Here s how to be a good solar consumer spot a good deal and recognize warning signs if you re getting the hard sell.
How to tell a good solar panel.
Currently there are already many good and reliable solar panel manufacturers out there.
The solar panel industry has grown a lot in the past few years.
The average efficiency of solar panels falls between the 17 to 19 percent efficiency range.
These are the panels you ve seen on rooftops or in fields.
So you ve got a quote or three for solar panels on your roof and you re struggling to figure out which if any is the best deal.
The highest efficiency solar panels on the market today can reach almost 23 percent efficiency.
The average solar panel is around 17 6 square feet and produces 265 watts under.
I know brian you put solar on your roof about a year ago.
The converter box is located on the back of the solar panel.
Some companies buy solar panels and self brand them.
Using a multimeter for solar panel tests step 1.
Measure your available roof space.
Note positive negative connections.
You should find out who the original manufacturer is and how will they support you.
The first is the one you re likely most familiar with photovoltaics or pv.
When the sun shines onto a solar panel photons from the sunlight are absorbed by the cells in the panel which creates an electric field across the layers and causes electricity to flow.
Compare cost to relative efficiency efficiency is important but the most efficient panels aren t always the best value.
Figure out how many panels will fit in your.
Who is the original manufacturer.
Different solar panel installations available.
Then set up an appointment for a solar consultation with an expert who will visit your home to inspect its orientation solar panels facing south capture more energy roof angle and tree shading to see if your roof will receive enough sunlight to meet your family s energy needs.
Locate the converter box.
Aesthetics how the solar panels look.
Once you have located the.
How to choose your solar panels in 3 steps.
Check solar panel manufacturer warranties against industry average of 10 25 years.
To see if your house is a good candidate for solar try out a solar panel suitability checker such as google s project sunroof.
However there have also been many manufacturers that instead offer cheap and low quality solar panels many of which are from china.
Take a look at your electricity bill to see how many kilowatts on average your home uses each month.
If a solar panel has 20 percent efficiency that means it s capable of converting 20 percent of the sunshine hitting it into electricity.
Determine solar panel efficiency and compare to industry average of 16 18.
A good temperature coefficient rating can indicate a solar panel that performs slightly better in higher temperatures.
Be a good solar consumer.