When thinking about switching to solar energy, you will really need to do some thorough research. The first thing you will need to decide is whether you want to attach your solar system to the grid or not. This will help you determine all the elements you will need to get for your preferred option.
Additionally, setting up a solar system and making sure that everything is connected properly is not quite a piece of cake. That is why you will need to decide whether you want to hire the experts to do it for you or you would like to give it a shot yourself. Either way, here are some of the essential things you will need in order to make your own solar panel system.
Calculate your household’s needs
Before you dive any deeper into choosing the right equipment and ensuring all the essentials are there, you will first need to determine your load. In order to do this properly, you will have to determine which appliances will be plugged in at all times, how many appliances, in general, you will be using on a daily basis, how much light you want to have in your home, etc. Once you determine that, check the power rating of all of the appliances. Once you do that, you will need to determine the Watt Hour.
Pick the right panels
The size of your load will determine the type of the battery (more on that later) and the size and type of the solar panel you will need. When it comes to panels, you will first need to choose between monocrystalline and polycrystalline ones. Although monocrystalline panels are significantly costlier, they are considerably more efficient. Also, keep in mind that the amount of energy your solar panels manage to accumulate will depend on the amount of sunlight they receive. So, if you take into account the movement of the sun over the sky and the fact that it is not uniform, you can expect your panels to receive 4 hours of effective sunlight during a 12-hour day.
Get the right inverter
Solar panels receive energy from the sun’s rays. That energy is then being converted into electricity which comes in the form of the direct current (DC). The role of the inverter is to transform that DC into alternating current (AC). This part of the process is very important as all of the modern household appliances use AC in order to run. When choosing the best type, always go for high-quality, such as the Sunny Boy inverter, to ensure that you can make the most out of your solar panel system. Also, there are both grid-tie and stand-alone inverters, depending on which option you’ve decided on.
Make sure the batteries match
As mentioned earlier, you also need to ensure that you include solar batteries in order to be able to store all the generated energy for later use. No, unlike the car batteries that are designed to give short bursts of high current, you will need something that offers you a partial deep slow discharge. Lead acid tubular batteries, Ni-MH and Li-Ion batteries are the most commonly used types of batteries.
Choose a good charge controller
This little device that is placed between the solar panel and the battery is in charge of regulating the current and the voltage coming from your solar panels. Its main task is to ensure that the batteries are being charged properly to avoid potential overcharge. Most commonly, solar power systems use 12-volt batteries but the charge that is coming from the panels can – at times – be far greater than that. There are several types of charge controllers you can choose from, so make sure you pick the best one for your solar panel system.
Mount the panels and connect your system
In the end, once you have obtained all the essentials, it is the time to mount your panels and connect the entire system. As mentioned, you can choose to take care of this step alone or hire professionals to help you out. Make sure you mount solar panels the right way and connect everything accordingly, to avoid any potential mishaps.
These were the essential pieces of equipment you will need if you are thinking about making the switch to solar energy. The best part is that the solar panel system is quite easy to maintain. Not only that but if you choose everything right and ensure it is installed correctly, it will serve you for up to 30 years.
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