Choosing the Appropriate Solar Panel

All of the electricity needs of your home can be provided by a solar power system if your house has the correct orientation to the sun and adequate space on its roof. Many homeowners who have been interested in using solar power systems in the past have not been able to take advantage of this technology because they either had limited roof space or were somewhat out of alignment with the sun. The result would have been solar panels that didn’t generate enough electricity to justify installation costs. Improvements in solar panel technology in recent years should give hope to these homeowners, as modern panels are more efficient than older versions and are also more tolerant of sunlight that is hitting them at a steeper angle.  One common application is with the use of 12 volt batteries and charge controller coupled with a solar panel to make a 12v solar charger.

These newer solar panels are based on improved solar cell technology and better manufacturing techniques that provide a better solution for all solar power installations. The newer solar cells used in modern panels can offer homeowners better power generation than cells that were available even a few years ago because of several different improvements. The biggest advantage of the newer solar panels is that they can generate more energy from less sunlight. This means that they can be effective at generating power for longer portions of the day.Because of this, they can be used to generate electricity for more hours per day. Older solar panels required the sun to hit them more directly and so had a limited range of operation. When the sun was hitting the panel at a steeper angle, these panels would generate little to no energy, like in the early morning or late afternoon. If there were any clouds at all, even if the sun could shine through them, these panels couldn’t produce energy consistently. These newer panels will help many homeowners justify the cost of installing a solar power system because they will produce more energy in all levels of sunlight. This can also be good news for people who have homes with less than perfect alignment with the sun.

These newer solar panels will also allow the average homeowner to entirely eliminate their electric bill with fewer panels. This also means the solar power system will be less expensive since there will be fewer panels used. For people with limited roof space, this can make a significant difference.  You can see how much solar power and how many panels you’ll need for your home if you check out Home Solar Power Calculator.

The newer solar panels also will also last significantly longer. Older panels would last 10 to 15 years in a moderate climate before they needed to be replaced. The panels would produce peak power for about ten years and then degrade over time. The solar panels would start to slowly fail as one by one the solar cells failed. As the cells began to fail, the panel would produce less and less power. The newer solar cells will last longer and will also generate more electricity while they are viable. This means that a homeowner will enjoy their benefits for many more years, and makes their investment in solar energy technology an even smarter choice.  A great way to save on the cost of solar panels is by building your own home build solar panel.