There are a lot of questions people have about solar installation, and one of the most common is “How is it done?” In this short guide, we will walk you through the process of how solar panels are installed in homes and businesses. It’s a fairly simple process, but there are a few things to know before getting started.
What is Solar Power?
You may have read dozens of times that you can save money with solar power, but what exactly is it? Solar power is simply the process of converting sunlight into electricity. This can be done with photovoltaic cells, which are the same technology used in calculators and solar-powered devices. When sunlight hits the photovoltaic cells, it causes an electrical reaction that produces electricity.
Can You Install Solar in Your Home?
The first step in installing solar is to determine if your home is a good candidate; the best candidates for solar have a few key features:
- A south-facing roof that is free of shading from trees or other buildings
- A roof that is in good condition and can support the weight of the solar panels
- A property that is not shaded by trees or other buildings throughout the day
If your home does not have a south-facing roof, or if it is shaded by trees or other buildings, you may still be able to install solar panels. However, your system may not produce as much electricity as it would if it were installed on a south-facing roof. With this in mind, talk to professionals to ascertain whether solar is right for your home.
After contacting an installer, they will come to your home to assess whether it is suitable for solar panels. Furthermore, they will provide you with an estimate of how much electricity your system could produce. If you’re happy, you can discuss potential systems.
How is Solar Installed?
At this stage, we reach the installation process. So, how does it work? To start, your installer will come to your property and carry out a site survey at some point during the early stages, as we’ve seen. This allows them to check that your roof is strong enough to support the solar panels and to make sure that the panels will get enough sunlight.
The next step is to install the mounting system, which will support the solar panels. Usually, this is attached to the roof, although it can be installed on the ground in some cases. From here, the installer will then connect the solar panels to the mounting system.
Once the panels are in place, the professional will connect them to an inverter. This is a device that converts the DC power that the panels produce into AC power, which is the type of electricity that is used in most homes.
In terms of potential difficulties during the installation process, one thing to keep in mind is that solar panels are quite heavy. Above all else, the roof or ground needs to be able to support their weight. Additionally, the panels need to be installed in an area that gets direct sunlight throughout the day to work properly.
Overall, installing solar panels is a fairly straightforward process. It is important to have them installed by a professional to ensure that everything is done correctly and safely, but the process itself is not overly complicated. With proper maintenance, solar panels can last for many years and provide a clean, renewable source of energy for your home.
