Mingary Agrian is now branching into the Solar Hot Water. With our recent accreditation and recognition from the International Brotherhood Of Electricians Solar Hot water is now an option when you consider your sustainability. We offer many varieties of applications from heating your hot water for your household to installing hot water solar collectors and pumps for your swimming pool. Call us any time or email us at mingaragrian@gmail.com if you have any questions and we will be glad to assist you in anyway we can. Our Next big move? Rain Water..Keep an eye out for the details ...read more

   I received an inquiry from a home owner who asked;"How much is a solar system cost and how much power does it produce daily on a sunny day. Please send examples"    The misconception that Solar energy is plug it in and let it rip is far to common. Most folks look at it as if it was a week end project that is set up quite simply with little fore thought. Below is my answer to Tim the customer and I hope it helps anyone looking to solar to understand it is a science, it is relatively simple in operation and it is just as deadly as any electrical service line running to your house off the grid: Hi (name ommited),      I am afraid it is not that simple just to give cost and power generated. In order to do the sizing of a system an energy audit of your last 12 months power and utility bills would be required. This gives me the basic information needed to begin sizing a system. An inventory of your "loads" is also required. This is looking at all the electrical appliances from refrigerators, washer and dryers, heating systems and AC you have and use inside your residence. With this information coupled with your utility bills we can focus on sizing your system.      Once the general audit is done, we have to look at who your energy provider is and if they allow for a grid connected system or if you have to be stand alone. The use of batteries comes into play here as you would have to decide whether you want to use the system just during day light operations or if you want to have the capability of storing the power during the day while running the house electricity during day light hours. You will then be running off the battery stored energy during the evenings. There are "smart meters" that can be used that actually returns power to the grid and actually reverses the power meter the utility has installed. I have been involved with systems that once the switch was thrown the homeowner never saw an electric bill again.      Once these decisions and calculations are made we now look at installation. An on site inspection looks at the location and this helps decide where the array is to be placed. Local building codes have to be researched so the installation is done within the confines of any limitations your community may have.      The array can be put on the ground or if structurally permitted on the roof. I use special equipment and computer programs to finalize the placement of the array. (The array is just the panels them selves and their connecting wires) We then have to look at the placement for the inverter (this takes DC power from the array and converts it to AC power for use by the loads in the house hold.) It is at this juncture we look where to put the inverter, charge control and possible battery supplies.      It is then I can start putting the system requirements on paper, estimate materials, placement of the arrays, sizing of panels, what battery requirements may or may not be needed. This also sets the perimeters for the length and cost of labor for the construction to set the array, the wiring needed which is referred to the the Balance of System components. BOS is hardware from the encasement for the inverter and batteries down to the lag bolts use to mount the arrays.      The final stage is estimation of man hours and the securing of needed permits to begin the project. As you can see, there is no real off the cuff estimate that can be given. If any one contacts you and say's other wise I would be very wary of their offerings. You are dealing with electricity and just because it comes through the quiet conversion of sun irradiation to electricity it is to be well thought out and designed. This is done from your electricity needs in your house and then  going back out to the actual system. DC power is just as capable of killing a person as AC/DC voltage. A certified installer such as myself is required. This is not a week end project such as putting on a roof or pouring a foundation with the help of buddies.      I hope this has given you some insight into your inquiry. Should you decided to move forward I would be delighted to travel down to (City omitted) and do an initial estimate. This is a walk through on your property, I climb roofs, crawl under the house if needed and tell you what direction you would need to go. This service is a flat fee of $250.00 dollars. Should you decided to go with a complete energy audit of your house and get an estimate on sizing we go up to $550.00. This gives you a printed estimate and gives you the facts in hand to decide whether this is truly the way for you to go.regarding solar. With these figures you will then be able to have a material basis on which sizing and labor can be allocated.     Please feel free to call me at the number below if you have any questions about this e mail. I would only be able to give an actual cost estimate by following all the procedures I have listed above.      Solar is definitely growing in popularity and it is indeed coming down in cost compared to a decade or so ago but it is still electricity, and it needs to be approached by a professional. We see solar gadgets such as back packs that can charge your cell phone or I pad and think"It can't be that dangerous, I carry it on my person.      If you have ever been shocked (Which most people have) know that solar energy is maxed out at 600 volts for a residence. Next time you get shocked by a 110 or 220 volt appliance triple that and know you are dealing with electricity and it is not to be toyed or played with. ...read more