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Inspecting a Solar Power System Before Buying a Solar Home
Thu 31 May 2007 - 12:36
Inspecting a Solar Power System Before Buying a Solar Home
By Chad Hartman
Let's say you've made an offer on a new or retrofitted solar home. It may be a passive solar design or it may have a solar electric system or both. How can you make sure it works as advertised and you are getting what you paid for?
First, you need to know what's in the solar system. The seller should disclose to all buyers exactly what solar equipment is included in the sale. It must be in writing. If it's not clear, ask for a specific list of solar equipment from the seller or through your real estate agent. You may want to have the seller or agent show you each component included on the solar power system list. Or you may want to hire an inspector or solar power expert to check out each component.
Remember that passive solar power systems are nothing more than properly placed south facing windows with a roof overhang for summer shading and something inside to soak up the heat, often a tile or cement floor. There aren't any "components" to passive solar power systems other than solar-conscious design.
In most states, real estate law says that if it is attached to real estate, it is real estate. And if it isn't attached, it's personal property. Personal property included in a real estate sale must be listed to be included. For example a refrigerator is personal property, buy an installed door is real estate. That rule suggests that any attached solar power equipment sold with the home is probably considered part of the home. However, to be safe, make sure that it is specifically listed in your offer to buy.
Now that you know what's included in the solar home system you're buying, you can inspect it. Use the sellers list of what's included as a guide in your inspection. As needed, hire an experienced solar electrical contractor to do or help you with the inspection. If an agreement has been signed to supply power to a local utility, ask the utility to send an inspector so you can check things out together.
What should you look for as you inspect a solar power system?
- If the system is new. Check all the building permit, owners manuals, and other solar system documentation to make sure its complete.
- If retrofitted to the house, inspect all building permits to ensure that installation was completed according to local electrical codes.
- Follow the system from where it starts (PV modules or heating coils) to its end (main power panel or hot water heater), asking questions and looking at condition.
- Verify that the output is what the owner says it is; that is, check the amount of current and voltage or the hot water temperature delivered to the solar home.
- Make sure the system has adequate safety equipment such as ground-fault interrupters (GFIs), lightning arrestors, fuses, and circuit breakers.
- Look for obvious problems such as birds' nests around PV modules, damaged cable or wire, broken frames, inoperable gauges, or other conditions that can impact operation or safety.
- If the system includes other power sources (grid, wind, water, generator), carefully inspect the equipment and interconnection.
- Make sure that you are knowledgeable about the system and comfortable with its safe operation before purchasing a home with a solar power system.
Chad Hartman is a Solar Home supporter and a staff writer for Go-Solar.org. To learn more about solar energy and how you can benifit from it, please visit our site at:
http://Go-Solar.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chad_Hartman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Inspecting-a-Solar-Power-System-Before-Buying-a-Solar-Home&id=586291
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