Solar, Generator and EV Charger in Holmdel, NJ | 14.26 kW Array, Client Since 2018

Holmdel, NJ · Client since March 2018

David from Holmdel, NJ has been a Green Sun Energy Services client since March of 2018. Three trades since, and every one of them hangs off a 150-amp service – which is the thread running through this whole page.

46 panels and 14.26 kW

Producing by 24 May 2018: 46 all-black Hanwha Q.PEAK DUO 310-watt modules on a SolarEdge inverter, 14.26 kW rated and estimated at 15,153 kilowatt hours in the first year, with eighty feet of critter guard closing the sheltered gap beneath the panels. The inverter is deliberately oversized against the array rather than trimmed to it. The roof needed nothing at all, which is about as easy as a solar install gets.

A 9 kW Generac on sixteen circuits

A Generac in an aluminum enclosure on its own pad, rated 8 kW on natural gas and 9 on propane, feeding a sixteen-circuit essential-circuits transfer switch in a NEMA-3R outdoor enclosure. Deliberately not a whole-house machine. What actually has to keep running at this address is a short list – two sump pumps and a refrigerator – and on a 150-amp service that restraint is not merely sensible, it is close to necessary.

A ChargePoint on a 60-amp circuit, and 144 of 150 amps

October of 2023. A ChargePoint Home Flex on a NEMA 6-50 outlet, on a dedicated 60-amp circuit at 11.5 kW – roughly 36 miles of range an hour. And here is the number that makes this house worth reading about: with the charger included, the calculated minimum service came to 144.66 amps against a 150-amp panel. Under five amps of margin. There is no version of that arithmetic anybody does by eye, and no room left for a fourth large load without upgrading the service first.

Everything on 150 amps

Fourteen kilowatts of solar, a standby generator and a fast car charger, all on a service that most houses of this size would have upgraded years ago. It works because each addition was measured against the same panel rather than assumed onto it. The array reduces what the service has to deliver on an ordinary day. The generator covers only what cannot be allowed to stop, which is why it is nine kilowatts and sixteen circuits rather than something four times the size. The charger fits inside what remains, with less than five amps to spare. That last figure is the useful one on this page: it is the difference between a house that has been designed and a house that has merely been added to, and it is only knowable because somebody did the calculation every single time.

Taking the leap into Solar can be intimidating and confusing. We reached out to Glen and a couple of other groups because we wanted to see if this made sense before the federal tax credit expires next year. Glen simplified everything for us. He has been doing this for a while and he has answers for all the common questions. Glen was very patient with us as we peppered him with questions (sometimes asking the same questions over again). After comparing quotes, Glen's numbers were reasonable and we decided to go with him because of the favorable reviews and the thoroughness with which he explained the process to us. From start to end the communication was excellent, we always knew where we were in the process (a lot of paperwork but they do it all for you). When it came time to do the installation, the crew came and finished everything in less than a day. They cleaned up after themselves and when they left the only remnants of their work were the panels on the roof. It was obvious this was not their first rodeo. Now on this sunny 90+ degree day with two air conditioners humming, I look at the meter outside and see my house if being fully powere by the sun... it is a great feeling! If you are considering solar, I highly recommend Green Sun. They are a class act and the engagement feels more like a partnership than a contractor relationship. Oh yeah, they also installed a gas generator for us and that process was equally professional and pleasurable.

Why David chose Green Sun Energy Services

Professional home EV charging made simple, from electrical design through final inspection.

More than solar panels: a professionally managed energy system, from design and permitting through installation, inspection, activation and ongoing support.

Complete backup power, from sizing and installation to the service that keeps it ready.

What makes Green Sun Energy Services different

• EV charging: installed with certifications from Qmerit, ChargePoint, Enphase, SolarEdge and Tesla, by a licensed electrician and fully managed by our team. On this home: a ChargePoint CPH50-NEMA6-50-L23 EV charger on a 60-amp circuit.
• Solar: design and installation supervised by a NABCEP-certified professional (#PVA-111016-016148), with SolarEdge optimizers on every panel so each one reports its own output. On this home: a 14.26 kW solar array of 46 Hanwha Q.PEAK DUO BLK-G5.1 310 panels, a SolarEdge SE11400A-US000NNR2 inverter, the Ecolibrium Solar mounting system and 80 ft of critter guard.
• Standby generators: installed and serviced as a Generac Authorized Sales and Service Dealer, by factory-authorized Generac technicians. On this home: a Generac 7030 standby generator (9 kW LP / 8 kW NG) running on natural gas, on a 100-amp transfer switch (essential circuits/nema-3r).
• Warranty: backed by a 15-year solar workmanship warranty and a 1-year generator workmanship warranty.
• Local: locally owned and operated in New Jersey since 2010, NJHIC licensed (#13VH06229000), with 35 completed EV charger projects, 138 completed solar projects and 444 completed standby generator projects across Monmouth County and 91 EV charger projects, 361 solar projects and 621 standby generator projects throughout New Jersey.

Our work in Holmdel

Green Sun Energy Services has completed 1 EV charger installation, 11 featured solar projects and 26 standby generator installations in Holmdel. Holmdel, a township in Monmouth County, is served by JCP&L.

A generator is only valuable if it's ready when the power goes out.

Thinking about solar, a standby generator, or an EV charger for your Holmdel home? Tell us about your project here or call 732-410-7818.

Power it. Protect it. Maintain it.

Questions from Holmdel homeowners

EV chargingIs a 40-amp or 48-amp charger better?

A 48-amp charger can deliver more power, but it usually requires a 60-amp circuit and hardwiring. A 40-amp charger commonly uses a 50-amp circuit. The best choice depends on the vehicle, daily driving, service capacity, wire run, and whether faster charging provides meaningful value.

EV chargingAre dryer-outlet splitter devices safe?

Only use listed equipment designed for the exact application and installed according to instructions. EV charging places long-duration load on receptacles and wiring, so improvised splitters or adapters should be avoided.

EV chargingWhy is an EV charger considered a continuous load?

EV charging can run at its maximum draw for many hours, so electrical codes treat it as a continuous load. That is why the circuit is sized with additional capacity rather than matching breaker amperage directly to the charger's output.

SolarWhat does NEC Article 705 cover?

It governs electrical systems where power-production equipment such as solar runs in parallel with another source, normally the utility grid. It is what decides how the array is allowed to connect to the home's service or distribution equipment.

SolarWhat should a Holmdel homeowner look for in a solar company?

One that can design, permit, interconnect, install, commission, monitor and service the system, and explain the structure accurately. That means twelve months of real usage, a realistic production model, correct kW and kWh arithmetic, orientation and shading, structural capacity, the rooftop code requirements, the electrical articles for photovoltaic systems and grid interconnection, rapid shutdown, manufacturer installation instructions, utility interconnection and net metering, incentive registration, roof age and condition, penetration and waterproofing detail, the panel, inverter, mounting and workmanship warranties, monitoring, and service after the installation. The question worth asking is not who quoted least, but which company has designed the best long-term system for the house and will still be able to support it years from now.

Standby generatorHow close to the house can a generator sit in Holmdel?

For the air-cooled models covered by the manufacturer's listed installation guidance, the rear of the generator can be as close as eighteen inches to a qualifying structure when every condition of that listing is met. That eighteen inches is a tested installation dimension, not a zoning setback, and a municipality can require more.

Standby generatorDoes a 200-amp service need a 200-amp transfer switch?

A transfer switch installed in the service path has to be rated appropriately for the service and the configuration. A 200-amp service commonly uses a 200-amp service-rated switch, but the actual design is confirmed by the electrician rather than assumed from the service size.