Read More

We are the local leader in solar energy systems installed with Enphase microinverters. You can add battery backup to your grid-interactive solar panel system to provide seamless power to you… Read More

Southwest Florida is one of the top places in the nation for second homes. Whether you own a winter getaway or a vacation rental here, your second home should qualify for the 30% Federal Inv… Read More

Everyone is getting in on the ChatGPT craze. If you don’t know what this is, it’s an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI. It is expected to yield huge changes in… Read More

EVs Have The Promise To Transform Home Backup There has been a lot of buzz about Electric Vehicle batteries being able to power your home. This technology is definitely exciting and has a to… Read More

People engaged in skilled trades seek certifications to show the public that they are vetted as competent persons in their craft. For example, air conditioning has NATE, auto mechanics have… Read More

Enphase provides world-class solar monitoring and unparalleled customer support. When you purchase an Enphase microinverter based solar electric system from Florida Solar Design Group, you w… Read More

Given the prevalence of hurricanes in Southwest Florida, people naturally want to know what kind of wind speeds solar panels can handle. Unfortunately, that’s a loaded question with no… Read More

We love Enphase around here, but sometimes they really don’t think things through and cause solar contractors a lot of unnecessary grief. You would not believe how many calls/emails/te… Read More

This is the guide the other guy doesn’t want you to know. This is the quiet part said out loud. This is the inside scoop on solar financing. Financing a solar electricity system can be… Read More

The Florida Administrative Code is where we find the Net Metering Rule for Florida. Utility companies are bound by this law, and each has an interconnection agreement form that is approved b… Read More

I’m sure the question, “how much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle,” is Googled many thousands of times per day. There are rules of thumb and anecdotal answers fro… Read More

People ask us sometimes if we do ground-mounted solar panels. Solar photovoltaic systems can be mounted on traditional solar rails with engineered racking systems. And, YES, we install solar… Read More

In case you missed it, the Florida legislature passed a significant change to the Net Metering laws in Florida. These are the rules that allow solar energy producers to “sell” ex… Read More

Solar energy with battery backup is increasing in popularity as technology evolves and systems become less expensive and more consumer-friendly. Enphase’s Encharge batteries, part of t… Read More

Demand Charges Change the Calculus I don’t want to be rude, but I think you will agree – most people are clueless about how utility companies charge for electricity. That is doub… Read More

The Enphase Enlighten app comes standard with every Enphase microinverter system we install. This app is free from the manufacturer and allows you to view your system performance. We create… Read More

Watch this video to learn what it means when you get large bubbles in the pool when your solar pool heating system starts up each time. When your pool pump shuts off or your solar panels sh… Read More

Enphase has launched the new IQ8 microinverter, which comes with the promise of allowing you to use your solar panels off-grid without batteries. Until now, solar panels were either grid-int… Read More

Automated Solar Pool Heating Valve Manifold Explained In this video, we explain how our automated solar valve heating manifolds work. The manifold shown here is based on our standard valve s… Read More

This video shows you how to determine if your solar pool heating valve actuator is in the correct position and how to change it with the toggle switch. While we use the Pentair SolarTouch so… Read More

There is a practice in the solar energy industry that you should know about. Door-to-door selling has been around forever. The people that sell solar door-to-door really don’t sell any… Read More

I have a suggestion. Read the question carefully. What answer makes sense to you? Solar Panels On A Roof Get A Tax Credit, But Not Including New Roofs There are many solar contractors and sa… Read More

The solar electricity term “clipping” refers to energy that is lost when a solar panel’s output potential exceeds the amount of power that an inverter can convert. That sou… Read More

It’s a common call that we get – something along the lines of, “I’m getting ready to put drywall up and I was wondering, is there anything we need to do to prepare fo… Read More

Unheated pool temperatures are essentially the average of the nighttime low and daytime high ambient temperatures. It’s well known, and not surprising, that swimming pool temperatures… Read More

Warning: You might need a shower after reading this article. The Solar Panel Sales Industry Is Sleazy Our colleagues may not like this airing of dirty laundry. Call it what you want –… Read More

We have said it before – solar domestic water heating is dead. Heating water for household use in Florida sounds like a good idea, but is it really? To know for sure, you have to have… Read More

If you’re wondering why it’s been a while since our last post, we’ve been insanely busy. We were fortunate enough to earn the business of some commercial customers and have… Read More

Solar Panels Expertly Installed on a Tile Roof You spent a lot of money on your tile roof. And now you want solar panels. Obviously, you want to make sure that your new roof will not leak. T… Read More

The Pentair Superflo VS is being re-released with some new automation functionality. We previously recommended against this pump for a couple of reasons, primarily due to the analog automati… Read More

Grid-interactive solar panels cease to operate when the sun goes down. They also shut down when there is a utility outage. That is unless you have batteries. It’s a common misconceptio… Read More

Most clients who install solar panels just do grid-interactive systems that offset utility electricity usage. The solar panels cease to function during a power outage. This is (by far) the m… Read More

In the industry, we make fairly broad generalizations about how much you will save with solar panels. We can’t tell you what your electric bill will be because we can’t control y… Read More

Please excuse the fingerprints! We recently finished a solar panel installation in Naples, FL using all-black REC Alpha 360W Solar Panels. These are really sleek looking and have great perfo… Read More

I tell people all the time… don’t get so wrapped up on solar panel efficiency. I get it – you want the best. The most efficient solar panel on earth sounds exactly what yo… Read More

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to eliminate your electric bill? How exactly does that look? Well, let’s just cut to the chase: A FPL utility bill for a net-zero so… Read More

Our prospective clients agonize over their choices when searching for a solar electricity system. What’s the right solar panel, the right inverter, the right mounting system? Who is th… Read More

This article is intended for our colleagues who install whole-home generators in Southwest Florida. Licensed electricians often don’t realize they are creating a hazardous situation th… Read More

When considering options for a solar photovoltaic system, reliability is an obvious factor. Most clients first ask about solar panel reliability. However, solar panels are very reliable, and… Read More

When hurricane season comes around there is always a renewed interest in solar panels and batteries. Clients wonder if they should consider solar power instead of a whole home generator. Bu… Read More

Some people get really hung up on warranties. I get it – peace of mind, especially when buying an expensive and unfamiliar product, has value. But what is a solar module warranty reall… Read More

There is a bit of a myth out there that 60-cell solar panels are made for residential installations and 72-cell are for industrial and utility-scale use. There are pros and cons of using eac… Read More

I find it very strange that solar photovoltaic system proposals and contracts often leave out one of the most important things. How are you attaching them to the roof? It seems like an obvio… Read More

Well, maybe not YOUR roof, but you would be surprised at how many people we have to let down. Not every roof is great for solar panels. This can be a big disappointment to homeowners. Believ… Read More

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Florida Solar Design Group wants to let our customers know how we are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This page will provide up to date information regarding our operating schedule, pre… Read More

Sometimes there are obstructions shading the location where solar panels are going to be installed. It is critical to evaluate shading over the course of the days of the year and hours of th… Read More

Oftentimes the work a “competitor” does leaves me shaking my head (SMH). We received a call from a super nice lady in Naples, FL who purchased a solar photovoltaic system from an… Read More

Quick Mount PV QBase Universal Tile Mount With QRail Racking and Enphase Microinverters If you are building a new home or installing a new tile roof, in our opinion there is only one preferr… Read More

You might have heard about a solar co-op coming to your town. These community solar projects promise to bring you lower costs and peace of mind when making a solar panel purchase for your ho… Read More

Enphase, the leading manufacturer of microinverters, has started training dealers for its upcoming Ensemble battery system. This is an exciting new entrant to the budding Lithium battery ind… Read More

Some people only want solar panels if they can offset their entire electricity bill. But does that make sense? Grid-Interactive solar energy systems work with the grid to reduce your monthl… Read More

Fort Myers is obviously a GREAT place for solar photovoltaic panels. Also known as solar electricity, these systems are primarily designed to offset your electricity bill. These are usually… Read More

The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit has been a popular credit that has driven growth in the industry. Since it’s inception it has been a 30% credit on the total investment that com… Read More

One of the goals our clients bring to us is a net zero home. This means they want to generate as much energy with solar panels as they consume on an annual basis. It doesn’t mean off-g… Read More

Sometimes we see shockingly poor workmanship on solar energy systems. What’s more shocking is when solar contractors argue that the work is acceptable. One pet peeve of mine is poor wi… Read More

Enphase IQ7+ Microinverter. Microinverters provide the best in fire safety by minimizing DC voltage and eliminating DC wiring beyond each solar panel. When businesses contemplate a solar pan… Read More

Solar pool heating panels can be installed in partially shaded areas with careful planning. This solar pool heater was installed on a west roof and oversized to account for partial shading t… Read More

Southwest Florida is one of the best markets in the nation for solar pool heating. Why? Because it works SO WELL here! But where in Southwest Florida is solar pool heating most popular? We t… Read More

If you are looking for the cheapest way to heat your Florida pool, you have come to the right place. It’s a bit of a loaded question, but we will walk you through the options and relat… Read More

We are shining the light on solar cooperatives in Florida. Purchasing a solar energy system can be a major decision with daunting research required before making a purchase. Solar cooperativ… Read More

I hate to break it to you, but your electric car runs on natural gas – with a little nuclear power mixed in. The dealer didn’t tell you that, did they? We’re being a little… Read More

One of the greatest challenges we face as solar professionals is explaining to people how solar power and battery backup have little to do with one another. How did these concepts come to be… Read More

Enphase is the world’s leading microinverter manufacturer, and they have always been at the forefront of solar panel monitoring. One of the most revolutionary benefits of microinverter… Read More

Over the last several days I have heard on the radio and TV that inland rain will affect Southwest Florida. Over the last 35 years living here, I have always noticed that afternoon rain come… Read More