WestinhouseSolar (previously Akeena Solar) announce Plug n Play solar panels

Westinghouse Solar Announces Instant Connect

Westinghouse Solar, formerly known as Akeena Solar, released a plug-and-play line of solar panels that can reduce installation costs by half.

The panels eliminate panel-to-panel wiring and racking, making them quick and easy to install.

UL-approved electrical connectors are integrated directly into the sides of each solar panel – allowing the solar panels to automatically plug together when they are mounted on the roof. The frames of the solar panels – and splices used to connect them – provide precision alignment of the electrical connectors, completely eliminating the need to manually wire panels or struggle with custom cabling on the roof.

In typical solar installations today, installers have to source hundreds of individual parts and then manually assemble them on the roof, says Westinghouse.

Parts include long sections of aluminum or steel racking, clips to attach the panels to the racks, electrical conduit to isolate the high voltage DC wires, inverters, disconnects, heavy-duty copper grounding wire and lugs, wiring clips, zip ties and nuts and bolts to hold everything together.

With Instant Connect, electricians, HVAC contractors and skilled Do-It-Yourselfers can install a system. They can start small – with just one or two panels – and easily add onto the system.

“There’s tremendous pressure to reduce the fully-installed costs of rooftop solar,” says Barry Cinnamon, Westinghouse CEO. “Manufacturers of solar panels are bending over backwards to squeeze an extra 0.1% efficiency out of their panels, or to reduce their costs by $0.01/watt. But now that high quality solar panels are selling for less than $1/watt, the biggest remaining cost savings opportunity is on the installation itself. With Instant Connect, installation costs are cut by more than $0.25/watt, which has a much greater economic impact on customers than incremental efficiency or cell cost improvements.”

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) SunShot Initiative aims to reduce the cost of solar by 75% through innovations in installation, permitting and manufacturing.

Westinghouse Solar is a designer and manufacturer of innovative solar power systems that deliver the dependability and reliability that homeowners and small business owners require. Westinghouse has been at the forefront of delivering safe electrical energy and products that bring comfort and convenience for the home for over 100 years. Today, Westinghouse Solar manufactures powerful, highly reliable solar power systems that generate electricity for homes and businesses. Instant Connect™ is a line of products from Westinghouse Solar that automates panel-to-panel grounding and wiring, making installing solar, faster and easier than ordinary solar power systems.

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