If you are planning to setup a solar power system at home via Do It Yourself (DIY) approach, you will reach a stage when you have to pick out the proper solar components.
When you go to any hardware store, you can start nitpicking the details and dissect the performance of individual components in order to compare the operations and efficiencies.
But in order to do this, you have to be quite well versed with the science behind electronics and electrical engineering.
It is fair to say, not everyone has that kind of knowledge. Nonetheless, some people do.
Shopping For Solar Components In The Hardware Store
Assuming you have some general information on electrical components and you head over to the hardware store, there are a few things you have to be aware off.
The sale clerk will have recommended a particular equipment to you simply because it’s in their best interest. There may be a promotion running by the manufacturer or they are getting a bigger sales commission.
Components Selection Criteria
When you are selecting the right components for your residential solar power system, the key criteria is “reliability”. Unfortunately, you can’t get the reliability factor from the product data sheet.
Imagine this, when your solar setup is connected to the grid, anytime your equipment fails, it is costing you money.
The fact is, the system is not making you any money as it should when the solar system is down. Any downtime will increase your Return On Investment (ROI) period.
Reliability is critical when choosing the right solar component.
How Do You Measure Reliability?
How do you choose a product which is reliable?
This is the tricky part because there are no universal testing standard. Each manufacturer will have their own testing criteria. This makes it difficult to compare data sheets because you are not comparing apple to apple.
Here’s a suggestion. Purchase a whole solar power system instead of individual components.
This is because a complete system would have proven track records.
Alternatively, read up on a couple of consumer guides to find the best option. But beware, since the industry is moving at such a fast pace and new products are appearing in the market, getting the right information might be a challenge.
Ultimately, when you are spending large amount of money on a home solar power system, it is wise to be a little prudent and conservative.
Avoid new fancy gadgets with shinny lights. Go for the brands and models which have been in the market for some time.
At least they have a proven track record. When in doubt, choose the tortoise instead of the hare.
If you are looking for a reliable home solar power system, check out the Sunforce 39191 Solar Kit. The Sunforce solar kit is comprised of 10 units of the 123 Watt Polycrystalline Sharp solar panel.
These panels are designed for RV’s, homes, boats, back-up and remote power use with 12 Volt battery charging solar power stations, and much more! Truly a value pack.