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February 1, 2024

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    ADT Solar is one of the best residential solar companies in the U.S. ADT acquired Sunpro in 2021, using Sunpro’s network and infrastructure to jumpstart its move into the solar industry. Since then, ADT Solar has built on Sunpro’s success, becoming one of the nation’s top solar installers.

    In this guide, I will turn a critical eye on ADT Solar to help you decide whether or not it’s the right solar company for you. I’ll cover ADT Solar’s costs, availability, product lineup, warranty, and more.

    Highest Quality Panels

    4.4

    Installs high-quality Maxeon panels

    Outstanding customer support

    Best-in-class warranty lasts 40 years

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    Best Damage Protection

    3.7

    Affordable prices

    Excellent selection of panels and services

    Locations in 22 states

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    Best Solar Financing
    blue raven logo

    4.3

    No payments needed for 18 months

    Provides in-house financing

    Offers top brands like LG and Trina

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    Best Customer Service

    3.9

    Highly rated customer service

    Provides  24/7 panel monitoring

    Solid A+ rating with the BBB

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    My Take on ADT Solar

    There are many good things to say about ADT Solar, but the company’s warranty is what sets it apart from its competition. ADT Solar has the best solar warranty in the business, offering comprehensive coverage for the systems it installs. A solid warranty is crucial to protect your solar investment, and no company offers better protection than ADT Solar.

    The company is also pretty widely available and is working on opening new locations in several states. Its product selection is good but not great, and its financing options leave a little to be desired.


      What I Like About ADT Solar

      Let’s start with the positives. ADT Solar’s warranty covers all aspects of the solar systems it installs for 25 years, including equipment, performance, and workmanship. The equipment coverage matches the industry average, but the performance and workmanship warranties are both longer than average.

      The solar industry standard power production guarantee tends to be around 20 years, so ADT’s 25-year coverage is slightly above average. However, most workmanship warranties only last for 10 years, making ADT’s 25-year workmanship warranty more than double the industry standard.

      ADT Solar also has a solid reputation throughout the solar industry, something it partially inherited from Sunpro. The company is certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), has an excellent rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and has a host of positive customer reviews online.

      The company is also widely available, with locations in 21 states and new locations coming soon in seven new states: Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, and West Virginia.

      Best solar warranty in the business
      Good product selection
      Reasonable prices
      Excellent reputation
      Communication is slow sometimes
      Limited financing options

      Drawbacks of ADT Solar

      ADT Solar is one of my favorite solar installers, but there are a few things I don’t love about the company.

      ADT Solar is a large solar company, which means it can be slow in responding to customer service requests. Some customers report delays when waiting for warranty claims support and say that ADT’s response times are often slower than they’d like.

      Another drawback to going with ADT Solar is that the company doesn’t offer solar leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs). I’ll discuss financing in more depth in a later section, but not offering leases and PPAs makes it harder for homeowners on tight budgets to afford an ADT Solar system.


      What Solar Panels Does ADT Offer?

      ADT Solar offers solar panels from three of the industry’s top manufacturers: QCells, Canadian Solar, and Silfab.

      All three panel manufacturers are tier-one producers and make panels with good efficiency ratings, although none of them come close to the highest-efficiency residential panels from Maxeon. Silfab solar panels top out at 21.4%, while QCells’ and Canadian Solar’s highest ratings come in at 21.2% and 21.0%, respectively.

      QCells panels are slightly more affordable than the other two options. Although it’s difficult to pin down a cost per watt for different solar panel brands, I’d expect QCells to sit around the industry average of $3.33, and Silfab and Canadian solar to fall somewhere between $3.50 and $3.75 per watt. The average price per watt here is based on real cost data from commercial sites, as well as pricing data from the Tracking the Sun report, put out by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

      The table below offers a quick look at how each of the brands ADT installs compare to each other. Overall, I recommend QCells to most people since the company’s panels offer an excellent balance between cost, efficiency, and durability.

      Panel Manufacturer Our ScoreWarrantyPower OutputRangeEfficiencyRange
      QCells4.8 / 5.025 years360W – 415W19.6% – 21.2%
      Canadian Solar4.4 / 5.012 years225W – 465W15.9% – 21.0%
      Silfab4.3 / 5.0 25 years330W – 500W19.2% – 21.4%

      Does ADT Offer Any Other Solar Products?

      In addition to solar panels, ADT Solar also offers energy storage through either Tesla Powerwall batteries or Enphase IQ batteries. It also offers solar monitoring through either the Tesla solar app or the Enphase solar monitoring mobile app. The company primarily uses Enphase microinverters in its systems, but you don’t have to order those yourself; they’re automatically included.

      Unfortunately, ADT Solar doesn’t install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, so you’ll have to go with another installer or add an EV charger later on if you want one.

      ADT Solar Batteries

      ADT offers two kinds of solar batteries: Tesla Powerwalls (check out our analysis of Tesla Powerwalls) and Enphase IQ batteries.

      Tesla Powerwall batteries are among the best solar energy storage solutions for residential use. They have a capacity of 13.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is enough to run an average home for around 12 hours purely on battery power.

      One Powerwall costs $8,400, as per the Tesla Direct webpage, although that doesn’t include installation costs. I personally had two Powerwalls installed in my home, and the total per battery was $11,500, so it’s safe to say the installation would total around $2,100 per battery. However, Tesla offers discounts for customers who order more than one Powerwall.

      Powerwalls come with several cool features. You can set your Powerwalls to prioritize energy storage or savings through the Tesla app. You can also use the Tesla app to take your home off-grid at the touch of a button. Perhaps the coolest feature Powerwalls come with is StormWatch, which automatically sets your batteries to maximize storage when the system detects nearby storms that might cause a power outage.

      Unlike the Powerwall, Enphase batteries come in two different sizes. The smaller 3-kWh battery is good for scaling your system up over time, while the larger 10-kWh option offers a more substantial battery backup for power outages.

      Enphase’s newest model, the 5P, comes with Storm Guard, which works just like Tesla’s StormWatch, charging your batteries to maximize capacity when the system detects a high probability of a blackout.

      Enphase IQ batteries cost about $1,450 per kWh, making the 10-kWh battery $14,500. These prices are based on consumer reports I pulled from review sites and online forums. They’re also right in line with the price you’d pay for the battery alone from direct-to-consumer sites like EcoDirect, provided you account for around $2,000 per battery for the installation labor.

      Solar Monitoring

      ADT customers can monitor their solar energy systems using either the Tesla monitoring app or the Enphase app, depending on what equipment they have installed. Keeping track of your solar power system’s energy production is essential to ensure that it continues to perform at the expected level as it ages.

      Best Panel Warranty

      4.4


      How Much Does ADT Solar Cost?

      The total cost of a solar panel array from ADT Solar will likely come out to around $30,000 if you go with more affordable QCells panels and $33,750 if you opt for the more expensive panels from Silfab or Canadian Solar. For comparison, the average cost of a solar system in the U.S. is $29,970, so ADT Solar’s prices are right around the national average.

      My estimates in the previous paragraph assume an average 9-kW system, which is the average system size needed by most homeowners. However, places with abundant sunshine and low electricity rates can get away with smaller, less-expensive systems. I’ve also used average solar panel prices and adjusted costs for ADT, specifically, based on consumer reports I found online regarding pricing.

      The estimates I gave also don’t include the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC). The ITC is a federal tax credit that allows solar customers to claim 30% of their system’s total cost as a credit to reduce their income tax liability for the year when they have their system installed. Only systems that are purchased in cash or financed with a loan are eligible for the ITC; leases and PPAs don’t qualify.

      After the federal ITC, the average cost of a solar system from ADT drops to around $20,979, a potential savings of close to $9,000. Even with solar incentives, purchasing a system outright in cash is not possible for most homeowners. Luckily, ADT offers solar loans that make it much easier to afford to make the switch to solar.

      Solar Financing Options with ADT

      ADT Solar accepts cash purchases and solar loans but doesn’t offer lower-cost options like solar leases or PPAs. I generally advise people to pay via cash or loan since those options lead to greater savings, but leases and PPAs are nice to have for people who can’t afford to pay cash or get approved for a loan.

      Here’s a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of ADT’s payment options:

      • Cash purchase. Paying in full with cash leads to the greatest long-term savings, so it’s the option I recommend. A solar system purchased with cash takes 11 years to pay for itself, on average and leads to a lifetime savings of $31,513 on energy bills. Cash purchases also lead to panel ownership, which increases your home’s value, making solar panels a relatively safe investment with a good ROI.
      • Solar loans. Taking out a loan to pay for your solar panels is the second-best option. Panels purchased via a loan still qualify for the federal ITC, and you eventually own your panels. However, financing via a loan takes 16 years to break even and saves you about $5,000 less — or around $26,000 total — over 25 years. Of course, loans lower the upfront costs of purchasing a solar panel.

      3 Ways to Save Money with ADT Solar

      ADT Solar’s solar arrays are reasonably priced, but they’re still a big investment for most people. Here are my top three ways to save money with ADT Solar.

      Take Advantage of Solar Incentives

      The best way to save money with ADT Solar is to apply for the federal ITC. This is the biggest tax incentive you’ll find, and it’s available to residents of every state. Keep in mind that the ITC is a tax credit, and not a tax rebate, which means that you’ll only benefit from it if you owe taxes.

      Many state governments also offer solar incentives to encourage residents of their states to adopt renewable energy and clean energy technology like home solar panel arrays. Several states offer a sales tax exemption, and many also have a property tax exemption that prevents your property taxes from increasing due to the value solar panels add to your home.

      Some states also have their own tax credits which lower your state taxes for the year when you have your solar panels installed. The details of these programs vary by state, so you should discuss what programs are available with your ADT sales rep during your free quote consultation.

      Go With QCells Panels

      ADT offers three different panel brands to choose from: QCells, Silfab, and Canadian Solar. Silfab and Canadian Solar are both more expensive brands than QCells, so you can save a few thousand dollars if you go with QCells.

      The average cost per watt for QCells is around $3.33, based on consumer reports regarding the prices and the average cost of solar in the U.S. Panels from Silfab and Canadian Solar usually cost between $3.50 and $3.75 per watt. For an average-sized 9-kW system, a QCells system will cost you $20,979 after the ITC, while a system from either Silfab or Canadian Solar will run you $23,625, a difference of around $2,500.

      Even though QCells’ panels are more affordable, they still have good efficiency ratings and a reasonable degradation rate. They also come with a 25-year warranty for manufacturer defects.

      Skip the Solar Batteries (Maybe)

      Solar batteries are great for people who live in areas that don’t have solid net metering programs, but they’re less beneficial in places with full retail rate net metering. Your ADT project manager will be able to tell you whether or not your electric company offers retail rate net metering or avoided-cost net metering, which compensates you at a lower rate than you pay on your electric bill.

      Of course, solar batteries like the Tesla Powerwall and Enphase IQ battery also insulate you from power outages, so it’s not only about how much you can save. If you want to use solar batteries as an emergency backup power system, it doesn’t matter what net metering policies are in effect in your municipality.

      Skipping the solar batteries can save you between $11,500 and $22,000, depending on how many batteries you need and what brand you choose.

      I should mentioned that California recently implemented net metering 3.0, which decreases the credit rate for exported electricity and makes batteries a necessity to maximize savings. Other states will likely move to this new model as well, at which point solar batteries might be necessary to see significant savings, even if the upfront cost is higher.

      Highest Quality Panels

      4.4

      Installs high-quality Maxeon panels

      Outstanding customer support

      Best-in-class warranty lasts 40 years

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      Best Damage Protection

      3.7

      Affordable prices

      Excellent selection of panels and services

      Locations in 22 states

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      Best Solar Financing
      blue raven logo

      4.3

      No payments needed for 18 months

      Provides in-house financing

      Offers top brands like LG and Trina

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      Best Customer Service

      3.9

      Highly rated customer service

      Provides  24/7 panel monitoring

      Solid A+ rating with the BBB

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      What Is ADT’s Solar Installation Process Like?

      ADT’s solar panel installation process is very similar to the process other top solar installers use. Here’s a brief rundown of what to expect during an ADT Solar installation

      1. Apply for a quote online. The first step is to apply for a quote online at ADT’s website. An ADT salesperson should get back to you within a few business days to schedule an appointment. If you prefer to apply over the phone, you can find the company’s contact information on its website.
      2. Inspection and property assessment. ADT will send a technician to your home to assess your property and see what type of solar system your home can accommodate. Be prepared to supply the tech with some information about your monthly utility bills.
      3. System design. ADT will then use the information it gathered during the property assessment to design a system that meets your home’s energy needs and fits in the space you have available. This typically takes a few days and ends with the company sending you a free quote.
      4. Permitting. If you like the quote and decide to go with ADT, the next step is to obtain the necessary building permits required in your area. ADT will handle this process for you, so you don’t have to do anything yourself. Depending on where you live, the permitting process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
      5. The installation. Once the permits are all set, ADT will schedule your installation. An in-house team of NABCEP-certified technicians will come to your house to install your solar system. Most ADT installations are completed in a single day, which is very convenient and not something you get from all solar installers.
      6. Monitoring and applying for incentives. With your system up and running, all you have to do is monitor its production and apply for solar incentives. ADT will help you navigate your state’s solar incentives to make sure you get as much money back as you can.

      Does ADT Offer a Good Solar Warranty?

      ADT Solar has one of the best solar warranties I’ve seen anywhere in the solar industry. The company’s comprehensive warranty covers your system’s equipment, workmanship, and performance for 25 years. The average length of a workmanship warranty in the solar business is just 10 years, and most performance guarantees top out at 20 years, making ADT’s coverage significantly better.

      One downside to ADT’s warranty is that it takes the company some time to process its claims. While that’s not entirely unexpected for a company with a national presence like ADT, it does put a damper on its otherwise excellent solar warranty. Waiting around for weeks for a maintenance visit while your panels are underproducing doesn’t feel great and cuts into your savings.

      The good news is that ADT doesn’t have issues honoring its warranty the way some less reputable companies do; you just might have to wait a bit for a repair visit.


      Does ADT Offer Any Other Solar Services?

      ADT doesn’t offer any other solar services besides solar panels and solar battery installations. If you’re looking for an energy audit, energy efficiency upgrades, or want to include an EV charger in your home solar setup, you’ll have to go with another provider like Tesla or SunPower.


      Where Is ADT Solar Available?

      ADT Solar is currently available in the following 21 states:

      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Illinois
      • Iowa
      • Kansas
      • Louisiana
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Mexico
      • North Carolina
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • South Carolina
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Virginia

      The company is in the process of expanding its service area and is planning on opening locations in the following seven states soon:

      • Indiana
      • Massachusetts
      • New Jersey
      • New York
      • Pennsylvania
      • Utah
      • West Virginia

      What Are Solar Customers Saying About ADT?

      Customer reviews of ADT Solar are largely positive. A large fraction of the company’s business comes from referrals from existing customers, which speaks volumes about its customer satisfaction level.

      A common theme I see in customer reviews is that people feel comfortable going with ADT Solar due to the company’s quick response times to phone calls during initial consultations and its representatives’ professionalism and knowledge. ADT offers excellent customer service, and its customers appreciate it.

      Other positive reviews also mention that ADT Solar honors its warranties without a lot of back and forth, which is good news for people who are thinking of choosing ADT for the peace of mind they’ll get from the company’s warranty.

      Of course, there are also some negative reviews that call the company out for dragging its feet when processing warranty claims. Some customers report waiting weeks for a warranty maintenance visit, which is frustrating.

      Delays during the installation process are less common, but some people say that their installation stalled out during the permitting step. It’s unclear whether or not this is ADT’s fault or if it’s due to the slow-moving bureaucracy wherever the customer lives, but it’s worth noting.


      How Does ADT Compare to Other Solar Installers?

      ADT Solar is one of the best solar companies in the industry. It stacks up well against other industry giants like SunPower, Tesla, and Blue Raven, offering an outstanding warranty and going above and beyond to deliver a smooth installation process.

      In my opinion, ADT Solar is a strong candidate for the second-best solar installer in the U.S., only trailing behind SunPower. SunPower installs high-efficiency panels made by Maxeon, which perform better and are more durable than anything ADT carries.

      CompanyLogoStar RatingBest ForService AreaLink

      Highest Quality Panels

      All 50 states

      Best Damage Protection

      20 states

      blue raven logo

      Best Solar Financing

      22 states

      Best Customer Service

      9 states

      Best Customization Options

      9 states

      Fastest-Growing Solar Provider

      7 states

      CompanyStar RatingBest ForService AreaBBB Rating

      Highest Quality Panels

      All 50 states

      A+

      Best Damage Protection

      20 states

      A+

      Best Solar Financing

      22 states

      A+

      Best Customer Service

      9 states

      A+

      Best Customization Options

      9 states

      A+

      Fastest-Growing Solar Provider

      7 states

      F


      Bottom Line: Will ADT Solar Work For You?

      I recommend ADT Solar to anyone looking for a reputable solar company that installs high-quality yet affordable solar panels and stands behind its work with an outstanding warranty. ADT Solar isn’t known for having the biggest selection of solar panels or offering the most solar services, but it does have a reputation for providing excellent customer service and for having one of the best solar warranties in the business.

      Whether you decide to go with ADT Solar or another solar company, I suggest you get as many free quotes from as many solar installers as you can to ensure you get the best deal possible in your area. You can use the tool below to get started searching for the best solar installation companies near you right now.

      Get a Solar Quote in 30 Seconds
      On average, homeowners save $5,000–$20,000 with solar panels

      The cost information presented in this article is derived from a comprehensive analysis, incorporating data from multiple industry sources. The average cost per watt per state was calculated based on figures from Consumer Affairs, Energy Sage, and Berkeley Lab’s Electricity Markets & Policy Department. Additionally, monthly energy consumption and the average monthly cost of electricity were sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ensuring a well-rounded and accurate representation of the information presented.


      Here are some questions I get asked all the time about ADT Solar.

      FAQs About ADT Solar

      How reliable is ADT Solar?

      ADT Solar is generally considered a very reliable company, and it has a good track record of providing high-quality, high-performance solar equipment for customers across the U.S. The company’s size sometimes gets in the way of the speed at which warranty claims are responded to, but generally speaking, ADT is reputable and reliable. Perhaps most importantly, the above-average warranty coverage from ADT makes it a popular option for customers looking for reliability.


      What solar company is owned by ADT Solar?

      ADT purchased SunPro in December of 2021 and currently owns the SunPro brand, which now operates under the name ADT Solar. ADT Solar serves 30 states and installs solar panels and solar batteries through what was formerly SunPro’s in-house solar installation team. ADT combined SunPro’s installation experience with relatively low installation costs and stellar warranty coverage to provide the full package.


      What inverter does ADT Solar use?

      The company uses Enphase IQ8 Microinverters as part of its energy system.


      Who is the top-rated solar company?

      I believe SunPower is the best solar company in the country, as it manufactures the highest-quality panels through its sister company and provides outstanding warranty coverage and service. ADT Solar is a close second, though, with slightly less efficient panels but lower costs, more brand variety, and warranty coverage that’s still well beyond the industry average.


      What is the cost of an ADT Solar system?

      The cost of a solar array from ADT will vary based on many factors, but generally speaking, you can expect to pay around $2.66 per watt for the equipment and installation services. This is equivalent to the industry average, so generally speaking, a system from ADT will cost about what it would from most other installers in your area. For the standard 9 kW system, that’s a total of $16,758 after the federal credit.


      What solar system does ADT Solar offer?

      ADT Solar installs photovoltaic (PV) panels from Canadian Solar, QCells, and Silfab. All of these are high-quality brands that should provide plenty of power to offset your energy bills and provide sufficient savings over time. ADT also installs Tesla Powerwalls and Enphase IQ batteries for on-site backup power, as well as Enphase inverters and Enphase microinverters.



      Methodology: How We Reviewed ADT Solar

      At Today’s Homeowner, we strive to bring you the most transparent, accurate information for your home improvement projects. Our solar ratings emphasize what matters most to you—a wide range of energy-efficient panels, reputable and reliable installation, and comprehensive warranties.

      Our ratings are based on publicly available information about each company, secret shopping online and over the phone, customer-review analysis, and interviews with solar industry experts.

      A company can earn a maximum of 100 points across six categories, converted to a five-star scale. We researched and analyzed dozens of solar installers and developed the following formula:

      • Services Offered (20 points): What does each solar provider offer as a basic service with any solar installation plan? In-house labor led to companies being ranked higher than those that contracted their labor out to third parties. Similarly, battery installation and panel monitoring were key factors that we looked for in each provider. ADT scores in the middle of the pack in this category. It doesn’t offer some services like EV charging stations or energy audits, but it has a good selection of solar panels and batteries.
      • Warranty Period (20 points): Solar warranties can cover labor, components, or both. The length of these warranty plans is of chief importance. Companies that offer 25-year warranty coverage got our highest score in this category. ADT Solar has an excellent solar warranty, so it scores well in this category. Its warranty is comprehensive, covering equipment, performance, and workmanship for 25 years.
      • Other Offerings (20 points): Solar companies that provide secondary services are rated highly. These include obtaining permits to operate (PTO), providing financing and price matching options, and mobile performance tracking options. ADT Solar does well in this section, too. The company will help you obtain the permits you need to install your solar system and also provides good financing options.
      • Company Reputation (15 points): Our main metrics for rating company reputation were Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings and complaint response rate. These are reliable indicators of quality. Many of our best providers have a 100% complaint response rate. ADT Solar’s reputation is excellent, so it gets high marks in this category. The internet is full of positive reviews for ADT Solar, and the company is well-respected throughout the solar industry. The company’s technicians have all the necessary certifications, and its electricians are familiar with the unique challenges associated with installing solar systems.
      • Customer Service (15 points): Availability via phone and online is key for modern home service providers in any niche. Those that offer both, along with clearly posted business hours and in-person estimates, are rated highly. ADT Solar’s customer service is solid. The company performs speedy installations and is very communicative throughout the entire process. The only reason it gets some points off here is because its warranty claims support is a bit slow.
      • Availability (10 points): Companies with availability in more than 40 states received our highest score in this category. We rated providers with a more limited presence progressively lower, depending on exact reach. ADT Solar is one of the biggest solar companies in the country, but it only has locations in 21 states. The company is expanding to seven new states soon, but its lack of national presence docks it some points for now.

      We monitor company data on an ongoing basis to keep rankings and information up to date.

      Editorial Contributors
      avatar for Dan Simms

      Dan Simms

      Contributor

      Dan Simms worked in real estate management for five years before using his experience to help property owners maintain their own homes. He got his master’s degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, and he now enjoys sharing his knowledge about homeownership and DIY projects with others on Today’s Homeowner. When he’s not writing, he’s usually outdoors with his wife and his dog, enjoying mountain biking, skiing, and hiking.

      Learn More

      photo of Lora Novak

      Lora Novak

      Senior Editor

      Lora Novak meticulously proofreads and edits all commercial content for Today’s Homeowner to guarantee that it contains the most up-to-date information. Lora brings over 12 years of writing, editing, and digital marketing expertise. She’s worked on thousands of articles related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation, roofing, plumbing, lawn/garden, pest control, insurance, and other general homeownership topics.

      Learn More

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