Not all residential solar power systems are the same. There are a number of different options you can choose for your home solar power system, ranging from placement and material to grid connection and battery choices. While there are many distinctions between residential solar power system options, the three main types of home solar power systems.
For those homeowners who would Like to achieve long-term energy independence solar photovoltatc (PV) systems using solar panels are one of the very best options.Solar energy systems for the home are retatlvely simple, last for decades and over the long term an save homeowners sflnlftcant money, particularly in those states or countries that provfde Incentives tor solar energy. Moreow:r, solar F'V systems create no pollution and give off no hydrocarbon which makes them one of the best energy options from an environmental standpoint. They are energy you can A key thins to remember wfth PV systems is that what they are harvesting is litht l!net'JY, not heat or solar thennal energy. That means they work as well in colder dlmates as they do in warmer climates.All that matters is how much lftht a location gets and in most of the U.S.there is more than sufficient light on average for F'V systems to be very effective. If you want to leam exac:Uy how much lfsht your location has durins the year look at our section on sotar maps. These will show you exactly how many hours of sunlilht per day your area aets at different times of the year.
Solar Panels : Are lightweight flat modules consisting of multiple photovoltaic solar cells.They are most commonly mounted on the roof of the home though they can also be placed in ground mounted systems or on special tracking arrays which follow the movement of the sun.The number of solar panels you use will depend upon the amount of electricity you want to generate and the physical space available for mounting them.There are several different types of solar panels, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to the trade-off between cost and performance.Currently solar panel prices are running between $4.50 and $5.00 per watt but prices have are coming down thanks to increased production, improved technology and lower labor costs.For most grid-tied home systems the solar panels will represent about 60% of the total cost.For more details about the ins and outs of solar panels look at our section on solar panels.
Solar Panel Mounts : In most home solar energy systems the solar panels are mounted to a home's roof using aluminum racks.These racks are usually mounted on the side of your roof that faces south so it will have the most sun exposure.Some rack mount systems are fixed while other can be adjusted during the year to adjust for the fact that the sun is higher in the sky during summer and lower in the sky during winter.There are also pole base mounting systems some of which contain passive or motorized tracking systems for continually aligning the angle of the panels with the movement of the sun during the day. Certain types of solar panels don't require mounting at all but are actually bonded to the roof's surface in the form of roofing tiles or mats.
Inverter : Solar panels create a type of currentcalled Direct Current(DC) but most home electrical systems are designed to run on Alternating Current(AC). The inverter is an electrical component that will convert the DC electricity coming from the solar panels into AC current that your home can use.In a typical grid-tied system the inverter sits between the solar panels and the home's electrical panel.
2 Way Electric Meter : In a grid-tied system the electricity generated by your solar panels is tied into your home's electric meter provided by the power company.For a grid-tied system the meter needs to be a 2 way meter which can run forwards when you use electricity from the grid and backwards when the sun is out and you are generating excess electricity to put into the grid.Electric companies have begun installing 2-way meters in many homes.If you do not have one your electric company can install when your solar panels are installed.
Battery Bank : A battery bank is any interconnected group of deep cycle batteries.The batteries that make up the bank are usually enclosed in some type of well ventilated structure because most battery systems will vent a small amount of hydrogen gas.
Charge Controller : Battery banks are normally connected to a charge control which is designed to control the flow of energy in and out of the battery bank to optimize and stabilize the flow of electricity. A charge controller is an essential component because batteries can become damaged if they are overcharged.
