Selling and Installing Solar at Stony Hill Vineyards

Wholesale distributor Encon Electronics has been selling gate operator and access control products since 1984. As a California-based distributor, the company has witnessed a rising trend in the use of solar products, particularly in the last decade. “Our techs are building more solar packages and offering significantly more technical and installation support for solar accessories than just a decade ago,” said Encon President and CEO Jeff Harris. Industry veteran and Encon outside sales technician Lawrence Bourke recently assisted a customer on a notable solar installation in the Napa Valley region of California. He said it was the third solar project he, personally, has assisted on in the past 18 months.

The Job Details

The gate installation took place at a small, familyowned vineyard located between the valley and the wildlife preserves called Stony Hill Vineyards. The winery sits on steep terraces on the eastern side of the Mayacamas Mountains and consists of 40 acres of vineyards.

The construction company building a house on the property wanted to add an automated gate to the entrance. They designed and specified the

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gate installation and outsourced the job to AM Access Control in Fairfield, Calif.

Jacobson Fence, Inc., based in Santa Rosa, was the general on the job and their technician, Robert Ingham, built the custom 24’ wide by 6’ tall, 940-pound gate. Bourke worked with AM Access engineer Ted Olsen on the automated gate installation. One slide gate operator and several accessories including a cellular unit with video entry functionality, a 24v exit probe, and photo eyes were installed. Although, the essential solar products selected for the job turned out to be the highlight of the installation.

The Solar

Due to the remote location of Stony Hill, the closest power lines were almost two miles away. “Solar power was the only option to automate a gate in this location,” said Bourke.

Fortunately, Encon offers pre-wired solar packages for its customers. After researching the specifications of the job and learning how many cycles the customer anticipated, Bourke was able to determine the calculations. He built an Encon Solar 24/340 package for the Stony Hill project.

“Everything is tested at Encon first. We gather the size and weight of the gate, approximate cycle usage, and try to gather pictures of the site, in advance, whenever possible,” Bourke said.

“We mount the circuit breakers, wire the terminal strip, label everything, and then, provide jumpers for the batteries. The pre-wired solar package is basically a plug and play for the installing dealers,” he added.

Both Bourke and Olsen stressed the importance of overestimating cycle usage in solar jobs. “I always overestimate the wattage when determining which solar panels to use for a job,” said Bourke. “Underestimating can lead to customers having to add panels or batteries later.”

Bourke also took into consideration that the Stony Hill project was 100% solar-powered and that additional sources were pulling on the power. Based on these factors, he accounted for additional wattage. Two 190w Sunwise solar panels were chosen for the solar package and four large MK batteries were installed. These are the best batteries on the market for solar installations according to Bourke.

The Challenges

Solar applications can present unique challenges. Weather and specifically, the amount of access to the sun are the most important things to consider when determining whether solar is a viable option. The Stony Hill property is in sunny St. Helena, Calif. so the location was ideal for a completely solar-powered job. However, trees located near the gate site could have posed as potential obstructions for this automated gate installation. Olsen said that they had to trim a few tree branches near the solar panels to ensure maximum sun exposure.

“Excessive shade or even bird droppings can drastically affect the effectiveness of solar panels,” said Harris. “It is critical to make sure that trees are not shading the panels during primary sun hours.”

The Completed Installation Olsen said that the job was completed quickly. “The customer wanted it done in three weeks. It took Jacobson Fence two weeks to build the gate and from the time we signed the contract until the end of the installation was exactly three weeks.”

During the middle of construction, the gate had already opened and closed more than forty times with no issues. “So far, so good,” said Bourke. “We put enough wattage to make sure the gate was going to work.”

In addition to the quality solar,

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Olsen and Bourke had glowing comments regarding the automation. “It came out flawless,” said Olsen. “I was extremely proud of the work Jacobson Fence did, the gate they built, and how they automated the job.”

Bourke agreed saying that from open to close, it was the best-moving, smoothest gate that he had ever seen. “It was a perfect gate installation,” said Bourke. After nearly 40 years in the industry, that is saying a lot.

About Encon Electronics

Encon Electronics is a wholesale supplier of gate operator, access control, and all related accessories located in Northern California. They offer over 70 manufacturers, same day shipping, free technical support, customized training, and more. Visit www.enconelectronics. com or call 800-782-5598 for more information.

ENVISION OUTDOOR LIVING PRODUCTS, MANUFACTURER OF ENVISION COMPOSITE DECKING AND FAIRWAY DECK RAILINGS, HAS HIRED THREE NEW EMPLOYEES FOR ITS SALES TEAM: STEPHEN CRANE AND JOE STUBLER AS REGIONAL SALES MANAGERS, AND SHANE PALMATEER AS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.

Stephen Crane is Envision’s new regional sales manager for Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Crane has spent his entire career in the building materials industry, including sales roles for Acme Brick and fiber cement manufacturer Nichiha, working with both architects and general contractors on the front end of commercial projects and providing selling and jobsite assistance to subcontractors on the back end. “Stephen has worked on both the manufacturer and distributor sides of the aisle,” says Kyle Warwick, director of sales for Envision Outdoor Living Products. “His dual understanding of these perspectives will serve the company and our customers well as we continue to grow in this important South Central market.”

Shane Palmateer, the new business development manager for the Carolinas and southern Virginia, joins Envision following six years in sales for the alcohol beverage industry with extensive experience in pull-through sales. “Shane has an intimate familiarity with the two-step sales industry in both business strategy and customerfacing positions,” says Warwick. “We know his tenacity and passion for growing brands through education will make him a valuable member of our team.”

Joe Stubler will serve as regional sales manager for Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. His 30 years of experience in buildings products manufacturing and distribution includes serving as regional business manager and territory sales manager at Boral Building Products, general manager at Hines Supply, and various positions over 21 years at Alexander Lumber Co. “With three decades in the business, Joe has a clear perspective of the obstacles our customers face at all stages of the channel—and how we as a manufacturer can solve them,” says Warwick. “Adaptable and adept at building relationships, Joe will be a tremendous asset and resource for our customers as they create beautiful and innovative outdoor spaces.”

Eliminate the need for a ladder with an