There are several things to take into consideration when deciding how many panels will power a home. These factors include the maximum sun hours, average energy consumption per day, and costs. These numbers can be used to calculate the number of panels required.
Calculating the amount of solar panels required to power your home
Depending on the space available on your roof, how big your solar panels will be to power your home, there are a few factors that can affect their size. An array of 20 solar cells will produce approximately 900 kilowatt hours of energy per month for a typical American house. The problem is that most American homes do not receive six hours of direct sunshine each day, so it is difficult to estimate the number of panels you will need to cover your house.
Analyzing your utility bills is a simple way to find out how many solar panels your home will need. Take your monthly utility bills and multiply them by 12. This will give you an estimate of how much electricity each month. This will give an estimate of the number and size of solar panels that you will need for your entire home.
Peak sun hours
One of the most difficult questions to answer when building a system for solar power is "How many"? The answer to this question depends on where you live and the season. The sun will shine more during the day the closer you live the equator. California has more peak hours than Washington. This means that if your solar system is to be used for Washington's home, it will require a larger system.
Depending on where your home is located, you could expect between three to five peak sun hours daily. The number of peak sun hours will also vary depending on the latitude of your home and the time of day. For most places in the United States, peak sun hours are between three and five hours.
Daily energy consumption
The number of hours that solar panels are exposed to sunlight determines how much energy they consume daily. A solar panel is capable of producing up to 1 Kilowatt hour of electricity during peak hours. A 250-watt panel would produce 30 kWh of electricity in a month. A 350-watt panel, on the other hand, would produce 42 kWh of electricity in the same period. These figures are only averages. They can vary depending on where the house is located and how large it is.
The average daily energy use of solar panels varies depending on their location. For instance, the average day in the northeastern United States is shorter than in those in the south. These areas will require residents to have solar panels that are more efficient than those in sunny locations. Also, the design of the panels will affect their efficiency. The conversion rate of solar panels measures their efficiency.
Cost
Solar panels can be quite expensive. A 10-kilowatt system of solar panels can cost around $70,000. This system is affordable if you live where there is high energy use. The costs could run to $8000 otherwise.
Talk to a professional contractor to find out the cost of installing solar panels. To make sure that your contractor knows your exact energy needs, it is helpful to have a copy of your electric bill. An estimate of how many panels you'll need will be made based on the kilowatt-hours that you use each monthly.
Off-grid vs. on-grid options
Consider many factors when you are considering solar panels to power your home. System size and type will impact the cost and return of investment. You can get help from a good solar installer to make these decisions. It is also a good idea to do your research so you can make an informed choice.
To store excess electricity, off-grid solar systems use batteries. This stored energy can also be accessed in bad weather or at night. These systems can be scaled to provide enough energy to power your entire day. Unfortunately, the system can not meet its initial goals because of weather changes.