RICK Electrical Contractors, Inc.

RICK Electrical Contractors, Inc. can provide renewable energy electrical installation services including Layout, Design, Trenching, Conduit, DC Disconnect Switch, AC Disconnect Switch, Grounding, Lightning Arrestors, Inverter & Internet Power Monitoring software for Solar Panel Photovoltaic Grid-Tied or Standalone Photovoltaic DC systems. Get off the grid, get into the Sun and reduce your electrical bill!

We also offer custom designs and installations of LED lighting circuits in your home or business that will automatically provide instantaneous emergency lighting in the event of the loss of commercial electrical power.... all powered with free electrical energy from the Sun. Our inovative and proprietary "Light Now" product combined with our professional installation services and our Automatic Switchover Circuitry can provide basic instantaneous emergency lighting 7 x 24 hrs without a monthly cost to your electrical utility bill. RICK Electrical Contractors can provide power when you need it most.              

RICK Electrical Contractors is committed and is contributing to the Obama administration:  "New Energy for America Plan". 

Illinois customers: Click on the link below to learn about state & federal tax incentives using renewable energy:  Illinois Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency

“I'd put my money on solar energy… I hope we don't have to wait 'til oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”
—Thomas Edison, in conversation with Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, March 1931

RICK Electrical Contractors is Certified by the Illinois Renewable Energy Association for DC Standalone, AC Standalone & Utility Inter-active Grid Tied Solar Electrical Installations.

Call 630-466-RICK to learn how you can reduce your monthly electrical utility bill while going green!

If your average electrical utility bill is around $200.00 per month, you could be enjoying 100% free electricity with a return of investment in approximately 9 years for an average 2000 sq ft home. Or you can keep writing those monthly checks to your local utility and renting electricity that will total around $21K over the next 9 years. A Solar Electric PV System is a smart investment not only in your wallet, but also for your home and our environment. Go Green and start saving on monthly electrical utility bills.

Above pic is a completed PV Panel installation in June 2009 by REC at a customer home located in Sugar Grove, IL. REC provided all installation services such as design, trenching underground conduit, installation of indoor EMT conduit, AC & DC Disconnect switches, Charge Controller, Inverter, 12 VDC Deep Cycle Batteries, Automatic Switchover Charging Circuitry, Customized Solar Control Panel, Pull Boxes, Equipment Grounding, customized PV Frame design/fabrication, mounting post and our proprietary "Light Now" product. This hybrid PV system generates 15 watts, 12 volts DC and 1 amp per hour. PV Panel was installed at an optimum tilt angle with a southern exposure for maximum sun. The PV applications at this customer home are for: re-charging deep cycle batteries for a battery backup sump pump, emergency interior lighting and a docking station for re-chargeable consumer electronic products (cell phones, IPOD's, laptops, etc.)

How Does Solar Energy Work?

Every minute of every day, enough of the sun’s energy reaches the earth to meet the world’s energy demand for an entire year. Using photovoltaic technology through solar panels, solar energy is created by converting the heat and light that comes from the sun into electrical energy.

Each solar panel is made up of many solar cells containing both a positive and a negative layer. Much like a battery, these layers generate an electric field. As the sun’s energy is absorbed by the cells, electrons are created and then travel toward the bottom of the panel and exit through a connecting wire. This flow of electrons produces electricity, which can be used in the same way as electricity generated by other non-renewable energy sources.

Generating Solar Power:

Harnessing the sun’s energy for your own use begins with putting together the right components for your needs. Here is a list of a few basic solar power components.

• Solar Panels – Your source for electricity and to charge batteries to power your car, truck, motorcycle, ATV, boat, personal watercraft, RV, home or appliances.

• Charge Controller — If the sunlight is too bright for too long, the voltage produced by the solar panels has the potential to damage the batteries. As such, a charge controller is required to regulate the charge, thus preventing overcharging and ultimately increasing battery life and performance.

• Power Inverter — The power inverter serves a dual purpose, either converting the low voltage DC to the 120 volts AC needed to run appliances, or charging your batteries if connected to a utility grid or an AC Generator. Unless you plan on using battery power exclusively, you’ll need a power inverter.

• Batteries — The batteries store the solar energy for a consistent power supply over time, even when the sun isn’t shining. Deep-cycle or marine batteries are recommended as they are designed to be charged and discharged repeatedly.

Benefits of Solar Energy:

If you’re looking for more affordable, eco-friendly energy alternatives, you can’t beat the benefits of solar energy:

• Economical — Now more than ever, consumers are feeling the pinch when it comes to the cost of energy for heating their homes, powering their vehicles and generating electricity. But, by investing in the right equipment, many are seeing that solar energy is by far one of the most economical, reasonably-priced energy solutions available. Low equipment maintenance over the long run makes it an especially good buy. 

• Renewable — Because the supply of the sun’s light is free, unrestricted and renewable, solar energy users are never affected by shortages (other than nightfall), skyrocketing prices, or production limitations. What’s more, technological advancements enable solar equipment to consistently operate even on cloudy days.

• Environmentally friendly — One of the most eco-friendly energy alternatives, solar energy production does not directly emit fumes, create greenhouse gases, carbon emissions, or yield noise pollution.

• Convenient Power Source — Whether it’s used for back up to a permanent energy source or to provide power in remote areas, solar power offers all the convenience and dependability of standard energy resources, without the financial or environmental costs.