Solar Power 101: Things You Should Know About Getting Solar Panels for Your Home

Alternative sources of energy have been receiving a lot of attention lately, and solar energy is one of those. After all, not only is it free, it’s also practically unlimited. We’ve been thinking of having a solar panel system installed in our compound for some time, so when we heard that an acquaintance knows a solar panel installer, we wasted no time in contacting them so we can discuss how we’re going to go about it.

Of course, working for an online magazine, we thought we’d take the opportunity to interview him as well so we could share what we’re going to learn with you. Here’s an overview of the things we have discussed during the course of the interview

Benefits

Free electricity.  Enough said.

Considering the rising cost of electricity along with other utilities and basic commodities, we could all use the money that we have been allotting to our electric bills for other more important things like healthcare and education, for example.

It’s also quite convenient, especially during hellish summer days (sometimes even nights) when we’d occasionally get blackouts and we have no choice but to bear the heat until we could get our electricity back. With a solar panel system installed in your home, you don’t have to go through that. Since solar power uses batteries that are charged by the heat of the sun, as long as the sun is out, you can store up electricity for later consumption.

Aside from those, it also comes in handy during typhoons or earthquakes when power supply is usually cut off to prevent possible accidents. This can be very important when you need to charge up your phones, flashlights, or turn on your radio to monitor the latest news.

Equipment

Photo showing the solar panel we used for our own solar power system

Photo showing the solar panel we used for our own solar power system

A basic solar power system is composed of a solar panel that absorbs heat from the sun, a solar battery that stores the energy absorbed for retrieval at a later time, a solar charge controller that ensures that the amount of energy that can be stored by the solar battery would not be exceeded, and electrical wiring.

Depending on the voltage of your appliances, an inverter may also be needed to convert the direct current from the solar panel to the alternating current used by common appliances.

A mount that can hold the solar panels in place may also be needed.

 

Expenses

Of course, the most important question of all — is it costly? Well, kind of. Installing a solar panel system could cost a bit — could be as much as several months worth of electric bill even, depending on your average monthly consumption; however, the good thing about it is, since this system could last for several years (please see maintenance), the amount that you could save in the long run would be a whole lot greater than the amount you’d have to shell out to get the system installed.

For example, a basic solar power system that can power three light bulbs can cost around P 6,000 pesos. That package includes a solar panel, 3 electric bulbs, a solar battery, a solar charge controller, and several meters of electrical wire.

A solar power system that can supply power to a television and an electric fan, on the other hand, may require 3 solar panels, three solar batteries, and an inverter.  This same setup could also work for 4 seven-watt bulbs and cell phone and mobile chargers.

However, these are just basic set-ups. If you want to use it for more power-consuming appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, or air-conditioners, then the amount would significantly increase as these will require additional solar panels, solar batteries, and inverters. 

Installation

Solar panels are typically installed on roofs to ensure maximum exposure to the sun; however, if you can’t install it on your roof for one reason or another, you can also have it attached to a mount that you can place anywhere that can be reached by the sun’s rays. There’s no required height as long as it’s an open area with no obstructions around.

Maintenance

Solar power systems do not need a lot of maintenance. Checking it once or twice a year is often enough. Just make sure that grime and other unnecessary materials have not stuck to the panels or their capacity to charge will be diminished. Also, check the battery terminal for signs of corrosion. Corroded batteries do not charge as efficiently as new batteries, so you may not be able to maximize the amount of solar energy that you can store for later use. If maintained properly, solar batteries typically last for 2-3 years while inverters can last for up to 10 years or so.

Lastly, check if the wires are still in good condition. Wear and tear plus curious animals who like gnawing on things may cause the conductors to be exposed which may lead to short circuiting or accidental electrocution.

Additional Information

  • A basic solar panel setup weighs approximately 8 kilos, so you might want to check whether your roof can support this much weight before you place the solar panel on it.
  • On a hot day, it usually only takes five hours for a solar battery to become fully charged, and depending on how many bulbs or appliances you’re using at the same time, the electric supply may last anywhere between 12-24 hours. Charging may take longer during cloudy days, though, and the electric power may also not last as long.
  • Solar panels can withstand exposure to rain and winds; however, it’s strongly recommended that you keep the solar battery in a well-ventilated area to avoid overheating.
  • Solar panel systems can be used in both residential and commercial buildings. You just have to ensure that the appropriate setup was used. Solar panel setups depend on the voltages of the appliances you’ll be connecting to the system, so if you’re not familiar with the technical requirements, consult either the solar panel installer or an electrician.
  •  If you can afford more advanced solar panel systems, try to get your more power-consuming appliances hooked up to solar panels first so you can remove a large chunk off your electric bill while you’re saving up for additional solar panel set-ups.
  • Black solar panels charge faster than blue ones.
  • Before going to the hardware to buy the materials you’re going to need, take note of the voltage of your lights and appliances so the hardware personnel could advise you about which items you’re going to need.

That about sums up what we’ve learned from our on-the-spot interview. If you have other helpful information to add, feel free to share them in the comment section below.

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Lord Howell Cabailo, the person who set up the solar power system for us, for patiently explaining everything we wanted to know about solar panels. If you are also interested in having a solar power system installed in your home or if you have any further questions about it, you may contact him at 09399193203 or 09199772854.

Author: Lucenahin

is an online magazine dedicated to everything Lucenahin. Browse our collection of articles and learn more about people, places, events, and interests in Lucena City.

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