Puerto Rico has long been known to suffer from energy issues. Aging power grids and frequent hurricane activity have rendered the island's electricity supply unreliable. Persistent and prolonged blackouts have forced many Puerto Ricans to turn to solar power. As the owner of Ingenious Solution Services, Ricardo Fonseca has been installing solar and battery storage systems in Puerto Rico for over two decades. By helping households and businesses enhance their energy resilience, his business has continued to grow.

"Our business started with providing validation services for the pharmaceutical industry," Fonseca said. "Later, demand for services such as power, piping, refrigeration, household appliances, and thermodynamic research continued to grow. After Hurricane Maria, our power system collapsed, and the demand for photovoltaic systems began to surge."

Over the years, Fonseca has installed battery systems of various brands and types. Recently, Fonseca installed a unique solar system equipped with Briggs & Stratton SimplePHI 6.6 batteries in a two-unit apartment building in Bayamón, northern Puerto Rico.

"The power supply in this region frequently experiences outages, which led us to install a photovoltaic system," said Fancika. "Since the building occupies the entire plot, we were unable to install a generator." "The client is very familiar with our company and had previously commissioned us to install a 30-kilowatt three-phase backup system for his business, equipped with a 46-kilowatt battery."

For this apartment building in Bayamon, what appears to be three battery systems are actually three independent systems supplying power to three different zones. Each of the two apartment units is equipped with a SimpliPHI 6.6 tri-battery system. Additionally, a SimpliPHI 6.6 battery system powers the four electric doors controlling access to the building's parking area and the lighting in common spaces. This is a clever design that is both aesthetically pleasing and space-efficient.

"These systems operate independently, with no communication between them or backup generators," Fanciulli said. "Each apartment is equipped with eighteen 550-watt solar panels and a 19.8-kilowatt-hour Briggs & Stratton battery. After installing these three systems, the building operated in self-use mode for five months while we awaited power approval from Luma Energy.". ”

Each electrical system in an apartment imposes a significant load on that system, as it needs to support air conditioning, heating, stoves, lighting, and all other electrical components typical of a household.

"This system is running exceptionally well," Fonseca said. "They have never experienced power outages. If sunlight is sufficient, the batteries can be charged via solar panels in 75 minutes. If the sunlight is less abundant, it takes up to 150 minutes. With the installation of the meter and completion of electrical certification, they will be able to begin feeding energy back into the grid."

Fonseca worked at Briggs & Stratton for over eight years and completed approximately more than ten installations using the company's SimpliPHI 6.6 battery.

"SimpliPHI batteries are reliable, long-lasting, and charge quickly. I've never encountered any issues," he said. "They are smaller than Tesla batteries, so they take up less space, are lighter, and easier to handle. Most importantly, they are simple to install, and now the new controller can be connected from both sides, making them even more convenient."

Vernon Secca was not the only one to notice the advantages of Briggs & Stratton. Recently, a customer who ran three air conditioners at night stated that he no longer needed to use a backup generator because the SimpliPHI battery could handle the entire load.

"The battery system I installed only includes Briggs & Stratton," Fonsca said. "I often receive calls about other products not functioning properly, with customers reporting malfunctions. As a result, I've encountered all the issues associated with other battery and inverter manufacturers: their lifespan doesn't exceed a few years, and they fail in various ways. Thanks to my reputation and the experienced team I've built, I plan to expand my business to other areas of Puerto Rico, from Mayagüez to Fajardo, and potentially even further into the central part of the island, including Naranjito and Aibonito."