6 Questions To Ask Yourself When Choosing The Right Solar Panel




Have you been considering harnessing the power of the sun as part of going green and lightening your environmental footprint? When you are ready to choose the best solar power system for your home, there are a lot of factors to consider. The following are 6 questions you should ask yourself when selecting the best solar panel for your home solar power system.

1) How much are you willing to pay?

The price for a solar panel is based on the size of the unit, the manufacturer, warranty service offered and any energy efficiency certifications the system may posses.

Choosing the ideal solar panel for your home depends large on your budget. But, do not select the least expensive panel, but instead choose the system that is best suited for your homes size and energy needs.

Also note, inexpensive, lower-end systems may not produce and store enough energy to qualify you for government rebates or to save you any significant money on your electric bill.

2) How long will it last?

The durability of a solar panel system is very important for several reasons. First, you should expect a solar panel to last long enough to pay for itself in power generation. If the system takes 10 years of power generation to pay off but the warranty only is 5 years, the system may need to be replaced before it has paid for itself.

Also, if you are planning on installing a critical system, note that lower quality panels will have be replaced earlier than other panels, leading to increased disruptions in power generation. Most reputable dealers of higher-end solar panel systems offer a 25 year warranty on all systems. With a little bit of investment, you can have a “peace of mind”.

3) How much power do you need?

Most solar panels are priced by dollars per Watt. Watt refers to the output of a panel; for instance, under ideal conditions, a 100 Watt panel would be able to produce 100 Watts of electricity per hour, a 200 Watt panel would produce 200 Watt per hour, and so on.

Therefore, a 200 Watt panel would be twice the price as a 100 Watt panel. Also, the output of the panel also determines the surface area required to absorb light and the size of the unit, meaning a 200 Watt panel would be larger in size than a 100 Watt unit.

The kind of solar cells used in the fabrication of the unit, also contributes to the panel size. It’s important to consider that you will require a panel large enough to supply your electricity needs but small enough to physically fit the area that you plan to install it.

Therefore, make some calculation on how much power you’ll need from your residential solar system and then make your decision from there.

4) How efficient is it?

Energy efficiency is an important factor when choosing appliances and systems for your home, yet there has been debate over the “energy efficiency” of one type of solar panel versus another.

It is important to remember that solar panels are producing, not consuming power, so a 200 Watt solar panel will produce 200 Watts regardless of its “energy efficiency” rating. The key here is to select the Photovoltaic (PV) panel which is the most efficient.

5) What type of solar cells it uses?

There are 3 different types of solar cells. The first, mono-crystalline silicon, is the most efficient and with this type of solar cells, the panels are smallest on the market.

The second, poly-crystalline (or multi-crystalline) silicon, is the second most efficient and the panels are larger than mono-crystalline silicon systems. The third cell is morphous (or thin-film) silicon; this type contains the least amount of silicon and produces the least amount of power. It also takes up more surface area then the two other types of cells; however, it can be installed on curved or irregular surfaces where the other systems cannot.

6) Is the solar panel suitability for your climate?

It is important to note that mono-crystalline and multi-crystalline function best in bright but cool conditions, while amorphous (thin-film) silicon performs better at higher temperatures. Monocrystalline or multi-crystalline cells are recommended for large, unshaded roofs; amorphous panels are better for roofs with partial shading.

Regardless of what type of solar panel system is used in full shade, it will not perform well. It seems fairly obvious to state, but you can’t harvest the power of the sun in the shade; so by this logic, advertisements for “shade tolerant” systems should be considered misleading.

Build Your Own Solar Panel Guide

One of the best ways to save money on a residential solar power system is to build your own solar panel. If you are good with hand tools, you can make a Photovoltaic (PV) array for around $150. What you’ll need is a step by step instructional guide.

Read some of the Earth 4 Energy reviews and learn what the top selling DIY solar array ebook on the web has to offer. Also, remember to check out the Earth4Energy download page for more information.

==> Click here to visit Earth4Energy now!

How To Choose Solar Panel For Maximum Power Output



Are you planning to go green by utilizing solar energy? Here are a few key aspects that are worth considering when choosing a home solar panel for maximum power output. It is not advisable to base your decision on price alone.

The cost of installing a solar panel is decided by wattage rating that you are looking at, the brand that you are considering, the warranty period offered by the supplier, the size of the panel, and the certifications that the solar panel might have.

You should also consider as to how it will fit in the place where you are planning to install the panel, whether the certifications that the panel has would enable you to avail discounts from the government, and whether the warranty period covers the payback period also.

The life term of a solar panel is very important. Reputed companies offer a 25-year warranty. If the manufacturer offers only a 10-year warranty and it is connected to a grid system, the panel would have to generate sufficient power to complete the payback within 10 years. Furthermore, only robust solar panel systems should be used for critical applications.

The cost of the solar panel is directly proportional to its power rating in Watts. The price is specified in dollars per Watt. As the power output rating doubles, the cost also becomes twice.

The price of a panel that has a rating of 200 Watts per hour will be twice that of a 100-Watts per hour panel. The output rating of a panel also impacts its physical size.

Another factor that impacts the size is the type of solar cells used in the panel. The output rating should be decided on the basis of the appliances that are required to be run and space available to install the solar panel.

The efficiency of the solar panel in converting sunlight to electricity is a frequently discussed topic and a matter of hot debate. As far as our discussion is concerned, it suffices to know that a 100 watt solar panel will produce 100 watts, irrespective of its efficiency ratings.

The 3 main types of solar cells are:

  • Mono-crystalline silicon
  • Poly-crystalline or multi-crystalline silicon
  • Amorphous or thin-film silicon

Mono-crystalline silicon is the most efficient and the smallest solar cell. The panels made with these cells would, therefore, be the smallest panels.

Poly-crystalline silicon cells come second in efficiency rating and hence, the panels produced with these cells would be larger compared to that made with mono-crystalline cells.

Amorphous silicon cells are the least efficient, as they use least amount of silicon. As a result, the thin film system would occupy more space compared to the panels made with the other two types.

However, the thin film system could offer flexible panels that can be used on curved or irregular surfaces. This aspect has to be kept in mind at the time of selecting the panel for your requirement.

The selection of the solar panel should also be done on the basis of the climatic conditions of the place where it is to be installed. While mono-crystalline and multi-crystalline cells work well in bright cool conditions, amorphous silicon cells perform better at higher temperatures.

Mono-crystalline and multi-crystalline cells are recommended for large roofs without any shade, whereas panels made of amorphous cells are recommended for roofs with partial shading.

A solar panel kept in shade would not produce energy to its rated capacity. Hence, be wary of the feature – shade tolerant – that advertisers most often include their advertisements.

Home DIY Solar Panel Guide

Are you planning to make your own solar panel for your home solar power system? If you are, be sure to check out the Green DIY Energy program.

The program was specially created to teach you step by step how to construct a solar array on a shoestring budget. The instructions are in PDF files and also High Definition (HD) video recordings. Click on the link below and visit Green DIY Energy right now.

==> Click here to visit Green DIY Energy now!

Solar Attic Fan For Gable Roof – Cooling Your Home Without Electricity




Many home owners are looking for products and gadgets in the market to help reduce their monthly household electricity consumption. One of the largest usages of power to cool a house is the air-conditioning system during summer times.

Is there a way to cool a home without consuming large amount of electricity? As a matter of fact, there is, and you don’t even need to use any electricity at all!

If you are looking for a device to cool your home without using power, consider the solar attic fan for a gable roof. This device has been in the market for quite a while but most people are not aware of its benefits.

Solar attic fan installed on a gable type roof can really reduce your monthly power bill, especially during the hot summer months. The device serves two purposes, they help by getting rid of heat inside the attic by removing the hot air and also aids in circulating cooled air around the entire house.

Because the motor used by the exhaust fan is powered by solar energy, you completely eliminate the use of electricity for the purpose of reducing the heat inside your house. That’s a cool idea, isn’t it?

The most impressive feature of the solar attic fan is that it does not require a heavy duty solar panel. A small Photovoltaic (PV) panel which can generate approximately 10 watts of power is sufficient to operate the brushless motor.

During hot summer seasons, one solar powered attic fan can help bring down the temperature of about 800 cubic feet of attic space. The total cubic feet of your attic space can be calculated by multiplying the width of the attic by its height and depth. In the presence of eaves or sloping roofs such as a gable design, you may have to calculate the additional cubic feet accordingly.

A typical home with about 2,500 feet of built up area would require four solar attic fans installed on the roof to effectively bring down the room temperature. Most solar fans in the market are designed to be mounted on a gable roof while others can be installed only with shingles.

With the help of a qualified contractor, you should be able to decide as to the specific type of solar attic fan that you should buy in order to derive maximum utility and long-lasting results.

To get optimum cooling effect, insulating your house properly is very important as this can very often help maintain a cool feeling during summer. In particular, the attic should be properly insulated before installing the solar attic fans.

Build Your Own Solar Panel Guide

One of the best ways to save money on a residential solar power system is to build your own solar panel to power your solar attic fan. If you are good with hand tools, you can make a Photovoltaic (PV) array for around $150. What you’ll need is a step by step instructional guide.

Read some of the Earth 4 Energy reviews and learn what the top selling DIY solar array ebook on the web has to offer. Also, remember to check out the Earth4Energy download page for more information.

==> Click here to visit Earth4Energy now!