Trinity Photo voltaic Overview: How It Stacks Up | Digital Noch

Whereas the residential photo voltaic trade is not in its infancy, an organization that began putting in photo voltaic in 2004 is among the outdated guard. That is Trinity Photo voltaic, which fashioned a decade earlier, centered on HVAC. It is now one of many 10 largest photo voltaic firms putting in residential photo voltaic panels within the US. 

The photo voltaic panels, inverters and battery choices Trinity affords are of excellent high quality, with robust warranties (and are in style decisions for different firms, as effectively). All indicators point out that it is an organization that delivers robust customer support, too. Trinity trails another photo voltaic firms within the warranties it affords clients who buy its system, though lease and energy buy settlement clients obtain protection at some point of their settlement. 

Trinity Photo voltaic scores effectively as a result of it affords high quality tools and customer support that seems to be robust. Nevertheless, Trinity would not share pricing info, and lots of firms are dinged for this in our scoring methodology. Because it’s probably you are seeking to photo voltaic partly for financial savings advantages, it is laborious to offer a whole suggestion with out pricing info.

This overview is not based mostly on any hands-on testing or firsthand expertise with ordering and set up, so it could not provide a full image of whether or not Trinity suits your particular scenario. If you’re looking for photo voltaic panels, you need to get a number of quotes, together with from smaller native photo voltaic firms which will have much less overhead and might probably give you a greater deal. Speak to neighbors who’ve photo voltaic and perceive your vitality wants earlier than selecting an installer. Our overview of Trinity — and of all of the photo voltaic firms we overview — will be a part of your procuring course of, nevertheless it should not be the one steerage.

What do I get from Trinity Photo voltaic?

If you’re looking for photo voltaic panels, the panels, inverter and (probably) the battery are vital items of the larger image. For those who purchase from Trinity Photo voltaic, you need to anticipate high quality tools.

What tools does Trinity Photo voltaic set up?

Trinity Photo voltaic installs Qcells photo voltaic panels, though it may set up one thing else if a buyer requests it, mentioned Kristen Drigon, a spokesperson for Trinity Photo voltaic. The broadly used residential photo voltaic panels from Qcells, one of many largest photo voltaic panel producers on the planet, have prime effectivity scores from 20.6% to twenty.9%. Effectivity measures the quantity of daylight the panels convert to electrical energy. Qcells’ scores imply the panels are among the many most effective panels, simply shy of some choices from different firms together with SunPower.

Trinity prefers to put in SolarEdge inverters, Drigon mentioned. SolarEdge makes a string inverter that may hook up with energy optimizers. SolarEdge inverters have excessive efficiencies (as much as 99%, relying on the mannequin) and include a 12-year guarantee that may be prolonged to twenty or 25 years. For sure tasks, Trinity makes use of Enphase microinverters, which function at 97% to 97.5% effectivity.

Trinity additionally installs quite a lot of batteries, together with fashions from Tesla and Generac. Tesla Powerwall batteries maintain 12.2 kilowatt-hours of usable vitality, though you’ll be able to add a number of batteries. Tesla Powerwall is a battery broadly utilized by photo voltaic installers. It may possibly present 13.5 kWh of vitality in complete, at a charge of 5.8 kVA repeatedly or 7.2 kVA for 10 seconds at a time. Powerwall guarantees 70% capability over 10 years, no matter how a lot the battery is used, so long as it is used simply to again up your own home. 

Generac PWRcell batteries begin at 9 kWh and will be elevated in 3 kWh increments as much as 36 complete. Generac’s batteries can discharge about 1.1 kilowatts repeatedly per battery module. For instance, a 9 kWh setup (3 battery modules) can discharge repeatedly at a charge of three.4 kW. The batteries can discharge at a peak of 1.5 kW, so a 9 kW setup will discharge at a charge of 4.5 kW. PWRcell batteries additionally include a guaranty that is good for 10 years or till 7.65 megawatt-hours cycle by the battery per module. (A 3-module, 9 kWh battery could be below guarantee for 10 years, or till 22.95 megawatt hours cycle by it.)

Whereas Trinity Photo voltaic favors sure tools and producers, provide chain points have impacted the photo voltaic trade. Trinity could set up different tools as restricted availability stays.

What warranties does Trinity Photo voltaic provide?

Other than the battery and inverter warranties talked about above, you will obtain extra warranties on panels and the set up. 

As a result of photo voltaic panels are long-lived purchases and do deteriorate over time, panel high quality can also be measured by long-term efficiency. Qcells’ panels are assured to supply at 86% of their capability for 25 years. That is additionally a near-top ranking, nevertheless it ranks beneath just some different panels, together with these from SunPower, which assure 92% for 25 years. On the identical time, Qcells’ 25-year guarantee does match the longest mainstream warranties accessible available on the market.

Trinity affords a 10-year workmanship guarantee to those that buy photo voltaic panels, Drigon mentioned. The corporate additionally mentioned it affords a guaranty in opposition to leaks from photo voltaic panel set up starting from 5 to 25 years. About 97% of Trinity’s clients bought their panels with a mortgage within the final 18 months, which comes with a 10-year guarantee in opposition to leaks.

Ten-year workmanship warranties usually are not uncommon within the photo voltaic trade, though some firms are beginning to provide 25-year choices. A ten-year guarantee in opposition to leaks is fairly widespread, though ADT Photo voltaic affords a 25-year guarantee. The workmanship for leases or energy buy agreements from Trinity is totally coated for the lifetime of the deal.

Does Trinity Photo voltaic use subcontractors?

Most installations are dealt with by in-house groups, however the firm does make use of subcontractors as crucial. 

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Does Trinity Photo voltaic provide monitoring providers?

Trinity confirmed you will monitor your photo voltaic system by the SolarEdge or Enphase app, relying on which inverter model you’ve. Each apps are well-rated: SolarEdge receives 4.2 stars on Google Play and 4.6 on Apple’s App Retailer, and Enphase receives 4.1 on Google Play and 4.7 on the App Retailer.

How a lot do Trinity Photo voltaic panels value?

Trinity’s clients can go photo voltaic by buying panels or getting into right into a lease or energy buy settlement. Whereas shopping for photo voltaic panels typically ends in higher monetary financial savings over the lifetime of the panels, third-party possession preparations — akin to leases and energy buy agreements — remove the up-front prices of going photo voltaic.

For that purpose, set up value is not at all times the very best metric by which to evaluate photo voltaic merchandise, Drigon mentioned. For those who go for a lease or an influence buy settlement, set up prices are coated by the installers. At that time, the vital metric for patrons is the escalator — or the speed at which the annual price will increase in contrast with the price of electrical energy from an area utility. Since these numbers fluctuate by location, it requires some guesswork and cautious consideration earlier than getting into into an settlement.

A typical escalator charge from Trinity is 2.9%, Drigon mentioned. Yearly, just a few clients pay extra for his or her photo voltaic vitality than they’d with their utility (one thing we heard from different suppliers, as effectively), however Drigon known as these situations “fairly uncommon.”

Over the lifespan of the system, nonetheless, Drigon famous: “We anticipate all of our clients to indicate financial savings due to the very nature of photo voltaic vitality’s predictability when in comparison with their utility.”

As a result of Trinity Photo voltaic is a privately owned firm that’s not required to launch details about its enterprise to buyers, getting a transparent reply about value and worth is tougher in contrast with firms akin to Sunrun and Tesla. Trinity Photo voltaic declined to share a mean value for a bought system as a result of pricing “is market-dependent and ranges broadly relying on the rules and related prices in any given space.” 

In response to consulting agency Wooden Mackenzie, the common value for residential photo voltaic panels is $2.99 per watt for an 8 kW system ($23,920 for the entire 8 kW system). In response to FindEnergy.com, the common value of kit and set up earlier than factoring within the 30% federal clear vitality credit score, the US nationwide common value is roughly $3.60 per watt or $18,073 for a 5 kW sized system. 

This is a map that reveals you the common prices for photo voltaic panels in every state. States shaded in grey had no knowledge accessible.   

Does Trinity Photo voltaic function in my state? How do I order?

Trinity Photo voltaic operates in 9 states:

You possibly can attain out to Trinity through its web site. Trinity will contact you utilizing the knowledge you present to begin the method.

Trinity Photo voltaic has in-house set up groups in all of the states it providers, in accordance with Drigon, although the corporate does have subcontractors readily available. 

Is Trinity Photo voltaic my most suitable option?

As with every main buy, it is vital to buy round and skim all of the high quality print. Doing a bit extra legwork may prevent hundreds of {dollars}. Needless to say Trinity affords leases and energy buy agreements, which will help you go photo voltaic for minimal up-front value, although your long-term financial savings are more likely to be decrease than if you buy outright. You must get a number of quotes and take a look at smaller native installers on your photo voltaic buy. The identical goes for leases and energy buy agreements. 

Trinity’s most popular suppliers for panels, inverters and batteries are all revered manufacturers that ought to carry out effectively over the lifetime of your system. On the identical time, do not forget that Trinity’s workmanship guarantee is usually 10 years, which is pretty customary (though longer workmanship warranties exist). There are additionally some seen indicators, like a responsive Higher Enterprise Bureau web page, that Trinity takes customer support critically. Whereas buyer satisfaction is troublesome to evaluate with out survey knowledge, it is encouraging to see the corporate shortly reply to complaints. Trinity has an A+ grade with the Higher Enterprise Bureau.

It bears repeating that with out pricing knowledge, it is unattainable to offer a certified suggestion. Evaluate a number of firms to seek out your greatest match. Whereas I approached this analysis virtually and totally, I have not bought or examined Trinity Photo voltaic in any empirical manner. Since photo voltaic providers fluctuate regionally and will be troublesome to overview, do your personal analysis earlier than you determine which solution to go.

Execs

• Presents high quality tools
• Indicators level to robust customer support

Cons

• You will discover longer workmanship and weatherization warranties elsewhere
• Little pricing transparency

Trinity Photo voltaic critiques: What are clients saying

On-line critiques should not be taken as the ultimate phrase on the standard of any services or products, however you’ll be able to glean some priceless info from them. You possibly can determine tendencies in buyer expertise, study what questions you need to ask early on and anticipate widespread issues.

Under are some excerpts of critiques pulled from Trinity Photo voltaic’s Higher Enterprise Bureau web page, which can have been frivolously edited for grammar and spelling. Trinity has responded to a lot of the critiques left there.

5-star critiques

“I had a fantastic consultant who educated us and saved us knowledgeable each step of the way in which. Over a yr later she nonetheless checks in to see if we’ve got any questions or considerations. The set up was fairly clean and I’ve saved a bunch of cash in vitality. Our system is performing higher than anticipated!” Marcey C. 7/13/2023

“General, I extremely advocate Trinity photo voltaic panels to anybody on the lookout for a dependable, environment friendly, and long-lasting photo voltaic vitality answer. They’re a fantastic funding in your house or enterprise, and can repay within the type of decrease vitality payments and a extra sustainable future.” Felix A. 6/15/2023

One-star critiques

“I had them put a brand new roof on and take away & reinstall the panels. It took 4 months for all to be achieved. I known as quite a few occasions. More often than not the calls weren’t returned. Proper now I’ve panels which are ineffective.” Diana B. 10/27/2023

“We would have liked our panels eliminated in September 2022. After quite a few cellphone calls, we got a date in mid-December. We had a brand new roof put in just a few days later. Right here it’s the center of February and the panels nonetheless have not been reinstalled.” Annie L. 2/13/2023

How we consider photo voltaic firms

Reviewing photo voltaic firms in a hands-on manner is troublesome. Accounting for all of the variations from venture to venture is unattainable. To offer a useful overview, we centered on what we will measure and meaningfully examine amongst firms.

We deal with three buckets of standards: tools, warranties and repair. 

Inside the tools class, firms obtain scores for the panels, inverters and batteries they set up. Warranties embrace ensures on the panels, workmanship and weatherization in opposition to leaks. Firms earn factors for service if they provide a value match, a significant degree of value transparency and a well-rated app for monitoring photo voltaic manufacturing. They lose factors if there are main points pertaining to customer support (lawsuits, investigations or clear reputations for shoddy service). These points will at all times be detailed within the overview.

You possibly can learn an in depth have a look at how the scoring breaks down.

We do not think about the common value of an organization’s installations of their rating. This info is troublesome to seek out and laborious to match throughout service areas (and even from roof to roof). Firms are sometimes gradual to reveal it, too. We additionally omit simply discovered info that is of little use, like what number of states an organization operates in.

Learn extra: Simply on the lookout for an emergency backup? Take a look at transportable photo voltaic panels and photo voltaic mills.  

Trinity Photo voltaic FAQs

Correction, Could 10, 2023: An earlier model of this text misstated the Higher Enterprise Bureau’s grading course of. Any firm can obtain a grade from the Bureau, no matter whether or not it has paid to undergo the accreditation course of.