Author

Hamza Arham Rizvi

Hamza R is a licensed electrician with 12+ years of hands-on electrical and residential solar experience based in Phoenix, Arizona. He installed his own 9.6 kW solar system in 2019 and has since guided over a dozen homeowners through solar decisions.

Do I Need a Battery With Solar? The Real Trade-Off
Buying Solar

Do I Need a Battery With Solar? The Real Trade-Off

Do you need a battery with solar? See when it's optional, when outages or export rates change the math, and what a licensed electrician must size.

Hamza Arham Rizvi Hamza Arham Rizvi
Sep 26 · 6 min
Oversize Solar System NEM 3.0? What to Weigh
Sizing Solar

Oversize Solar System NEM 3.0? What to Weigh

Oversize solar system NEM 3.0 rules make sizing tricky. See when extra panels pay off, when they do not, and what to confirm with your utility first.

Hamza Arham Rizvi Hamza Arham Rizvi
Sep 25 · 7 min
Solar Panels for Heat Pump Home: Sizing Guide
Sizing Solar

Solar Panels for Heat Pump Home: Sizing Guide

Solar panels for heat pump home sizing need a load calculation, not a panel count. What decides the size, and the trade-off installers rarely lead with.

Hamza Arham Rizvi Hamza Arham Rizvi
Sep 24 · 7 min
Sizing Solar for an Electric Car You Haven't Bought Yet
Sizing Solar

Sizing Solar for an Electric Car You Haven't Bought Yet

Mileage times kWh per mile is the whole EV load. How to size for a car you don't own yet, when adding later is the better plan, and what the charger needs.

Hamza Arham Rizvi Hamza Arham Rizvi
Sep 23 · 7 min
Roof Space Needed for Solar: Will the Quoted System Fit?
Sizing Solar

Roof Space Needed for Solar: Will the Quoted System Fit?

Square feet per kilowatt is a guess. Fire code pathways, ridge setbacks, obstructions and panel size decide the fit, and the layout drawing is the proof.

Hamza Arham Rizvi Hamza Arham Rizvi
Sep 22 · 6 min
Solar Panels and Shade Trees: How Much Shade Is Too Much?
Sizing Solar

Solar Panels and Shade Trees: How Much Shade Is Too Much?

One shaded panel can drag down others or none, depending on the wiring. How shade is modeled, what to ask for, and when trees rule out the roof.

Hamza Arham Rizvi Hamza Arham Rizvi
Sep 21 · 7 min
South Facing Roof Solar: What Direction and Pitch Cost
Sizing Solar

South Facing Roof Solar: What Direction and Pitch Cost

South is the reference, not a requirement. What a DOE lab chart says about direction and tilt, when west can matter more, and how to model your own roof.

Hamza Arham Rizvi Hamza Arham Rizvi
Sep 20 · 6 min
Peak Sun Hours by State: What the Tables Leave Out
Sizing Solar

Peak Sun Hours by State: What the Tables Leave Out

State sun-hour tables average away your roof. What a peak sun hour is, why the tables disagree, and the free public tool that models your own address.

Hamza Arham Rizvi Hamza Arham Rizvi
Sep 19 · 7 min
How to Get Out of a Solar Contract: Your Options
Solar Contracts

How to Get Out of a Solar Contract: Your Options

How to get out of a solar contract: check your cancellation deadline, buyout and transfer options, and lien risk before you pay to exit.

Hamza Arham Rizvi Hamza Arham Rizvi
Sep 18 · 7 min
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