Solar PV Modules come in a variety of sizes and appearances, although the most common sizes produce up to 125-200 watts and are about 2.5 ft x 5 ft. Solar PV modules produce electricity when bathed in sunlight; they have no moving parts and make no noise. Solar modules are laminated and protected by tempered glass that is tested to withstand 3/4"-diameter hail.

Namaste Solar mainly sells solar PV modules manufactured by SunPower, Sharp, and Kyocera. SunPower, headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, has developed a solar cell that has the highest conversion efficiency available for the mass market. Sharp and Kyocera are Japanese electronics companies that are among the top three solar PV manufacturers in the world. They have excellent reputations for quality products, strong environmental records, and exemplary corporate governance histories. All three manufacturers provide performance-based warranties that their module outputs maintain no less than 80% of their rated power for 25 years.

Worldwide demand for solar modules has increased dramatically in recent years (especially in Japan, Germany, Spain and the USA) and has grown by almost 40% per year over the past decade. As a result, demand is now out-pacing supply, causing a module shortage that has resulted in increasing prices and 2+ month lead times on module orders. Despite industry-wide shortages, Namaste Solar maintains a healthy stock of modules in inventory.


Inverters convert DC (direct current) electricity that is produced by solar PV modules to AC (alternating current) electricity that is commonly used by homes and businesses. Inverters operate silently and interface seamlessly with the utility grid. When batteries are included in your system, the inverter draws power from them as required and prevents the batteries from being over-discharged.

Namaste Solar uses inverters made by Fronius, SMA, PVPowered, and Outback. All these manufacturers make quality equipment backed by 5 to 10 year warranties. The choice of which inverter to use in any given system rests primarily with matching array size to the most appropriately sized inverter.






Mounting Frames securely fasten your PV panels to a stable structure, such as a roof. There are many options that ensure flexibility in mounting your panels for maximum solar production and aesthetic value. Panels may be secured to the roof of your home, on an outbuilding such as a garage or on a specially-built patio shade structure. Mounting options also include "ground mounts" such as a concrete pad poured in the ground, "pole mounts" on steel poles and "tracking mounts" on poles that can track the path of the sun over the course of the day. Namaste Solar mostly uses mounting hardware from Unirac.




Monitoring Equipment provides system performance information in a convenient display format. All inverters include a readout screen showing basic real-time system performance. However, some people would like to keep track of their system performance on their home computer, on the web, or using a table-top or wall-mounted console. Most inverter manufacturers offer options for monitoring equipment, both hard-wired and wireless, and we would be happy to discuss these various options with you. For large-scale projects requiring sophisticated web-based monitoring or for lobby kiosks, Namaste Solar uses monitoring equipment developed by Fat Spaniel Technologies.




Safety Equipment is required to ensure that solar PV systems operate safely. The National Electric Code requires certain fuses and disconnects be added to the system. Typically a disconnect is required between each component of the system: one between the solar array and the inverter and one that allows the utility company to disconnect your system from the grid. There is also a required sign that indicates where this disconnect switch is located, in order to be easliy recognized by utility workers and firefighters.

Utility Meters must be of a specific type to allow net-metering and grid-interconnection. The Utility company will provide a “net meter” that will spin bi-directionally, thereby allowing the meter to spin backwards and credit you for the electricity you produce.

Batteries store power for later use. Optional in grid-tie systems, batteries provide back-up power in the event of a power outage. For stand-alone systems, batteries store energy produced during peak sunshine periods and provide power when needed: at night or during periods of cloudy weather. There are two main types of batteries: "Sealed" or "Wet-Cell." Wet-cell batteries offer the most affordable and durable choice for applications requiring frequent battery discharge, such as an Off-Grid remote power needs. For remote homes, weekend cabins or RVs, wet cell batteries are often the best choice. For grid-tie systems with battery back-up, where the batteries spend most of the time waiting for a grid failure, sealed batteries are the best choice. Though more expensive, sealed batteries require no maintenance, produce no off-gassing and are more durable over the long-term when spending most of the time in a full state of charge.