One of the first things that you need to think about before getting a solar power system installed in your home is the amount of electricity that you use in your home, as well as when you use it. From there, you will be able to determine the number of panels that you need.
Aside from the installation though, you also need to consider future costs that you can incur for the routine maintenance of your system, as well as any repairs that may be necessary. In this case, make sure that you only get in touch with qualified electricians who usually carry the appropriate licenses before they perform solar panels repairs because this certifies that they underwent proper training. Nevertheless, if you are thinking of investing in a solar power system, then below is a complete beginner’s guide that will prove to be beneficial for you.
Components of a Solar Power System
A solar panel system has three main components, which include the panels, the inverter, as well as the mounting.
Panels
Solar panels are usually categorised as polycrystalline or monocrystalline. There are also panels that are categorised as cast mono, which is simply a hybrid between the polycrystalline and monocrystalline panel types. It doesn’t really matter which type of panel you go for because both are well suited for the Australian climate. What you should focus on, however, is going for a good brand that will most likely last you for about 25 years or even more.
Inverter
The second main component of a solar power system is the inverter. More often than not, you will find a string inverter which is about the size of a briefcase, but there are also instances wherein you find microinverters, which are more compact compared to string inverters. The former is often installed on a wall and all the solar panels need to connect to it. On the other hand, the latter goes on the rear side of each solar panel.
Mounting
The final component of a solar power system is the mounting, which can also be referred to as the racking. These are the pieces that are securely attached to your roof and what the panels are mounted on. There are several mounting brands and perhaps the only main difference between them is how easy or difficult it is for the installed to mount them, particularly with challenging roof structures.
Optimal Solar System Placement
The direction and the angle of your solar panels can have a significant impact on the amount of electricity that it generates.
Panel Direction
Because of the nature of the direction in which the sun rises and sets, the solar panels that face in the east direction are most likely to have a peak power production in the morning, while those that face in the west direction produce more power in the afternoon. Conversely, the panels that are directly facing the north will have a peak power production around midday.
Panel Angle
The panel angle can also aid you in maximizing the energy that your system can produce but this greatly depends on the latitude of your location. For instance, if you live in Sydney, then having a solar panel installed at a 34-degree angle from the horizontal will yield the maximum benefit.
The Bottomline
There are several advantages to having a solar power system installed in your home. However, before you can reap these benefits, you need to first assess your energy usage. In parallel to this, you also need to exert the extra effort to research and know more about solar power technology to ensure that you make it work to your advantage.