What Is a Solar Home System?
A solar energy system offsets or reduces energy charges on your utility bill by generating renewable power on your property. Solar systems are sized to meet the energy needs of a household during peak usage.
Finding out the exact size solar energy system you need involves a few simple calculations. First, you need to know your kilowatt usage.
Solar Panels
The solar panel, also called a photovoltaic module, is the heart of any solar system. It converts the sun’s energy into DC power that’s then stored in a battery or converted to AC power for your home use.
Each solar panel’s power output, which is listed on the technical specifications sheet and quoted in EnergySage quotes, is based on standard test conditions. To pass those tests, a panel must produce at least 350 W under standard test SOLAR HOME SYSTEM conditions, which is equivalent to what the average household uses in a year.
Solar panels are a key component in helping homeowners save money and reduce their environmental impact by producing clean, renewable energy. A solar panel system will decrease your monthly utility bills and keep them low over time, allowing you to invest that savings in other ways.
For example, upgrading or replacing your windows can greatly increase the efficiency of your home, keeping it warmer in winter and cooler in summer, saving you money on energy costs. You can also make small changes in your daily routine, like turning off lights and appliances when you’re not using them. With a little effort, you’ll see your energy bills decrease and you might even start to realize financial benefits in less than seven to 12 years. You may also qualify for credits on your utility bill that will offset the cost of energy you consume from the grid.
Electrical Panel
An electrical panel is like a highway interchange for your home, carrying electricity to outlets and fixtures in your house. It performs two important functions: it provides the energy needed to power your lights and appliances and it prevents overloads that could cause house fires.
When a new solar system is installed, the electrical panel may need to be upgraded, particularly in older homes or in newer homes where the main breaker box can’t handle the amperage of the PV solar systems. We’ll assess this during the solar audit and include upgrade costs in your solar proposal.
In an electrical panel upgrade, an electrician will replace (or add) circuit breakers to your service panel. Typically situated in a utility room or basement, the panel contains the main breaker controlling overall power in your home and individual breakers for specific segments of your home, such as heating and cooling. It also includes insulated wires, grounding bus bars and hot bus bars.
The DC output from your solar panels needs to be converted into AC electricity for use in the home. This is accomplished with an AC inverter, which can be a single unit or a combination of multiple units. The inverter is usually mounted within the panel itself or on the side of it.
Electric Meter
An electric meter keeps track of your energy usage and allows your utility company to bill you. It also helps you determine how much solar power your home generates.
The meter is designed with inputs for voltage and current, a metering engine and a processing and communication engine (i.e. a microcontroller). The metering engine has an analog to digital converter which converts the analog signal into digitised information. The digital information is then read by a LCD screen that displays the meter readings.
Some meters have two rows of numbers – the top row shows how much cheaper electricity you’ve used at night and the bottom row is how many units of standard-price electricity you’ve used during the day. You’ll need to record both numbers and give them to your supplier.
Electric meter readings are generally made by separated solar street light a utility worker visiting your house to take the meter reading. However, if you’re using a smart meter, it can communicate directly with your utility to share the current meter reading.
For this reason, it’s important to know how to read your electric meter. This will help you keep track of your energy consumption and spot any errors in your billing. It can also help you take advantage of programs like net metering, where you sell back extra solar electricity to your utility company.
Battery
Essentially, the battery acts like an electric storage tank for solar energy. The battery stores DC electricity until you’re using it, then the inverter converts the stored energy back to AC for your household appliances.
The most common type of battery used with solar is a lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion batteries power most everyday electronics from cell phones to cars and are a proven, safe technology. Choosing the right size of battery for your solar system is key to ensuring that you have the backup power you need. Depending on your usage habits, how many circuits you want to back up, and the duration of your backup, the size of battery needed will vary.
One of the most popular reasons to add a battery to your solar system is to limit your interaction with the grid by storing and using your own solar power at night or on cloudy days. This strategy is known as solar self-consumption and it’s especially useful for homeowners who have time-of-use rates or unfavorable compensation for excess solar electricity.
Carolyn and Garth’s all-electric home in Burwood uses a five kilowatt-hour battery. They’ve positioned it to charge up during the day and then discharge throughout the night to cut their electricity costs. In the event of a power outage, they use their backup to run the fridge, hot water system, lights and TV for about three to four hours.
