Alcorn Electric LLC

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS,

1. Do I need a new roof? We do recommend a roof in good shape, it does not have to be new but free from leaks, rot, or missing shingles. We can remove your system when you need to replace your roof, its NOT an expensive or timely project.   All types of roofs work just fine except shake shingles or tile roofs.

2. How durable are the panels?  VERY, its takes a 3 inch diameter hail stone at a direct hit to crack a panel, our panels in most all cases will be put in at a tilt, so it would be a glancing blow, plus they will be covered on your home owners insurance.

3. How do our rebates work?  The Federal 30% no cap CREDIT, is money you DO get back at the end of the year, unless you own in, then the deduct that CREDIT money from what you owe.  The rebate from Ameren U.E., while it lasts, is a $2.00 a watt rebate that you get back as soon as they are satisfied that all work is up to their standards and all approved. Then they will issue you a check in full.

4.  Do the panels have to go on our house?  No, we can install a “panel tree” and put then out in the yard/field or on a barn, shed, etc.

5. Is there any warrantee with this solar kit?  Yes, the solar P.V panels have a 25 year warrantee,  the inverters have a 15 year warrantee, and all workmanship from Alcorn Electric has  10 year warrantee.

6. Is there any maintenance? VERY little, they recommend that you spray them off with a water hose if there has been no rain in a long time  and you live in a dusty area. 

7. What is a EMU? An Electronic Monitoring unit can be installed in your home and hooked to your computer so you can monitor you electrical usage, electrical production from your system, it also lets you know that all of your panels and inverters are working properly. It is fed from a constant satellite feed directly to your home. It also shows you how much carbon pollution your  NOT putting into our atmosphere.

8. Does this improve my homes value?  YES, it adds approximately $2.30 for every one dollar you spend on your system. They figure this by looking at the next home owner buying this house with FREE electric for life.

9. Can I get money back for the extra electric I produce? YES in most cases, some power companies will buy your electric back at a smaller price than you pay for it, but it wont be long until they have to give you full price like in California,  Texas,  Alabama,  Louisiana, Arizona, etc.   Other power companies will give you credits, so if you produce more in one month, those credits can be used at a later date. 

10. Do I have to have batteries?  NO, we do not recommend the battery back up system unless you just absolutely want to get off the grid, or live in a remote area where electric is not offered.  The batteries cost so much it doubles your system cost and they must be maintained weekly, they don’t like extreme heat or cold and their life expectancy is approximately seven years.

11. How does your system work?  Alcorn Electric recommends the “NET METERING” system, that’s where we tie into the power companies utilities, using the power YOU produce FIRST, and then  using the power co. electric as you need it. During the day while your away, your meter will spin back wards and then when your home and start using more power than your producing, then the meter will begin to slowly spin forward.

12. Will my system work in the cloudy, rainy, and in icy conditions?  Absolutely, Your solar PV panels do not work off heat, they work of UV rays, so regardless of the outside conditions, you WILL produce electric, it may not be full force like on a beautiful sunny day, but you will produce electric as long as there is some sun out. Your system will start producing as soon as the sup peaks up in the morning until it goes down at night, “solar peak hours” are then sunniest hours of the day, in our area that’s  from about 11:00 am until 4:00 pm. 

13. How come the systems are so expensive, I can find panels on the internet cheaper?  Well most cheap panels you can find on the internet are not quality panels, (its like that car radio amplifier at Wal-Mart that claims its 2000 watts when its actually only 200 watts). It may put out 2000 watts but its all distorted and sounds awful, it’s the same with solar panels, they may claim to be 220 watt panels but the short circuit resistance is 45 watts, so that’s all you ACTUALLY get.  Also most of those panels are not UL approved and you can not get a rebate, and your home owners insurance will not cover you if they know about them. Solar installation is fairly complicated, that’s why it cost Alcorn Electric $12,000 to go to school to get certified.  Solar insulation can be dangerous if not done correctly. It is NOT a good idea to use less than top quality panels, equipment and have a professional licensed, certified  installer do your work for you.

14. How do the systems hold up in strong winds?  We use top of the line UNI-RACK railing system, they are designed to withstand 90 mile an hour straight line winds at a minimum. 

15.Does shading hurt the solar PV system? YES, we do not want any shading, you may have to cut or trim trees to have a system, or put it on a “PV TREEFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Do I need a new roof? We do recommend a roof in good shape, it does not have to be new but free from leaks, rot, or missing shingles. We can remove your system when you need to replace your roof, its NOT an expensive or timely project.   All types of roofs work just fine except shake shingles or tile roofs.

2. How durable are the panels?  VERY, its takes a 3 inch diameter hail stone at a direct hit to crack a panel, our panels in most all cases will be put in at a tilt, so it would be a glancing blow, plus they will be covered on your home owners insurance.

3. How do our rebates work?  The Federal 30% no cap CREDIT, is money you DO get back at the end of the year, unless you own in, then the deduct that CREDIT money from what you owe.  The rebate from Ameren U.E., while it lasts, is a $2.00 a watt rebate that you get back as soon as they are satisfied that all work is up to their standards and all approved. Then they will issue you a check in full.

4.  Do the panels have to go on our house?  No, we can install a “panel tree” and put then out in the yard/field or on a barn, shed, etc.

5. Is there any warrantee with this solar kit?  Yes, the solar P.V panels have a 25 year warrantee,  the inverters have a 15 year warrantee, and all workmanship from Alcorn Electric has  10 year warrantee.

6. Is there any maintenance? VERY little, they recommend that you spray them off with a water hose if there has been no rain in a long time  and you live in a dusty area. 

7. What is a EMU? An Electronic Monitoring unit can be installed in your home and hooked to your computer so you can monitor you electrical usage, electrical production from your system, it also lets you know that all of your panels and inverters are working properly. It is fed from a constant satellite feed directly to your home. It also shows you how much carbon pollution your  NOT putting into our atmosphere.

8. Does this improve my homes value?  YES, it adds approximately $2.30 for every one dollar you spend on your system. They figure this by looking at the next home owner buying this house with FREE electric for life.

9. Can I get money back for the extra electric I produce? YES in most cases, some power companies will buy your electric back at a smaller price than you pay for it, but it wont be long until they have to give you full price like in California,  Texas,  Alabama,  Louisiana, Arizona, etc.   Other power companies will give you credits, so if you produce more in one month, those credits can be used at a later date. 

10. Do I have to have batteries?  NO, we do not recommend the battery back up system unless you just absolutely want to get off the grid, or live in a remote area where electric is not offered.  The batteries cost so much it doubles your system cost and they must be maintained weekly, they don’t like extreme heat or cold and their life expectancy is approximately seven years.

11. How does your system work?  Alcorn Electric recommends the “NET METERING” system, that’s where we tie into the power companies utilities, using the power YOU produce FIRST, and then  using the power co. electric as you need it. During the day while your away, your meter will spin back wards and then when your home and start using more power than your producing, then the meter will begin to slowly spin forward.

12. Will my system work in the cloudy, rainy, and in icy conditions?  Absolutely, Your solar PV panels do not work off heat, they work of UV rays, so regardless of the outside conditions, you WILL produce electric, it may not be full force like on a beautiful sunny day, but you will produce electric as long as there is some sun out. Your system will start producing as soon as the sup peaks up in the morning until it goes down at night, “solar peak hours” are then sunniest hours of the day, in our area that’s  from about 11:00 am until 4:00 pm. 

13. How come the systems are so expensive, I can find panels on the internet cheaper?  Well most cheap panels you can find on the internet are not quality panels, (its like that car radio amplifier at Wal-Mart that claims its 2000 watts when its actually only 200 watts). It may put out 2000 watts but its all distorted and sounds awful, it’s the same with solar panels, they may claim to be 220 watt panels but the short circuit resistance is 45 watts, so that’s all you ACTUALLY get.  Also most of those panels are not UL approved and you can not get a rebate, and your home owners insurance will not cover you if they know about them. Solar installation is fairly complicated, that’s why it cost Alcorn Electric $12,000 to go to school to get certified.  Solar insulation can be dangerous if not done correctly. It is NOT a good idea to use less than top quality panels, equipment and have a professional licensed, certified  installer do your work for you.

14. How do the systems hold up in strong winds?  We use top of the line UNI-RACK railing system, they are designed to withstand 90 mile an hour straight line winds at a minimum. 

15.Does shading hurt the solar PV system? YES, we do not want any shading, you may have to cut or trim trees to have a system, or put it on a “PV TREE”.