4 Major Parts Of A Solar System To Understand When You're Switching To Solar Power

When you first start learning about solar power, you may find all the new terms confusing. You may know you want solar power so you can reduce your electric bills, but you might not be sure how a solar system works. Here are four major components to become familiar with in a home solar power system.

1. The Inverter

Without an inverter, your home couldn't use the power your solar system creates. That's because solar panels make DC electricity and your home uses AC electricity. The important job of the inverter is to convert DC into AC so the power can be utilized by your home, appliances, and electronics.

There are a few different kinds of inverters although they all achieve the same result. The location where the inverter is mounted depends on the type it is. Your solar contractor may mount the inverter outside or in your garage as long as it is out of direct sunlight and has plenty of air circulation around it.

2. The Solar Panels

The panels are an important part of a home solar system because they collect solar energy. The panels can be placed on the ground, but placing them on the roof is more convenient since they'll be out of the way. Your contractor determines the number of panels you need based on the size of your roof and the amount of power you need.

Your panels make power during daylight hours and send it to the inverter to be converted into power the electrical panel on your home needs. Solar systems in urban neighborhoods often hook up to the grid so you can have supplemental power at night or during long stretches of rainy days.

Rural homes may provide all of their own energy and be completely independent of the grid. If you're off the grid, you'll need a battery to store power so you'll have energy when your solar panels can't make it.

3. Racks

Racks mount on your roof. The racks clip onto metal roof panels or are screwed to roof rafters on an asphalt shingle roof. Once the racks are securely in place, the solar panels are attached to them rather than the roof. Racks make it possible to alter the position of the panels so they face the sun at the best angle.

4. Electrical Panel

If you live in a newer home, your electrical panel may handle the addition of solar power without the need for an upgrade. If your electrical panel is several decades old, it might need to be upgraded. Your solar contractor can run calculations to determine how much power you need to operate the solar panels they plan to install. If you don't want to upgrade your electrical panel, the contractor can calculate how many solar panels your old electrical panel can handle.

For more information, contact a company like Ask Solar Sandy.

Share