Our Thoughts on Trinity Solar
Trinity Solar has a 30-year track record of building solar systems for East Coast homeowners and a variety of payment options, helping to accommodate various budgets. Its website does not specify the solar panel brands it installs, mentioning only that it uses Tier 1 panels. However, industry data and our 2023 customer surveys reveal Trinity Solar installs Qcells panels. If you want to add a home battery, Trinity usually offers the Tesla Powerwall or Generac PWRcell.
Qcells panels have a 25-year product and power output warranty, while the Powerwall and PWRcell batteries each carry 10-year warranties. The company’s solar inverters have a 12-year warranty that owners can extend to 25 years for an additional cost. Trinity Solar transfers product warranties directly to its customers, but only extends a five-year workmanship warranty, which is shorter than competitors with terms of 10 to 25 years.
If you prefer to avoid a large upfront expense when purchasing solar panels, Trinity Solar offers three $0 down payment options — a solar loan, solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA). It handles loans in-house and administers leases and PPAs through Sunnova. However, Trinity Solar does not provide more detailed information about payment options, such as loan terms or lengths.
How Trinity Solar Scored in Our Methodology
Trinity Solar scored 4 out of 5 stars based on our solar company ranking methodology. It earned points for having 30 years of industry experience, a variety of payment options and offering quality equipment options. However, its weakest area is offering a five-year workmanship warranty, which is much shorter than the industry average of 10 to 25 years.
Trinity Solar State Availability
Trinity Solar operates in 10 East Coast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Florida. The company is based in Wall Township, N.J., and employs 3,000 people, according to its website.
Trinity Solar Cost and Services Offered
In October of 2023, the MarketWatch Guides team surveyed 1,000 people using Pollfish across the country. Trinity Solar does not publish pricing online, but our survey data suggests that customers paid between $2.50 and $3.12 per watt for an 8 kilowatt (kW) system. Based on that information, our team calculated the estimated costs of Trinity Solar systems ranging from 5 kW to 8 kW.
| System Size | Installation Cost |
| 5 kW | $12,500–$15,600 |
| 6 kW | $15,000–$18,720 |
| 7 kW | $17,500–$21,840 |
| 8 kW | $20,000–$24,960 |
If you choose Trinity Solar, you can expect to pay $20,000 to $25,000 for an 8 kW photovoltaic (PV) solar system. However, these prices reflect cash purchases without accrued interest over time. You will pay more if you finance an installation with a loan, lease or PPA.
Solar Panel Brands Offered
Trinity Solar installs Tier 1 panels but does not mention specific brands on its website. However, according to our research, the company uses mostly Qcells panels, which have the following specifications:
- Monocrystalline solar cells
- Up to 21.4% rated efficiency
- 25-year product and power output warranty
- Slow degradation rate, retaining 86% of initial capacity after 25 years of use
Qcells is often ranked among the best solar panel brands for homes and are more affordable than other options, such as SunPower’s Maxeon panels and Panasonic. Qcells has product lines with a sleek, all-black design, where the module frames and backsheets match the color of monocrystalline cells. Another advantage of Qcells is its local presence. The company started in Germany and merged with the Hanwha Group from South Korea, but has a large-scale manufacturing facility in Georgia.
Solar Battery Installation
Solar panels alone cannot deliver electricity 24/7 because they depend on sunlight to operate, but homeowners can store excess energy by adding a solar battery system. Based on our survey, 59% of 1,000 homeowners installed batteries alongside their solar panel system.
Trinity Solar also does not disclose its battery brands online, based on our research. However, the Tesla Powerwall is generally a popular battery option, chosen by 30% of respondents in our survey.
Other important details about solar batteries include:
- A typical home battery adds around $12,000 to $22,000 to the cost of a solar installation.
- The cost of a solar panel and battery system can range from $25,000 to $35,000.
- Solar panels and battery banks are both eligible for a 30% federal tax credit.
Here are the typical costs of the two battery options offered by Trinity Solar based on our research into industry data.
| Solar Battery Model | Average Installed Cost |
| Tesla Powerwall | $14,000–$16,000 |
| Generac PWRcell | $18,000 (9 kWh version) |
Note: The Tesla Powerwall has a 13.5 kilowatt-hour (kWh) storage capacity and you can combine up to 10 units. The Generac PWRcell has a modular design available in nine, 12, 15 or 18 kWh configurations.
Additional Services
In addition to solar panel and home battery installations, Trinity Solar also performs the following services:
- Free initial consultation
- Mobile app
- Roofing services
- System monitoring
Payment Options
Trinity Solar has four payment options: an upfront cash purchase, solar loans, solar leases or PPAs. The company does not provide information about loan terms and interest rates on its website, based on our review. It administers leases and PPAs through Sunnova.
Our team recommends solar loans as an option before a lease or PPA. You can only claim tax credits and other rebates if you’re the legal owner of a solar energy system, which only occurs if you purchase a system in cash or with a loan. If you sign a lease or PPA, rebates and incentives stay with the solar provider, which owns the system.
Trinity Solar Warranties
Securing a quality warranty is important when purchasing a home solar system because this coverage protects your investment. If your solar panels or other components fail during the warranty term, the provider is obligated to repair your system at no cost to you.
Trinity Solar works with equipment manufacturers that offer strong warranties, including Qcells, Tesla and Generac. However, the workmanship warranty offered by Trinity is much shorter than the industry average.
| Warranty Type | Trinity Solar Length | Industry Average |
| Workmanship Warranty | 5 years | 18 years |
| Product warranty | 25 years | 24 years |
| Performance warranty | 25 years | 24 years |
Trinity Installation Process
Trinity Solar has an online form where you can schedule a free initial consultation and ask for a quote. However, its website does not outline the exact steps of the installation process. We recommend reaching out to the company to learn more about the steps in its installation process.
What Customers Think of Trinity Solar
Trinity Solar has mixed reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. To better understand the customer experience, our team read positive and negative reviews and identified common trends.
What Customers Like
- Technical knowledge: Trinity Solar customers appreciated the clear explanations provided by the company’s sales representatives and installation crews.
- Power bill savings: Some customers said they’re paying lower electric bills after going solar. Some customers mentioned savings of over 70% compared to their previous bills.
- Clear communication: Customers liked how Trinity Solar kept them informed at every step of the solar design, permitting and installation processes. Many customers said they were satisfied with the sales and installation process in general.
- Solar equipment quality: Some positive reviews mentioned the high quality of the solar panels and inverters provided by Trinity.
What Customers Don’t Like
- High-pressure sales tactics: Negative reviews mentioned repeated phone calls and door-knocking by Trinity Solar sales reps.
- Delayed installations: Some customers complained about waiting several months before their solar panels were installed and operational.
- Slow customer support: Some customers complained about long wait times when asking for maintenance or solar system expansions.
- Issues with roofing services: Some customers who requested roof upgrades or repairs as part of their solar installation had complaints about delays and technical issues.
Trinity Solar vs. the Market
We compared Trinity Solar with other leading solar installers in the market, considering factors such as pricing, warranty coverage and range of services offered.
Trinity Solar stands out from both Freedom Solar and Sunrun by offering roofing services in addition to solar equipment. Trinity is comparable to Sunrun based on pricing, financing options and equipment quality. Its primary downside is its five-year workmanship warranty, which is shorter than those offered by other top solar installers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trinity Solar
Trinity Solar is a reputable company based on our research, earning 4 out of 5 stars based on our review. The company is BBB-accredited with an A+ score. It also has 30 years of solar installation experience and installs high-quality equipment, including Qcells solar panels.
The best solar company for you will depend on your home’s energy usage, your budget and more. Trinity Solar and Sunrun offer similar pricing, according to our solar survey, with four payment options and comparable equipment. Both companies have a 25-year equipment warranty, but Sunrun offers a 25-year workmanship warranty, while Trinity only offers five years of coverage.
Trinity Solar offers roofing services in addition to solar panels and batteries, while Sunrun offers EV chargers. Sunrun has a larger service area but three fewer years of experience compared to Trinity Solar.
Trinity Solar has installed solar panel systems on the East Coast since 1994, making it one of the oldest and most experienced solar installers we’ve reviewed.
Trinity Solar does not install EV chargers, solar roof shingles and backup generators. The company focuses on traditional solar panels, battery systems and roofing services.
Trinity Solar has an average cost range of $2.50 to $3.12 per watt, according to our 2023 solar survey. This is around the average price range within the U.S. residential market of $2.85 per watt.
Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Solar Companies
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