FAQs
We hope to help you clarify all your doubts and for this we present this list of questions and answers of each topic. In any case, we invite you to contact us to provide personalized advice.
Photovoltaic System
What is an Interconnected Photovoltaic System?
It is a set of components that by means of photovoltaic technology harnesses the sun's energy to produce electrical energy for use either domestic, commercial or industrial and is linked or connected to the local electrical network (CFE).
How does an interconnected photovoltaic system work?
Does it use batteries?
It is expensive?
How long does it last?
The useful life of a panel of good quality is between 35 and 45 years depending on atmospheric conditions such as the intensity of solar radiation and salinity in the environment.
How much does a panel cost?
It is a very common question, however, we do not sell panels separately but turnkey systems that include calculation of needs, design, installation, procedures with CFE and all necessary components such as power inverter, structures, wiring, etc.
We invite you to contact us to request a personalized and specific quote to your needs.
How much can I save?
You can get a monthly savings of up to 99% of your current electricity cost depending on several factors such as:
- Current consumptions
- Current and residual rate with CFE (residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural irrigation, etc.)
- Available spaces for installation.
- The capital you want to invest.
How do I know if I should buy a system?
If your interest is environmental, convenience is absolute in all cases.
It is very convenient for you if you are in a residential high consumption, commercial rate or if you pay more than $ 2,000 bimonthly pesos.
Also if your rate is residential with subsidy but you are about to install air conditioning or plan to increase your consumption considerably with some electronic equipment.
We recommend you send us your energy bill to receive advice, if you do not have it, do not worry, contact us to advise you and find the best option for you.
What guarantee does it have?
How many panels do I need?
This should be determined through an in-depth analysis where we must consider the geographical location of your property as well as your energy requirements which we can do by reviewing the history on your current energy bill with CFE.
What happens if my property is new or I have no history of consumption?
Can I increase or decrease the size of my equipment at some time?
What is a power inverter?
It is a key and basic component for your system being this the central computer or brain of the system. This fulfills the functions of converting the energy coming from the panels into direct current (DC) and transforming it into alternating current (AC) where at the same time, for interconnected systems, it synchronizes it with the current coming from the CFE network into parameters such as voltage and frequency.
Can I combine types and brands of panels?
It is not recommended for new installations but in the extensions it is possible and it can become 100% functional with the proper advice, calculation and components.
Can they be installed in my company or is it just for my house? (or vice versa)
We can install it anywhere, we are specialists in integral systems for any type of electricity consumption and based on your needs we offer you the best option for you to live and / or functions with solar energy.
How does it work with CFE and SOLAR ENERGY combined?
What happens if I require more energy than calculated to be produced by my system?
Since your property is interconnected to the CFE network, if you require more energy from that produced by your system or stored as yours on the network, you will automatically be provided with CFE energy. You should consider that this additional energy will be charged to your receipt and you will have to pay it according to the corresponding rate of CFE or local supplier.
Does the CFE buy me the energy I produce?
What happens on cloudy days?
What happens when there is a power outage or a considerable increase in voltage in CFE?
Due to regulation and protection, your system detects rises or falls outside the parameters considered normal, cuts off the power supply and disconnects ensuring the integrity of your equipment as well as that of the network. Since the reason for the sudden change could be due to a failure or accident with the possibility of having the wiring or some component compromised, generating a risk for civilians or the CFE technical team.
How long does the installation take?
This will depend on the size and complexity of the area but regularly a residential or commercial installation does not take more than 3 days to complete although for the powering up of the system it takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks due to administrative processes in CFE and the procedures that must be perform for registration, interconnection and finally the change of meter.
Can I install my system?
What maintenance do I have to give and how much does it cost?
Is the equipment dangerous?
No, although it produces high voltage, we take care of leaving everything well protected with special terminals that perfectly isolate the connections, however, its installation is recommended where children do not have access so that they do not introduce conductive materials into the various components or connections.
Is there any government incentive for the purchase of these equipment?
Yes, according to article 34 section XIII of the ISR Law that says:
Deduction to "100% for machinery and equipment for the generation of energy from renewable sources or efficient electricity cogeneration systems".
This means that for Moral and Physical Persons with a tax obligation of ISR, within the first fiscal year (first year) they obtain an additional recovery that can be up to 38% of the total cost of the system, this will be according to your declared amount of profits and the tax tab.
If the payment is made with bank financing, the deduction will be applied according to the payments made each year within the contracted term.
Do you have financing plans?
Solar Heaters
What is a solar heater?
A Solar Heater is a PHOTOTHERMAL device which means that it converts solar radiation into heat that is used to heat fluids such as water.
What uses can I give to a Solar Heater?
How much money can I save with a solar heater?
Regularly a residential Solar Heater will generate from 60 to 85% savings in gas consumption. This will depend on several factors such as the size of the equipment, the amount of solar energy available in your area and very important, the amount and shape that you use hot water.
The cost is amortized on average between one to two years.
How does a solar heater work?
Taking advantage of the technology of high vacuum borosilicate glass tubes that have an inner layer of aluminum or copper nitrate, they absorb heat from solar radiation and transfer it very effectively to water. The water that is heated rises to the tank while more cold water enters the tubes repeating the process.
How long lasts a solar heater?
This depends on the quality of the components, we can offer high quality heaters so they can last up to 25 years, several years longer than a conventional boiler.
What temperature does water reach in a solar heater?
The water obtained can reach 100 ° C (under conditions of higher than atmospheric pressure) so it is also used for industrial or commercial processes, as well as for boilers and steam generators. However, under conditions of regular use in which almost all of the water contained in the tank is extracted every day and the heating process with cold water is started every day, the temperature is usually around 55-70 ° C. which is very convenient considering that the temperature for a shower is between 38 to 42 ° C.
How long does it take to heat the water?
There is no exact figure given that the weather depends on many variables, for example the predominant climate, initial and final water temperature, amount of sun, etc. but an average of 4 to 6 hours of direct and indirect light can be considered.
Will I have hot water early in the morning?
Yes, Solar Heaters have a hot water tank with an insulating coating much better than that of a common boiler, so if the hot water was not consumed at night, it will be available for use early in the morning.
Will the water heat on a cloudy day?
Yes, the technology of these equipment allows them to continue producing hot water even on cloudy days, however this will depend on the intensity of the cloudy. If the cloudy is very closed and constant, with black clouds or even raining, the heating will be reduced a lot although the water in the tank will not cool down so you can continue using hot water until it is finished. You can regularly notice the reduction if you use too much hot water or after about 3 days with these constant weather conditions.
What happens if I run out of hot water from the Solar Heater?
In the event that hot water from the Solar Heater is terminated due to a higher demand than usual, it is recommended to have an electric or gas heater (boiler) as a backup.
Can a solar heater be installed anywhere?
Why is a higher height of the water tank required in relation to the Solar Heater?
How tall should the base of my water tank be?
Can I install a Solar Heater if I don't have roof water tank (Tinaco)?
Yes, regularly a property without a water tank is due to the fact that they have a hydraulic pressure system and for these cases we have High Pressure Solar Heaters.
What is the difference between a Gravity Solar Heater and a High Pressure Solar Heater?
Unlike Solar Gravity Heaters, High Pressure heaters are designed to withstand the changing pressure of hydraulic water distribution networks.
You can see the operation diagram in the “Solar Heater Section”
Can I install a Solar Heater with a hydropneumatic or pressurizing pump?
Yes, we have special models for High Pressure. Our High Pressure Solar Heaters withstand up to 6 Kg / cm2 (85 psi) of working pressure.
Where should I install my Solar Heater?
The most common is that it is installed on the roof, although they can actually be installed anywhere as long as it receives sun. We recommend that it be installed as close as possible to the place where the hot water will be used. Ideally it would be placed on the bathroom to make the direct connection to the hot water line (whenever possible).
Do I have to modify the pipe in my house to install a Solar Heater?
The entire installation of the Solar Heater can be done externally and the connection with the hot water network can be carried out in the Boiler, in this way it is not necessary to modify the existing installation in the house and it can be adapted to practically any place.
Do I need to have a gas or electric boiler as a backup?
Having a gas or electric backup boiler is totally optional. In general, the Solar Heater alone delivers quite a lot of hot water all year round, especially if you live in a warm area and the Solar Heater that was purchased has the right capacity for the number of users. If where you live the weather tends to be cold or with frequent clouds or the Solar Heater you purchased is very small, a gas or electric boiler may be a good option as a backup system.
Check here the options we have for you
If the Solar Heater that I have does not fit me, can I increase its capacity?
Yes, another Solar Heater can be installed in parallel to complement the capacity of the existing system.
Do I need a specialist to install my solar heater? or Can I install it myself?
Installing and connecting a Solar Heater is a laborious but relatively simple task, so if you have knowledge of plumbing, you can install it by following the instructions properly.
Can I use a Solar Heater to heat other liquids?
Yes, although it should be confirmed that the liquid to be heated is not corrosive with stainless steel or incompatible with the silicone seals between the tank and the tubes. A viable option that eliminates these risks is to use an external heat exchanger that is heated with water from the solar heater.
Can I heat a pool with this type of Solar Heater?
Do solar heaters represent a risk?
No, unlike boilers, properly installed solar heaters are completely safe and have no risk of explosion.
What maintenance does a solar heater need?
Since they do not have any mechanical or electrical part to operate, they require a minimum of maintenance that is recommended primarily as a preventive measure for its proper functioning and thereby avoid any damage. It is based on very simple actions which are:
- Cleaning the collector or tubes. Even when its shape, rain and wind keep the tubes clean, it is advisable to clean them at least four times a year to avoid the accumulation of dust, which prevents the proper incidence of sun rays.
- Draining the hot water tank. This should be drained at least once a year to reduce the formation of tartar deposits in its inner lower. It is important to be careful when draining since the water that comes out may be at high temperatures.
- Deep cleaning. It consists of doing a general cleaning to avoid the embedding of solids in the inner walls of the tubes or hot water tank. This type of maintenance is important mainly in places where the water is hard, since in the absence of it, it could gradually lose its proper functioning and reduce its efficiency.
- Pipe insulation It is important to annually check (in cold seasons) the insulation of pipes, to check their good condition and thus avoid heat losses.
- Prevention out of order. When the solar collector is out of service for extended periods, it is necessary to cover it so that it does not get the sun and ensure that it never lacks water, as this can cause irreversible deformations.
Is it true that vacuum tubes explode if heated without water?
What happens if a tube breaks?
The tubes are very resistant since they are made of borosilicate and their shape is cylindrical, they resist the impact of a hail up to 25 mm in diameter. However, if for some reason a tube becomes damaged, it can easily be replaced very economically.
Will my solar heater withstand low temperatures?
Unlike flat-collector Solar Heaters that break when the water inside the tubes freezes, solar vacuum tube heaters can operate without risk of damage at extremely low temperatures (up to -17 ° C).
It is suggested to insulate the hot water pipe so as not to have significant temperature loss in the service line.
Are tube solar heaters more efficient than those of glass plates and copper coil?
If I have to change my address, can I disassemble it to change it to my new house?
Yes. It can be disassembled to move it into parts such as before it was installed and reinstalled in its new location.