How to Set Up a House With Solar Power
Solar power is a great source of energy that is clean and renewable. Not only will your electric bills be less, but you will also be using natural energy for your home's needs. Using solar power reduces the size of the carbon footprint left on the Earth and saves energy for future generations. Setting up your home for solar power is simple.
- Estimate your home’s daily, monthly and yearly power consumption. Do this by looking at your electric bill or using an online energy calculator.
- Create a power supply system that will support your current needs and exceed them by at least 30 percent. You can also design a system that uses both solar and grid power; most solar powered homes rely on some grid power.
- Purchase photovoltaic solar panels. There are a wide variety of panels to choose from including shingles, roll out sheets and panels. Solar panels are still one of the most efficient and least expensive options on the market today.
- Find a solar panel that can produce at least 250 watts. Wattage less than 250 is useless in a home. Keep in mind that these panels will last about 30 years and usually only require an annual cleaning with a spray hose.
- Try to supply at least 5,000 watts of power to your home through the solar panels each day. 5,000 watts is enough power for a refrigerator, water pump and several light circuits in your home.
- Choose a place on your roof to install the solar panels. The panels can be flush with the roof or mounted, depending on design. If at all possible, install the panels on the southwest side of your roof. Make sure you are installing the roof on a section that does not get shade during the day.
- Secure the solar panels to your roof with a rail mounting system. This system should come with the panels or may be purchased separately. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully.
- Consider installing a battery bank system that collects energy during the day and runs certain items at night. You may want to have this professionally installed to be sure you are getting the most power from your panels.
- Connect each panel to an energy inverter or the battery bank system, whichever you choose. The energy that is collected by the solar panels is a direct current (DC). The power in the home from the grid is alternating current power (AC). The inverter will take the DC energy from the solar panel and convert it to AC power that can be used in your home. An inverter usually costs around $2,000 and needs to be replaced every 15 years.
- Install an additional power box next to your home’s breaker box. The second one will be for solar power only. You should also consider adding a switch that will allow you to turn off the solar power entering the home. In no time, you will see how these panels impact your energy bill.