Habitat-Verde has a large variety of Solar and Wind products.
SOLAR PANELS
Habitat-Verde is a large distributor of solar panels. We carry many brands including Kyocera, Solar World, REC Solar, SUN, Sanyo, SUNTECH, and Evergreen Solar Panels. We offer the lowest prices available on all solar panels.
SOLAR LAMINATES
Laminates are modules that are ready to be framed if desire with junction boxes (J-Boxes) added (pretty much required). Laminates are for off grid applications and they do not need to be framed in order to be used. The power output is the same with an excellent lifetime. They also include a 20 year warranty. Be careful as they are more susceptible to damage due to the edges being unprotected. The modules we sell without J-Boxes, both framed and laminates, require you to design and attach your own waterproof J-Box. You can get parts from an electrical supplier or just Google it on the web. There are dozens of suppliers and they are cheap.
INVERTERS/CHARGERS
The Inverters main function is to collect all the sunlight on your solar panel and change it into current (AC) electricity. An inverter is always required for all solar power systems to make electricity usable. Always use an inverter that is capable of handling the amount of power generated by your panels. The size and specifications of an inverter depends on the max wattage you require for your system.
BATTERIES FOR SOLAR
Batteries are used in Off-Grid and Grid-Tie with Battery Backup systems. They are used to provide backup power during the night and during power outages.
Normally the batteries used in photovoltaic systems are lead acid type. The two main types are Starting and Deep Cycle. Choosing the right type depends on the application. The starting type is used for systems which need a quick and large amount of energy to start, for example starting an engine. Deep cycle batteries can be discharged and recharged continuously. They are compatible with systems which need long-term energy delivery, such as solar and marine applications. There are various types of lead acid batteries: Gel, AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) and Wet. Gel and AGM types are more resistant to degradation and can store more energy. If the system is not used constantly, AGM batteries are a good choice since they can keep their charge much longer than other types. The wet batteries are generally less expensive than the other two.
The other factor for choosing the batteries in a system is the Amp-hour (AH) rating. The AH rating represents the amount of current delivered from the battery over one hour. For example, a 100 AH battery can deliver 5 amps over a 20 hour period or 20 amps over a 5 hour period. The higher the AH rating, the longer it can deliver energy. Note that draining your batteries all the way down to 0% will actually damage the batteries. It is recommended to not discharge your batteries to less than 50% (higher is recommended).
PANEL MOUNTING
Habitat-Verde offers a complete line of roof-mounting systems by Unirac. The rail kits come complete with L-feet (L-brackets) to mount onto your roofing structure. Rails are available in a variety of widths to accommodate different panel sizes. We also have different sized clamps (end-clamps and mid-clamps) to attach your panels to the rails, as well as grounding lugs and stand-offs to make your system complete.
If your mounting needs are unique, such as ground mounting and/or tracking system applications, we can assist you in purchasing these systems as well.
SOLAR CELLS
We have off-spec Evergreen Solar Cells to offer people who want to build their own Solar Panels.
WE STRONGLY DO NOT RECOMMEND BUILDING SOLAR PANELS FOR APPLICATIONS THAT REQUIRE MORE THAN ONE PANEL.
Building your own panel can be a very daunting task.