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Question:

How do you install solar panels?

I want to add solar panels to my home. I was looking online and it seems there are so many different kinds! How does it hook up to the electrical grid? How much do I need for a 2000 sf home?

Answer:

Everyone is looking into renewable energy these days and many are looking to solar energy. The sun gives us a lot of energy that solar panels help us to use for our energy needs. Best of all, this energy is free! All you need to do is install your own solar panel. It is best to install solar panels to a rooftop before the house is roofed.
You need to determine how many solar panels will produce the amount of power that you consume now. You can check your bill for the number of kilowatt hours (power) you will need. There are websites that will help you calculate the intensity of sunlight in your area. There are other websites that will help you determine the average daily sunlight. The sf of your house has no importance. The amount of power you use is independent of the size of your house. You hook up solar cells in series to increase voltage. You hook up solar cells in parallel to increase current. Power is voltage multiplied by current. Most modern houses are supplied with 200 Amp service at 240 volts AC. The solar panels produce DC power. The grid in most places provides AC power. So you will need a AC/DC power converter. The sun does not always shine so you will need a storage battery bank capable of storing all the power you will use at night.
There are different solar panels for different uses For a domestic home it all depends on how much electricity you are going to use per month or per year For a normal use home (2 adults, 2 children) I presume one need to install a panels that would produce about4 to 5000 Kilo wats of energy per year Based on the type and the out put of the panels the suppler and the person who is advising you will guide you how many panels you will be requiring to install Take a professional help They are better informed and also knowledgeable
This is still not a trivial project, although it is getting easier. The usual way to do this is to contact professional installers for free quotes. In the process of getting the quote, you'll learn what considerations go into sizing a solar system. They'll look at your energy usage, and also whether your house has a good, clear, south-facing roof that doesn't get shaded during the day. They'll also look at your electrical panel to see whether they can hook right up, or additional work is needed. There are rumors of companies like Akeena planning to sell panel kits in Home Depot (in areas that Akeena does not directly serve). The idea would be that a pro installer would pick up the kit there, but a highly skilled homeowner might be able to make it work. A permit will probably be required by your jurisdiction, but that's no different than applying for any other construction. And you'll have to inform your power utility in advance, which may or may not be routine, depending on how often people connect solar in your area. If you want to see how we connected our system, a link is below. I did not really save money by doing it myself. That's because pro's can get better prices on the panels, which makes up for the labor cost.
Here is a site to help

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