The most common location for installing solar PV panels is the roof. Most roofs generally have the desired specifications for the installation so that panels get the maximum sunlight.

However, if installed on the roof is not applicable or desired, the solar panels could also be mounted on the ground. First, you need to make sure that there are no objects blocking access to the sun.

Solar Roof Shingles

The newest solar panel choice is the growing trend of installing solar roof shingles. They are the modern solution to having a stunning roof that can mimic architectural asphalt shingle roofs. But they offer the added advantage of furnishing your home with a solar energy system. Solar shingles are as stable as regular asphalt shingles and effectively protect your roof and home. Each solar shingle installed can produce anywhere from 13 to 67 watts of solar energy. They can also withstand just about any climate. But keep in mind that the cost to install solar shingles will be more than installing classic asphalt shingles.

Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Solar panels are made up of crystalline cells. A standard home rooftop solar panel possesses up to 40 solar cells. There are two primary types of solar panel cells: polycrystalline and monocrystalline. Understanding the difference is essential because your choice will decide the cost and amount of roof space your solar installation needs. Polycrystalline kinds of solar panels were invented first. These cells can be recognised within a solar panel for their rectangular shape, created when silicon is melted and poured into a mould. Industry professionals fabricate polycrystalline solar very effectively, as little silicon is destroyed. This donates to the competitive pricing of installing polycrystalline solar panels or even solar leasing prices.

Monocrystalline Solar Panels

Monocrystalline solar panel cells tend to attain higher levels of efficiency because they are assembled of more pure silicon. You will notice a uniformity in their colouring. Their cylindrical shape also helps these cells gain higher efficiency. Finding your solar sun number score will be essential when deciding between a monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panel system. This will allow you to determine how much potential your system will have with your location and the amount of sunlight it receives. To make them, solar manufacturers carve silicon ingots into wafers. During the procedure, they smooth and round the cell edges. Because their form and content help them produce more electricity, you will need fewer of them.

Thin Film Solar Panels

You may have heard of thin-film types of solar panels. They are newer solar panels and are less frequently used for homes. But they are growing in popularity. The thin-film board gets its name from how it’s produced. Layers of semiconductor materials (silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium gallium selenide) are rolled out as a film on a surface. Thin-film solar panels tend to be less efficient than crystalline solar panels, needing much roof space. They also tend to degrade more quickly, so companies may provide shorter warranties to homeowners.

String Inverters

String inverters are the most common inverters encountered in home solar energy systems. Unsurprisingly, they also happen to cost the least. As a result, they are ideal for well-lit roofs with little shade and a flat plane. The term “string” refers to how the solar panels are situated when connected to this inverter. First, the panels are arranged in strings attached parallel to each other and then tied to the inverter.

String inverters are an older technology that corresponded to power optimizers and microinverters. Therefore, they are often portrayed as module-level power electronics (MLPE). However, they represent a newer innovation with certain advantages where string inverters fail. Specifically, MLPEs can maintain high efficiencies on roofs with multiple levels or partial shade.

Microinverters

Microinverters convert power from DC to AC within each panel. Occasionally a solar panel comes with the microinverter embedded, and other times the inverter is added individually. Microinverters offer high energy efficiency because a panel on a shaded part of the roof doesn’t block energy flow from a solar conversion transpiring within a panel on a sunny piece. This is an advantage of each panel operating autonomously.

Complete a Site Survey With an Engineer

Once you pick the best solar installation company for your home and sign an agreement, the company will dispatch an engineer to your home to assess your current electrical system. They will ensure everything is compatible with your planned solar panel system design. This engineer may be a worker of the solar company or an autonomous contractor. If you have an old and obsolete electrical system, the engineer may tell you that it needs to be upgraded or replaced. This is typically an indication that your new solar energy system will require more amps than your existing electrical system can accommodate. In addition to examining your electrical system, the engineer will also want to check your roof. They’ll need to ensure it is structurally sturdy and can sustain the weight of solar panelling. Also, the engineer will be able to tell you if you require a specialised mounting system, such as for a flat roof.

Secure the Right Permits

Before your solar panel installation, you’ll have a few challenges to solve. First, you’ll need to obtain all the proper permits and documentation to guarantee your solar panel installation is permitted, meeting all local safety and zoning prerequisites. You wouldn’t believe the headaches accompany an installation before permits are allocated. This step may sound daunting, but here’s the good news: While there is plenty of paperwork associated with installing solar panels, most of it is handled by your solar company. You may not have to do much beyond lending a signature here and there, but it’s still essential to have some sense of what’s happening behind the scenes. In addition, by completing this paperwork, you can potentially secure rebates, tax credits, or other financial assistance to offset installation costs.

Order the Right Equipment

Once you have all the right permits and paperwork, your solar installer will be ready to order your gear. Note that, by this point, you will already have selected the kinds of solar panels you need and the best solar batteries and inverters for your home. These decisions are generally laid out in a solar proposal, sent well before signing your agreement. Once your solar equipment is ordered, your name will be added to the installer’s queue. This means you’ll be put on the timetable for an installer to assemble your solar panels as soon as they come from the distributor.

Get Your Solar Panels Installed

Ultimately, the big day arrives. Your solar installer will arrive and begin preparing your roof, especially by confirming that all tiles or shingles are securely attached. Then, the installer will position the wiring needed to connect your residential solar system to the electrical system. After the wires are set, your installer will place racking, which is used to hold the solar panels in position. Next, the panels are placed into the racks, and the inverter (or several microinverters) is connected to the panels. Your installer will also set that up if you have a battery bank. If your solar system is well designed and planned out, this procedure step should be the most straightforward.

Get your system approved and connected

Once the system is in position, your installer will essentially “flip the switch” to turn it on. Before this occurs, you’ll likely need a municipal government spokesperson to assess and approve your residential solar system, issuing permission to operate (PTO). This is just a safety precaution, guaranteeing there’s a fresh set of eyes to validate the wiring and electrical work. You’ll also need a spokesperson from your local utility firm to connect the system to the electrical grid. This enables you to keep drawing electricity when needed and safely feed any excess energy back into the grid, resulting in credits from your utility firm via net metering programs.

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