The peak sunlight hours for your particular location will have a direct impact on the energy you can expect your home solar system to produce. For example, if you live in Phoenix you can expect to have a greater number of peak sunlight hours than if you lived in Seattle. The Renewable Resource Data Center provides sunlight information by state and for major cities. Now multiply your hourly usage see question No. Divide your average hourly wattage requirement by the number of daily peak sunlight hours for your area.
This gives you the amount of energy your panels need to produce every hour. So the average U. Not all solar panels are alike. Photovoltaic PV solar panels most commonly used in residential installations come in wattages ranging from about watts to watts per panel, depending on the panel size and efficiency how well a panel is able to convert sunlight into energy , and on the cell technology. The construction of our cells makes them stronger and more resistant to cracking or corrosion.
And a microinverter on each panel can optimize power conversion at the source, in contrast to one large inverter mounted on the side of the house. The main takeaway is that the more efficient the panels are, the more wattage they can produce, and the fewer you will need on your roof to get the same energy output.
Conventional solar panels usually produce about watts per panel, with varying levels of efficiency. In contrast, SunPower panels are known to be the most efficient solar panels on the market. So that average U. If you have a small or unusually shaped roof, solar panel size and numbers are important considerations. With a large usable roof area, perhaps you can sacrifice some efficiency and buy more larger panels at a lower cost per panel to get to your target energy output.
Typical residential solar panel dimensions today are about 65 inches by 39 inches, or 5. SunPower panels are These dimensions have remained more-or-less unchanged for decades, but the efficiency and output from that same footprint have changed dramatically for the better.
In addition, SunPower designs entire systems to have virtually no gaps between panels and uses invisible framing and mounting hardware to keep the rooftop footprint as tight, efficient and attractive as possible. For comparison, at the top end of the range some conventional panels weigh as much as 50 pounds.
Knowing the answers to the above questions will give you an idea of the ideal number of panels for your electricity generation needs — or at least a realistic range. To get started, check out our solar calculator , which can help you figure out how much you might save going solar. How Home Solar Panels are Installed. Interested in high efficiency solar panels for your home? After choosing which option is best for you to use solar see step 3 , follow the steps afterward that apply to you.
Your solar energy installer and local utility company can provide more information on the exact steps you will need to take to power your home with solar energy. Investigate your home's energy efficiency. Assess your solar potential and any limitations. Assess your options for going solar. Estimate your solar electricity needs. Obtain bids and site assessments from contractors.
Understand available financing and incentives. Work with your installer and utility to install the system and set up agreements. Before starting the process of powering your home with solar energy, homeowners should investigate their energy use and consider potential efficiency upgrades. Homeowners should be well aware of their total electricity usage, and consider low-cost and easy-to-implement efficiency measures before choosing solar. Before deciding on the best way to use solar electricity at home, assess the potential solar energy that can be produced at your address.
Because PV technologies use both direct and scattered sunlight to create electricity, the solar resource across the United States is ample for home solar electric systems. However, the amount of power generated by a solar energy system at a particular site depends on how much of the sun's energy reaches it, and the size of the system itself. Some of the services also offer information on the estimated system size, potential costs and savings, and local contractors.
These tools are an excellent starting point and can help you determine whether your home is suitable for solar, and if not, the best path forward for still benefiting from solar. While these tools are helpful, they don't account for all of the variables that need to be considered for your particular system. For that, you will need to work directly with a solar installer who can provide an accurate assessment of your solar potential as well as detailed recommendations, estimates, and equipment expertise.
Purchasing and installing a system that you fully own and maintain is no longer the only option if you want to go solar.
Even if you rent your home or don't want to purchase a rooftop system, there are many programs will enable you to still benefit from solar electricity. Below are some of the options available for using solar energy at home; check with local installers and your utility for programs available in your area.
Purchasing a solar energy system with cash or a loan is the best option when you want to maximize the financial benefits of installing solar panels, take advantage of tax credits, and increase the market value of your home, and a solarize program is unavailable or impractical. The solar installer will connect the system to the grid, and receive an interconnection permit from the utility.
Learn more about grid-connected home energy systems. Almost half of all U. These programs enable a group of participants to pool their purchasing power to buy solar into a solar system at a level that fits their needs and budget. The system can be on- or off-site and may be owned by utilities, a solar developer, non-profit entities, or multiple community members. Learn more about community and shared solar. If you lease a solar energy system, you are able to use the power it produces, but someone else—a third party—owns the PV system equipment.
The consumer then pays to lease the equipment. Solar leases often involve limited upfront investment and fixed monthly payments over a set period of time. Under a leasing arrangement, homeowners typically pay the developer a flat monthly fee for the equipment that is based on the estimated amount of electricity that the system will produce. This amount is often less expensive than their original electricity bill.
PPAs allow consumers to host solar energy systems owned by solar companies and purchase back the electricity generated. This is a financial agreement where a developer arranges for the design, permitting, financing, and installation on a consumer's property at little to no upfront cost.
The host consumer agrees to purchase the power generated by the system at a set price per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced over the life of the system.
You want to install solar at your home, but you are unable or do not want to purchase a solar energy system. You want to sell unused electricity produced by your system back to your utility through a net-metering arrangement. Learn more about power purchase agreements. One of the most efficient ways for communities to go solar is through a Solarize program. Solarize programs allow a locally organized group of homeowners and businesses to pool their purchasing power to competitively select an installer and negotiate reduced rates.
But our required Backup time is 3 Hours. If the number of batteries are given, and you want to know the Backup Time for these given batteries, then use this formula to calculate the backup hours of batteries. In the first scenario, we will use 12V inverter system, therefore, we will have to connect two 2 batteries each of 12V, Ah in Parallel. But a question raised below:. Good to Know : In Series Circuits, Current is same in each wire or section while voltage is different i.
Voltage are additive e. Good to Know : In parallel Connection, Voltage will be same in each wire or section, while current will be different i. We will now connect 2 batteries in parallel each of Ah, 12V. Now the Required Charging Current for these two batteries. Here is the formula of Charging Time of a Lead acid battery.
For example, for a single 12V, Ah battery, The charging time would be:. Now the required charging current for the battery would be:.
Now the required No of Solar Panels we need for the above system as below. We know the famous power formula DC.
Putting the values of batteries and charging current. The above calculations and system was only for battery charging and then battery will supply power to the desired Load to AC electrical appliances, which will get power through inverter and DC loads via Charge controller via charged batteries.
Now suppose there is a 10A directly connected load to the panels through inverter or may be DC load via Charge Controller. In this case, the total required current 20 A for Batteries Charging and 10 A for directly connected load. In this case above, total required current in Amperes,. Now, the number of solar panels we need. Click image to enlarge. Note: The above calculation is based on ideal case, so it is recommended to always choose a solar panel some bigger then we need, because, there are some losses occurs during battery charging via solar panel as well as the sunshine is not always in ideal mood.
We have shown a very simple method in the previous post to find that How much Watts Solar Panel We need for our Home Electrical appliances? Sir , i have one doubt here you discussed about dc load ok. When it comes to AC load can u plz explain it … e. I have a doubt, i. As per the above calculations my connection is wrong. How could i correct it. No matter. Dear Mostafa Mosa …Thanks 4 your feedback..
I completed my B. I have some doubts regarding the selection of ratings of the battery and the connection of battery.
Here you have taken Ah 12V batteries as reference, is. Dear N. Because I am here only and only for you people. Hope you will clarify them too. In batteries industry there is relation between maximum capacity of the battery and maximum current that required to charge the battery. We use Charge Controller about ampere rating i. Read this Thread..
Im doing like that. Your inverter shows the load current, it varies with changing the load. I want to run 5hp 3 phase motor with solar panel can you please get me the information for this? Well friend but it will be very expensive installation! Start current for a such motor is about 80A……during 6 sec if start with load!
Imagine what inverter size and how many panels will be necessary……I advice you take a cable from the grid!! Do i need MPPT controller for my va solar hybrid inverter, if not for how much va systems it is used? But according to information tubelight. Read These two Articles. Is it possible to use the solar power in day time without batteries??
Hope that you can help me. You can… As its not good that first we store energy in the batteries and then convert it to AC during Daytime… in other words, Connect solar panel to inverter and then connect to Load. Will battery charge if we connect battery directly with solar panel without chage control device? So you Can… But Do not ignore Safety.. Wh are same kindly let me know which connection is superior and why? To much easy way to learn about solar and love this site.
So first of all we would find its amperes rating. Nice work your have done with the explanation above, but I have one question. I was going to buy a watts solar panel to be use for charging a 12V Ah battery, But when I turned to the back of the solar panel to check for the specification plate this is what was written : Solar Model type— SPM , Peak power Pm —W, Maximum power voltage.
Nice work with the explanation above, but I have a question. I was going to buy one watts solar panel to be used to charging a 12V Ah deep cycle battery, but when I turned to the back of the solar panel to check for specification plate, these are the information I saw: Solar Model type— SPM , Peak power Pm —- W, Maximum power voltage Vm — In the event of a lithium battery are these charge times the same, or is there a difference in charge times for Gel, Lead acid and lithium.
Since they have different charging time. Charging time will be different for both the batteries. If so, please share the url or CalC on my mail ID phaneendra. Hi all, I have a project to specify solar panel equiptment required to power a watts refregirator over a 12 hours period. I calculated the equipment wattage over 12 hours to be 50, watts at watts per hour.
A total of solar panel unit at watts solar panel unit would be required to generate this type of output at once. In your case, The Power consumption and back up time of batteries it too much high.. So i recommend you to do the same with power cable from power grid instead of solar system.. Thank you. There are some losses and efficiency factors playing a major role in output. Sir,i am working on a project. Thank you very much for this very informative and useful article!
I am very happy to read this, liked! Now I have Ah battery and am planning to connect Ah battery in parallel.
But this goes unused most of the days. I am planning to use 88ah or ah tubular as they all. I thoughgt it wont cost me anything to say thank you for clearing my doubts about some issues well discussed here. They are really helpful. Kindly look deeply in my case. I recently bought 2 solar panels of W each and charge controller of 30 Amp.
Kindly guide me that how can I make connections? I mean at day time battries must be. An excellent Effort and a great positive approach in sharing the whole methodology for Free. Dear sir. At this stage connected load is watt AC at day time and watt at night. Hello Sir, firstly I would like to thank you for your explanation,they are clear and very helpful, I just have some questions: 1.
Sir Please kindly tell me if I connected two batteries each of Ah in series , then who i find the chairging time of batteries in series 24V and requried back up time for batteries. Hello Sir, i have solar power generator the main battery is ah while the backup or the other battery connected is ah, is it okey to have different amperes of battery connected?
We are looking for solar inverter, which will most be used on day time, so we kindly request you that ,did you supply us the day time inverter without battery from 3. I have 2 solar panel one is 60w and another is80 w and two battery How to connect this to best working. Dear Sir, In the last part of calculation ,from where u got 60w to get 4 no. You are indeed doing a great job here. I was troubled with what number of solar panels to be used for solar installation in my house, I kept searching and finally got your wonderful link, its very-very educative and well explanatory.
I really learned a lot from your pull of knowledge. Below is my proposed installation, kindly check if am correct with all these specification and advise accordingly. Will this work as expected at-all?
Is the calculation correct? Appliances like Fridge and ACs have a very large initial current requirement then it settles to a low current later so you will have to keep the in-rush current in mind as it will require you to have too many extra batteries just to support the initial current. Maybe Waseem has a solution for this, I would like to know. What shold be the size wh of P V pannel. Kindly suggest me. How you have calculated the current as 10 A for the direct load to be catered from Solar inverter.
There is nothing special… We have supposed the 10A DC load…. First of all i would like to appreciate you for sharing this information. Secondally i want ask for some help. I have a ups va with a battery of 12v 7ah, i want to charge it with solar panel. I will be using this system as backup, led light,rare cases to run desktop. I need to have least possible configuration cost wise. I have selected watt panel and want to know can i use 12v 6 ampere charge controller?.
Salaam alaikum. Is it inverters or charge controller? What is the specification for 1kW off grid and 1KW on grid? Sir, I am a Civil Engineer. I have got solar sytem for 3Kw system. My First question is it OK combination from point of view whether this system is sufficient to charge the batteries?
Second question is what will be the Back up time If I am putting regular watts load during day time. I do not have any knowledge for electrical engineering for solar products at all. Kindly help me since your above calculations are not matching with my installed system or I could not match my system with your guidelines.
Also let me know if watt panel will produce this much wattage per hour or per day , regards , Er Hari Singh Matharu. Thank You very much for sharing the article. The installation is really a great task, but have clearly explained the methodologies.
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