ground solar panels

ground solar panels

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Once you've bought your solar panels, and set your installation date, there's nothing like waiting for the first time you can turn on a light from your own energy source!

Before installation, you should have a thorough review of your roof. First, you need to make sure your roof's structural integrity can support a large amount of solar panels. Second, if you're planning on installing a new roof in the next few years, you should do this before you add solar panels. It will save you money in the long run.

Next, your solar panel installation company should introduce you to the different types of mounting options for your panels. The most common is the roof-ground mount system, which screws into the roof and supports the panels from the bottom. For a large conventional solar panel system using mono or poly-crystalline panels, this is probably your only option. The roof-ground mounts also allow you to adjust the system on a slant to maximize power output.

Before you decide to purchase solar panels, you will need to do some homework on your local city ordinances and neighborhood associations. Many cities have banned solar panels due to aesthetic reasons. Many neighborhood and homeowner associations won't allow a new installation either. If you install a solar panel system and it's not allowed, you risk expensive fees and citations.

Your solar panel installation will probably take a day or two, depending on the size of the system you purchased. The first step is to place the panels on the roof for mounting and configuration (usually facing southwest if possible). Mounting itself can be a slow process since you may have in excess of 30 panels. Each must be mounted to the solar array and interconnected properly. After this, each mounted part must be tested to make sure they are secure and leak-proof.

The inverter is a large box that can be placed anywhere indoors. A garage or basement is the usual location. The inverter should not be placed outside. With a few simple connections from the panels to your circuit box and inverter, your home is running off solar energy. You can control the options of your solar system through the inverter. If you are running completely off grid then the inverter will be connected to the battery instead of the existing circuit box.

A new type of system that's becoming more popular is the amorphous solar panel system. These panels are flexible and do not require the same elevated mounting as the rigid crystalline panels. Instead, these panels are affixed to a medium and they are connecting with wires under the thin film that covers them. Amorphous panels are more aesthetically pleasing to many home owners but they do not deliver the same efficiency as mono or poly-crystalline structures. You will need twice as many amorphous panels to get the same output delivery. Amorphous panels are better suited for smaller applications, such as in travel cabins or boats.

If you have not seen a solar power system installation, many companies will let you observe an installation if you are perspective client. We highly recommend it to get an idea of how your abode will look and function as a residential solar power home.

Philip Richards lives on solar power and has built his own solar panels. Learn how he did this be checking out http://123HomeSolarPower.com

You can also check out Philip's blog at http://HomeSolarBlog.com

How To Ground Your Solar Panel Array