What You Need To Know When Considering Adding Solar Power To Your Home

Solar power generation is advancing all the time, and residential solar is becoming a significant benefit for homeowners that can afford to install a system. Solar installation for your home can come with some challenges, but a solar power installer can work out the kinks and get your system running in nearly every situation.

Determining Your Solar Requirements

Before installing a solar power system in your home, you need to decide what you want to achieve from the system. A small home trying to move off the grid may be easier to set up than a larger house because of the necessary power requirements.

However, it is also essential to consider the placement of the solar panels and the number necessary to generate the power. Smaller homes often have smaller roofs, so alternative panel placement may be necessary to ensure they are effective.

Storage requirements and energy management are also essential. An experienced solar power contractor can go over all the specs and help you determine what you need, where to put it, and how to manage the energy you are generating. 

Grid Location Options

Most solar power arrays set up on homes in urban areas are put on the home's roof because that is where they are most effective and will not take up space in the yard. Power storage often means having a wall-mounted unit with the batteries outside the house, or you could set up the storage system in the basement.

Once the solar panels are in place on the roof, power management and storage are crucial. The solar power collection starts on the roof, but the energy coming in from the panels must run through a management system to ensure the batteries are not overcharged or damaged during the transfer. The power also requires a converter to turn the twelve-volt DC power in the batteries into AC power to ensure it is usable in the home.

Power Use

For large homes, solar power generation may not be enough to break away from the power company, but it can reduce your usage and lower the electric bill significantly. A smaller home with less to run may be able to generate enough power to keep the house going with no connection to the electric company. It requires precise management of the power storage system to ensure you do not end up without electricity when you really need it.

Reducing the time you have lights on or use electronics in the house can help. Upgrading to highly efficient appliances and using gas for cooking and heating can further reduce use. Discuss your goals with the solar power contractor so they can ensure you get what you need out of your residential solar power system.

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