How Does A Home Solar Panels Sysytem Work?
Individual solar cells in the modules that are located on your roof convert the energy of the sun into DC power. A device
called an inverter converts this into AC current used to power your home appliances. This technology can be
integrated with your local power company.
When your system is producing more than your needs, you may be able to set up what is known as net metering. You
may also be able to have your account credited for the overage your system generates.
You may also want to include a system that involves a battery backup. This will allow your system to be charged during
the day and meet your needs in the event of a power outage.
This Department of Energy photo displays a typical system.
Will My Home Solar Panels System Produce In Darkness
At night, your system will be idle and not able to produce electricity. On cloudy days you will be able to produce
electricity, but not quite as effectively as a sunny day.
What Will Happen In The Event Of A Power Outage?
The answer depends on what type of system you install. If you do not have a backup battery system you will
not have power during an outage. With battery backup you will have power at all times
What Is Meant By On-Grid And Off-Grid?
On-grid means that you are connected to the electrical grid system that furnishes standard electric power
to your home. Off-grid means that you are not connected to the system. This may be applied to say a
remote cabin or vacation home with home solar panels.
How Do I Know If Home Solar Panels Will Work On My Home?
This technology will work for most home owners. If there is direct light from the sun without obstructions
such as trees and buildings that over shadow your home's roof, you should be okay. If you have a roof
that faces directly south, this is the optimal condition. New advances make it possible to generate 90%
effeciency with a west or east facing home.
How Much Of My Roof Area Will Be Needed?
Most smaller systems will require around 120 square feet and larger systems will use around 1,000
square feet of roof space that is exposed to the sun. To determine how many home solar panels that
you will need, take your daily average kilowatt hours used and multiply that number by 0.25. Your result
will be the approximate number in kilowatts needed to power your home. This will be the size of your
solar array.
Will My System Cover All Of My Electric Usage?
One of the great things about these systems is the fact that you can take this as far as you want to. Just
reducing your electric bill by 25 or 50 % will benefit you tremendously. This can easily be accomplished
with the smallest of systems. If you want to scale this up and have a suitable situation, you can wind up
selling power back to the electric company.
How Long Will My System Last?
Most systems bought commercially come with a 25 year guarantee. Home solar panels will withstand wind and hail and
have proven to be very reliable with little to no maintenance. The batteries will probably have to be replaced
somewhere between the 5 and 10 year mark.
Will The Government Help Me?
The answer to this is yes! You will have to check with state agencies and your municipal utilitiy company.
The good news is that this can mean thousands of dollars if you intend to scale up your system.
