For those concerned with their carbon footprint and the impact of their actions on the climate, solar panels are an excellent way to get clean energy into your home.
They are becoming more and more popular, especially in the USA.
There are currently more than 2 million homes in the United States that have solar panels installed.
An increasing number of people are becoming aware of the numerous benefits that can be gained from using these types of systems.
If you are ready to make the switch and try out solar panels, then you have come to the right place!
This article will cover everything you need to know about using solar panels for home use.
Keep reading to begin your solar panel journey!
Solar Panels – How They Work
In a nutshell, the process that solar panels use to generate electricity begins with the collection of photons, which are then transformed into free electrons.
Electricity is created whenever electrons are uncoupled from the atomic bonds to which they are bound.
Solar panels can provide an immediate flow of usable electricity by first transforming the light that they collect into an electrical signal that can be utilized to power your home.
Here is a simple step-by-step process of how the panels make electricity.
Cells in the solar panel absorb sunlight
They convert the energy from the sunlight into a direct current (DC).
Every system needs an inverter of some form so that direct current (DC) electricity may be converted into alternating current (AC), and these inverters can be string, micro, or hybrid.
After that, the energy is transmitted via the lines to your home, where it is used to power the many electronic items that are in your home.
The system puts the surplus of electricity that is generated into the electric grid.
Solar panel systems are very easy to understand after you have mastered the basics, so you do not need to panic about having to follow any complicated instructions.
You can essentially just leave it to do what it has to.
Solar Panel Lifespan
The lifespan of a decent solar panel should be at least 25 years, and it will likely be considerably more than that.
Solar panels are constructed to endure the severe weather and other elements that they may encounter when outside for a significant amount of time.
Solar panels typically come with a guarantee that is valid for 25 years, which indicates that you will continue to enjoy the benefits of utilizing them for a significant length of time even after the warranty has expired.
According to the findings of a study that was conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the lifespan of solar panels is around 80 percent greater than the warranties that are offered by each manufacturer.
This might potentially save you hundreds of dollars in the long term by reducing the amount of power you use.
How Many Panels Will I Need For My Home?
To determine how many panels you will need for your home, you will first need to compile a list of everything that draws power from the electrical outlets in your home.
Taking a look at the total amount that you are paid for your various utilities will also provide you with a good notion of the number of panels that you could need.
How Many Watts Are You Using At Once?
If you look at the statement for your electric service, you should be able to find the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) that you have consumed written there.
The amount of kWh that households use might vary considerably from one location to the next.
If a home is situated in the south, for example, their needs may be higher due to having to have the AC running for a lot of the year.
Finding out how much energy is typically used daily will help you calculate the amount of solar power you will need.
After you have established your needs, you may calculate the amount of wattage that will be necessary to ensure that everything continues to operate as it should.
How Much Sunlight You Get
It is important to keep in mind that solar panels can only generate electricity when they are subjected to direct sunlight.
Once the sun no longer shines directly on them, they are unable to produce any more energy.
The hours of the day that your solar panels are facing directly into the sun are the ones that are referred to as the “peak sunshine hours.”
The hours during which the sun is at its strongest may change significantly from one location to the next.
To work out the wattage you will need, first, calculate the number of peak sunlight hours your home receives by the hourly energy demand of your home, and then divide the resultant amount by the wattage of a solar panel.
This will give you an estimate of how much energy a solar panel can produce for your home.
This may be done with panels that have a high wattage or a low wattage, giving you the ability to establish a variety of different requirements at the same time.
The vast majority of reputable solar companies will be able to assist you in figuring this out if you supply them with the correct information.
Example – Panels Needed To Power 1500 Square Foot House
Around 1500 square feet is considered to be the standard for a home’s living space in the United States.
It is anticipated that you will want somewhere in the range of 15–18 solar panels to generate sufficient electricity to provide this property with energy.
A typical household refrigerator, for instance, may have a power rating of 250 watts and run for a total of four hours every single day.
The sum of all of this is one thousand watts. The amount of energy contained in one kilowatt-hour is equal to the amount of energy contained in one kilowatt-second.
This is only a rough estimate, and it may be affected by a variety of factors like the patterns of usage, the amount of sunlight that is available in the region, the type of panels that are used, and the location of those panels.
Solar panel setups with an approximate power output of 6 kilowatts are appropriate for installation on homes of around 1,500 square feet in area.
The total cost of the panels along with the labor to install them will be close to $18,000.
You will be able to acquire an estimate for your home as well as information on the amount of money you may save by contacting an energy specialist in your area.
They cannot only provide you with an estimate for the installation but also address any questions or concerns you may have regarding home solar energy systems.
Types Of Solar Systems
When looking for a solar panel system, there are three main types from which to pick. These categories are off-grid, grid-tied with battery backup, and grid-tied.
Each one is suitable for different needs, so look below to see which ones would be best for you.
Grid-Tied
The grid-tied system is by far the most frequent and commonly used system that can be found in residential homes.
This type of technology establishes a direct connection not just with your house but also with the electrical grid that serves the neighborhood.
Because of this, homeowners can effortlessly switch between acquiring their electricity from their solar systems or utility companies. Utility firms also can provide households with electricity.
If the system generates more power than the home needs, the extra power will either be sold to the utility company or used to prorate the homeowner’s bill, depending on which option the homeowner chooses.
If the system generates more power than the home uses, the utility company will buy the excess power.
Grid-Tied With Battery
This solar power system is also connected to both your house and the utility grid, similar to how the grid-tied system is.
In addition to that, it features a battery pack that is integrated into its design.
When the solar panels are exposed to direct sunlight, this causes them to create energy, which is then saved in the battery banks if there is any excess power produced.
This stored energy may be used at a later time for whatever purpose is necessary, even after the sun has set and the solar panels are no longer producing electricity.
The power may also be sold back to the utility companies. However, this approach is very expensive due to the high cost of the batteries that are involved in the process.
Off-Grid
The third alternative is known as an off-grid system since it is not connected to the utility grid in any manner.
Your home and a battery bank are the only two locations to which this system is connected in any way.
The battery bank is an element that is a vital requirement for this system for it to fulfill its duty of providing continuous electrical power to your residence around the clock.
This form of system is often the most costly choice since it requires such a huge quantity of batteries to store the amount of energy that your home would need.
Summary
Now that you have a thorough understanding of how solar panels work and how many you will need, it is time to go green and start saving money.
Contact a competent solar provider for a quotation on the installation of a solar system for your house.
