In the last few years, the market for solar panels has increased exponentially. Just take a look at any home improvement store and you’ll see plenty of options to choose from. There are also a variety of solar panels, each designed for different applications. So it might be a bit overwhelming to know where to start.
Fortunately, we’ve got you covered on this front. In this article, we’ll advise you on how to choose a solar panel for your home so you can enjoy all the benefits that solar energy has to offer.
Features To Consider
Whenever you’re buying anything, from electronics to furniture to (you guessed it) solar panels, you’ll come across a variety of options that are suited for various applications. When purchasing a solar panel, you’ll need to keep in mind a number of features that could make a significant difference in your day-to-day life.
Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind when shopping for a solar panel:
Size Matters
The size of your solar panel will depend on a number of factors, mostly on how much space you have for it. For example, if you live in a small apartment, you’ll most likely want to opt for a smaller panel. In a nutshell, make sure that you have enough room to comfortably fit the unit without feeling cramped.
One of the advantages of rooftop solar systems is that you have complete control over where they are placed. This means you can put them in the perfect position to collect the maximum amount of sunlight throughout the day. In general, these systems are designed to be unobtrusive and blend in seamlessly with your home, so you won’t even know they are there.
Voltage
The voltage determines how powerful the electricity produced by the solar panel is. Low-voltage solar panels are fairly common and work fine for small applications, like powering a few small appliances or lighting a few small lamps. However, if you want to use the electricity from the solar panel to run bigger appliances or power lots of lightbulbs, you’ll need a high-voltage unit.
If you have a specific need or use case in mind, make sure that the company you purchase from offers a variety of voltages to meet your needs. Otherwise, you might end up having to purchase an intermediate unit to get the voltage you need. This can be quite the hassle, not to mention the fact that you’ll probably have to purchase another one in a few months when the initial unit wears out.
Amps
The amperage is another important measurement to make when shopping for a solar panel. This will determine how much power the unit can deliver, and in turn how much energy you can get out of it. In general, a high-quality solar panel should have a high amp rating. This way, you can be sure that your appliances and electronics will receive the amount of electricity that they need and nothing more. Avoid anything below 10 amps, as this will significantly reduce the lifespan of your appliances and electronics.
Watt
Last but not least, let’s talk about the wattage. This will determine how much electricity the unit produces. Watts are measured in watts and can be compared to the wattage of an incandescent light bulb. So if you have a 10-watt bulb and you connect it to a 100-watt solar panel, you’ll get 10 watts of light as opposed to the 5 watts the bulb produces on its own.
Of course, not all wattages are created equal. A 100-watt solar panel will produce more electricity than a 10-watt solar panel (1 amp x 10 volts = 10 watts vs 1 amp x 12 volts = 12 watts). High-quality solar panels are usually around 15 to 20 watts, depending on the brand and model.
When To Install
Installing a rooftop solar panel is relatively simple and straightforward, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind in order to get the most from it.
Most solar panels require direct, unobstructed sunlight to generate enough power for everyday use. Depending on where you live, this might not necessarily be the case. If you live in a colder climate, you’ll need to make sure that the sun is always shinning on your roof in order to get the most from your solar panel.
If you have a southern exposure and gets a lot of morning sun, you might not need to worry about shading. However, if it gets a lot of afternoon sun, you might want to consider protecting your roof from direct exposure to the sun with a light shield.
Installing a rooftop solar panel has numerous advantages. Not only does it provide your home with clean energy, it also provides you with a sense of accomplishment and pride for putting it in yourself. It’s a win-win situation.
With that, let’s discuss the different types of solar panels available on the market.
Types Of Solar Panels
There are a variety of different types of solar panels. Some of them are more suited for certain situations than others. Here are some of the more common types.
Monocrystalline
This is the most basic and the most common type of solar panel. A monocrystalline solar panel is made up of a single crystal, which is cut from silicon. This cut allows for greater efficiency in converting sunlight into electricity. In addition, this cut makes the silicon extremely durable, allowing it to withstand extreme temperatures.
This means that a monocrystalline solar panel can function in a wider variety of climates than other solar panel types. While this might not seem like a desirable trait, it can be a significant drawback in other situations. For instance, if you live in a place where it gets extremely cold, you might not want to put a monocrystalline solar panel on your roof. In this case, you’ll need an additional type of solar panel.
Polycrystalline
This type of solar panel is made up of multiple crystals, which are fused together during the manufacturing process. Essentially, this type of solar panel has greater efficiency than a monocrystalline solar panel, as it can capture more sunlight and generate more electricity. This is largely due to the fact that it has more total surface area.
However, a polycrystalline solar panel is more fragile than a monocrystalline solar panel, as it is not as durable due to its fusing process. In other words, it can be more easily damaged or shattered. For these reasons, polycrystalline solar panels are usually only used where additional security or insulation of the structure housing the panel is needed.
Double-Efficiency Solar Panel
This type of solar panel is made up of two single crystals that are fused together. This fusing process not only makes it more efficient at converting sunlight into electricity, it also makes it more durable than other types of solar panels. This is because it is more resistant to extreme temperatures.
The two single crystals work in unison, helping each other during the process of converting sunlight into electricity. This combination of the two gives rise to greater efficiency and durability when compared to other types of solar panels. This makes it a popular choice for homeowners with larger applications in mind. Due to the fact that it’s more efficient and durable, it might also be the preferred choice for those in colder climates who need additional energy.
Integrated Circuits (IC)
This type of solar panel is designed for those who either need additional protection from the elements or who want to ensure that their electricity is always available. Just take a quick look at any home improvement store and you’ll see that this type of solar panel is becoming increasingly more popular. This is because it is relatively simple and straightforward to install, yet it offers extremely high efficiency ratings.
Due to its integrated design, an IC solar panel will have a variety of different terminals along the edge. This makes it ideal for DIY enthusiasts who want to install a solar panel on their roof without needing too much professional help.
Junction Box
This type of solar panel is designed to be used with solar power installations, such as those found on a rooftop or at a public charging station. Essentially, there is a junction box attached to the solar panel, which allows for the connection of up to 15 different appliances, electronics, or lighting sources. The amount of electricity that these junction boxes produce depends on the amount of current that they are set to handle. In general, a medium-sized junction box should be able to handle between 1 and 3 amps of current, while a small junction box can handle up to 0.5 amps of current.