TOP MUST READ 8 TIPS BEFORE BUYING A SOLAR PANEL
Solar panels are an efficient way to decrease your electricity bill and save yourself from increasing energy unit rates. You will also have a hand towards turning the world less carbonated by lowering the decrease of emissions.
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The solar panels’ cost has faced a decrease in recent years, due to modern technological advancements and government assistance. However, the cost is not the only factor to consider while buying solar panels.
We have gathered top tips for you to know before buying panels for your home battery backup system.
How does a solar panel work?
A solar panel uses solar power to create energy. Solar panels do not need to be directly subjected to sunlight because they use light energy, not heat energy. So, they would work just fine, even if the day is cloudy or rainy.
There is a solar power inverter that plays a vital role in the solar system as it transforms the alternating current into direct current that can be used in the home battery backup system. Then that current is used as electricity. If the system produces more energy than it is used, it is transferred back into the grid. The grid works as a power backup and stores the excess energy. So, whenever you use more energy than your solar system produces, the grid comes into action. It supports the home battery backup system then.
Solar Panel size and suitability
You should be well aware of the size and suitability of the solar panel you require. The U.S lies in the western hemisphere of the earth, so the solar panel should always face south to obtain maximum generation of power. Considering this factor, the solar panels can be installed facing east or west. So, the optimal direction can be southeast or southwest.
Along with the direction, the angle is also important. The most effective angle for a solar panel is 30-35 degrees. The size of your solar panel should also be such that it fits at the correct angle and in the right direction. You can consult with an expert solar panel installer to suggest the best size and place suitable to install the solar panels.
Solar Panel efficiency
Panel efficiency means the ability to produce output energy by input energy. An efficient solar panel would produce more output than it uses the input. This means you can get an uninterrupted energy supply even when the day is not too sunny.
So, how would you know which solar panel is more efficient for your home battery backup system.?
The average panel efficiency of a panel should be around 15%-16%. Any panel with 17-19% would be high end and a panel with above 20+% would be the most efficient.
Solar panel durability
The durability of anything we buy is a common yet important factor to consider. The durable solar panel will keep you from running for timely repairs, which can be problematic. America encounters solid breezes every so often, so panel durability is quite vital to avoid downtime as much as possible.
You would want to have a panel that is highly resistant to extreme weather such as hail, snow, and storm. You should go for a panel with high snow loads. A high snow load means the panel can last against the same snow load over it.
Maintenance and running costs
Maintenance of the Solar panel of your home battery backup system isn’t very tedious. If any residue or leaves choose top of the panels, they can with little of a stretch be hosed down. Other than that, there is additionally no other upkeep required. The panels mostly have the guarantee of 25 years and the inverter 5 to 10 years. The inverter is normally the part that should be changed because it works constantly to change the DC over to AC. It normally should be replaced following 10-15 years.
You should likewise have an installer check your system every 4-7 years. It is additionally prudent to get some information about the specific maintenance necessities of your panel system.
What type of panels do you need?
It used to be the case when you had confined rooftop space you would require an exceptionally effective (and over the top expensive) mono-crystalline panel. This is speedily changing with progress in polycrystalline panel innovation and some slight film advancements. Regardless of whether you have abundant rooftop space, you may need to consider panel sizes versus yield. Topping off your rooftop with wasteful panels will influence your capacity to add more panels in the future and don’t expand the power yield of the space.
It’s additionally important to remember that no solar panel advancement will create a lot of energy under full shade.
Warranty
Every huge investment calls for a warranty period. So, consider buying a solar panel that comes with a good time warranty.
The average warranty that a solar panel comes with is 10-years. But now a 12-year warranty is also really common. 20-years of warranty is an exceptional case where the panels are high end.
Solar panels also come with a performance warranty. When buying a solar panel, the manufacturer guarantees its performance. If the panel fails to perform below the expected efficiency, you can claim for its replacement.
Most solar panels have around 25-30 years of performance warranties.
Get multiple quotes
It is always safer and wiser to get multiple quotes from different dealers and installers before buying solar panels for your home battery backup system. You may observe the difference between the price that every dealer offers. But that is because internal and smaller parts of the system could reduce the upfront cost. However, different installers might charge you more for the installing and performance warranty. So, you can select the best one out of them.
Conclusion:
These were the crucial things you must know before you step to the market to buy solar panels for your home battery backup system. Once you get hold of these tips, we are sure you’ll be able to pick out the best solar panel.