Can I Get A Solar Panel System?
Before you
decide to get a solar array there are a number of factors you have to
consider as it can be a big deal. There are a number of things that
have to be expertly evaluated before you can even consider putting
panels on your roof.
First of all,
some might have to come out and do a site survey. An engineer will
climb up on your roof, take measurements, inspect to see if you have
visibility to the south, and use this funky solar pathfinder device
to determine the times of day that particular areas would be shaded.
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Solar Path finder
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They go to
the four corners of where the solar array is going to be installed
with the Solar Pathfinder, and with it point towards the south it has
a series of marks on it and a glass dome which reflects anything that
would be throwing a shadow. You basically look at the reflection and
see what time of day the shadow might affect that spot.
To get the
most out of your panels you need to have them in a pin-point location
to work efficiently as possible, you can't just bung them on any old
place! Basically this means it must be facing south within about a 20
degree window. If they can’t point the panels in that direction,
you might as well not do it because your solar generation drops
dramatically. Same goes for shade. If you’ve got a building beside
you, or trees that tower over the house, you’re done.
Even if your
roof points south, and nothing’s blocking the sun you still need to
have an engineering survey done to determine if your roof can bear
the additional weight! Luckily, it only adds about 5-6 pounds per
square foot of roof loading, so most roofs should be able to take it.
How Big of a Solar Panel System Do I Need?
To some
extent figuring out what you need is narrowed down by how much room
you have and cost. But you also need to take a look at your previous
year’s electric bills, find out what your electric rates are, and
research what the projected generation will be for the size of system
you’re thinking about.
Here’s
a site to let you calculateproduction
for your location. Just pick your country and region
You’ll
come up with an estimate that looks kind of like this:
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ITS A
ROYAL PAIN IN THE ARSE
Solar Panel System Tips and Tricks
Oh boy, there
is a lot they aren’t telling you! For example, one really good
thing is that these systems are mostly guaranteed for 20 years! What
isn’t really talked about is that its the solar panels that are
warrantied for that long, but the inverters are not. So when you’re
doing your ROI calculations you need to include the fact that you’re
going to have to spend more money somewhere in the middle of the
life-cycle for changing out parts.
Speaking
inverters, I should explain that the reason you need an inverter is
that the solar panels put out DC current. This is like the current
that comes out of a battery. But houses use AC current. So the
inverter takes care of the conversion. There are two different kinds
of inverters that are currently in use.
Solar MicroInverters
Being
dependent on one inverter can be inefficient, if they inverter goes
down or has technical problems it means you won't be generating any
electricity. An answer to the efficiency problem comes in the form of
micro-inverters. Instead of stringing multiple panels together and
putting them through one big inverter, micro-inverters are installed
on every single solar panel. This allows each panel to contribute
100% of its production to the home, and if one fails it doesn’t
affect the output of any others.
Choosing between Inverters and MicroInverters
Each type of
inverter has its own benefits. While micro-inverters are more
efficient, they are also more costly. It could also mean a lot more
wiring that have to be mounted and routed. Yikes! Big inverters might
weigh 140 pounds(ish), but they get mounted in one spot and with
minimal wiring. They are also extremely reliable, having been around
since the beginning of the industry.
Other Things To Keep In Mind
Another thing
no one bothered to mention is that the roof on your house generally
doesn’t last as long as these systems. So let’s say you have a 10
or 15 year old roof. There is NO WAY it’s going to last as long as
the panels. What do you do then? If you have to do any work on the
roof you have to deal with the solar array first. Although some
companies do provide a service that in the event of your roof needs
repairs they will take down the Solar Panels for you for a cheaper
price than it would cost originally. If you are worried about this
then I would advise to talk about this with a trusted company that
will be willing to help you out e.g. the solar company that fitted
the panels.
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Who’s
going to look after the system? And how? I advise to stay at home and
participate during the install so you can learn how things are
connected, and if something needed minor repairs you could do it
yourself.If you have a pitched roof, you probably don’t want to be
getting on it to service your panels. So make sure the company you
choose has been around a long time so you don’t have to rely on
service from someone else.
How Long Does It Take To Install A Solar Panel System?
The
good news is that it only takes about a day to a couple of days days
for them to be installed on your roof. The bad news is, that the
answer isn’t that simple. After we did the site survey and worked
out pricing and all that, we had to sign contracts. Those contracts
had to get sent off for approval to the electric company because we
were going to be tying into the grid. Meanwhile, you have to
have the structural engineer come to the house to determine if the
roof could bear the weight. All of those things can
take weeks to complete.
By
the way, if you’re wondering if you can do all this yourself –
the answer is no. Next question!
How much do Solar Panels cost?
Obviously
Solar Panels range from country to country, region to region but,
specifically in the UK (where I just so happen to be from) They are
about £5,000-£10,000 but this all depends on the size, quality and
quantity of Solar Panels you buy! A website that proved very useful
to me was Solar
Panel Quoter. They give you a lovely FREE
quote from
your region specifically and can give you a list of the top 3
companies in your area from their database, how convenient!
Another
thing before you are put off by the expensive price, you aren't JUST
buying the panels themselves with that money. Its also for the
install which is in itself a complicated process witnessing it for
yourself you'll understand its worth every penny, just its a lot of
pennies!
Your
pay back can easily be done over a simple spreadsheet, factoring in
the months when the panels will be at either a low or high
efficiency. It should be fairly straight forward but on average most
solar panel systems make back their money in roughly in half their
life times. Which means it is worth getting them, you just need the
money to kick-start it! However,
if you can afford to do it, it is also a form of insurance against
the potential of
sky-rocketing energy prices.
This should be about everything you need to consider before installing solar panels. If I have missed anything out or you have any queries, make sure to comment below!
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