what is needed beside the panels and do you need an electrician to hook it up
A decent installation needs a solar engineer to make sure the panels are aligned to take advantage of all the solar it can get. that or You need to hit the books on solar radiation. online I would try different programs to get the feel. we get less solar radiating in the winter then in the summer. this needs to correctly compensated.
The main components for a solar electric system are the panels, racks for mounting the panels, and inverter to convert the panel's DC power to AC, which can be pumped into the grid if necessary. There would also be various electrical supplies involved - wire, conduit, possibly a switch and/or circuit breaker. On the paperwork side, there's a building permit, permission from the power company to connect, and some inspections. Although it could be done by a homeowner, it's not a trivial project, and the best way to get it set up is to contract a professional solar installer. They all give free quotes, and can explain your various options when they visit.
