PV General Information
PV Equipment
Solar Integrated roof tiles are designed to be installed utilizing string line inverter wiring sets and “stringing” individual roof tiles together. A string solar inverter converts all of the direct current (DC electricity) in strings of roof tiles into usable alternating current (AC electricity). Making the system compatible with mainstream PV equipment , including wiring components , inverters, battery backups, and complete system monitoring Apps, providing clients with a variety of accessory options.
Clients have the option to select accessories at the original initial time of a Solar Tile Roof purchase or add accessories at a later date. Though a standard solar inverter is a mandatory system requirement and will be included in specific project pricing.
Standard – Solar inverter
An essential piece of equipment required for all solar power systems.
Simply put, a solar inverter transforms the direct current energy generated by a Solar Tile Roof to alternating current, this is required so that your home and utility grid can use the energy created.
Option – Battery Backup
Receive immediate 24/7 Outage Protection from power outages with a battery backup device charged by a connected Solar Tile Roof solar energy-producing roof system. A battery backup stores energy for later consumption, and the stored energy may be consumed after sundown, during energy demand peaks, or during a power outage.
Clients, who receive project specific pricing are advised to inform the Solar Tile Roof representative of any specific energy accessories requirements they are particularly considered in purchasing immediately and or possibly in the future.
Upon determining the roof placement of the active and the non-active roof tiles, the solar engineer will then, for maximum safety & efficiency, provide to the Installation Contactor Service Providers the PV installation wiring diagram mapping out exactly where to apply all of the PV Equipment on the roof and building structure.
System App
A Solar Tile Roof solar integrated roof tile system is designed to integrate with mainstream PV components such as 24/7 System Monitoring devices – please contact Solar Tile Roof directly to review App system monitoring capabilities.
Active Roof Tiles
Active roof tiles are available in different styles, sizes, and colors/films with varying energy output capabilities, though each is designed with the same principle and components.
Active roof tiles have glass-covered solar cells on top. A single solar cell size is 6.5” x 6.5” with a maximum approximate output of 5 watts. The total amount of solar cells per Active roof tile is relevant to its size and shape.
The average exposed active roof tile size is 13” x 13” including 4 solar cells = maximum approximate output of 20 watts per square foot of roof coverage area.
Active interlocking roof tile actual size.
Back of An Active Tile
Active Tiles
High Efficiency & Light-Trap-Effect
The PV structure offers “trap-effect” for incoming light beams, once beams are absorbed in the glass they are trapped. The light will then drop directly onto the solar cells making the active roof tiles more efficiently in twilight than other conventional photovoltaic modules.
Also, the sophisticated use of the light in the glass makes it possible for East & West positioned roofs [slanting incoming light] to generate power and raise the power and efficiency up to 3.5 % in normal light and up to 20% more in twilight & early morning or evening hours.
Glass Design
Standards
NEC
The National Electrical Code (NEC), or NFPA 70, is a United States standard for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment. It is part of the National Fire Codes series published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Disclaimer – The following information is not to be treated as installation instructions or guidance, rather the following particulars are intended for general informational purposes only.
All roof systems are installed based on the elevated batten & breathable roof system theory.
Specifically, an elevated batten roof system is best at preventing water or moisture from remaining on the roof – water is allowed to escape the roof area much faster with uniformity.
The continuous flowing air space created between the underside of the roof tiles and the roof deck acts to keep the area dry with far less risk of mold build up while the air is also acting as a home and roof insulator adding to home energy-saving costs. See Cool Roof.
By allowing the roof to breathe and vent and the home to be insulated, the life expectance of a Solar Tile Roof system is greatly prolonged.
Caution; non – elevated roof batten systems restrict roof ventilation /airflow and as well trap water and moisture in-between the roof deck and the underside of the roof tiles causing higher mold content, ice damning, rapid deterioration of the waterproofing underlayment and greater likely hood of roof leak.
Elevated batten system
Standards
Solar Tile Roof solar integrated roof tile systems may only be installed by a pre-authorized Installation Contracting Service Provider utilizing an elevated batten system in accordance with TRI, ASTM, and CSA advanced roof tile installation standards for extreme weather conditions. Specifically, refer to sections on advanced elevated batten & ventilation.
TRI
Tile Roofing Industry Alliance of North America
https://tileroofing.org/wp-content/uploads/TRI-Installation-Guide-2015-1.pdf
ASTM
Following are ASTM International standards for concrete roof tiles:C1492-03(2016), Standard Specification for Concrete Roof Tile.
Information about this standard is available at www.astm.org/c1492-03r16.html
CSA
CAN/CSA-A220 SERIES-06 (R2016), Concrete Roof Tiles consists of two standards:
CSA A220.0, Performance of concrete roof tiles and
CSA A220.1, Installation of concrete roof tiles.
See www.csagroup.org/store/product/2418458 for further information.
Patented concealed batten hook to prevent tile movement particularly during wind/storm uplift
Back of roof tile with concealed batten hook
Solar interlocking size # 1 on elevated battens.
The Patented Elevated Clip System
The system may be applied utilizing the patented elevated clip system in conjunction with TRI, ASTM and CSA tile advanced installation roof standards for extreme weather conditions.
Patented elevated clip system, creating approximately 2 inches of space between the roof deck and the underside of the roof tile for superior ventilation and cooling.
Caution; non – elevated roof batten systems restrict roof ventilation /airflow and as well trap water and moisture in-between the roof deck and the underside of the roof tiles causing higher mold content, ice damning, rapid deterioration of the waterproofing underlayment and greater likely hood of roof leak.
