There are many factors that you must consider when deciding on how many solar panel panels you will need to power your house. These factors include the maximum sun hours, average energy consumption per day, and costs. These numbers can be used to calculate the number of panels required.
Calculating the amount of solar panels required to power your home
Depending on the space available on your roof, how big your solar panels will be to power your home, there are a few factors that can affect their size. A typical American home will need 20 panels to generate approximately 900 kilowatts per month. Because most American homes don’t get six hours of direct sun daily, it’s difficult to calculate the number of solar panels needed to cover your home.
An easy way to figure how many solar panel you will need for your home, is to look at your utility bills. Add up the monthly electricity consumption and divide by 12. You'll then have an idea of how many panels are needed to cover your whole home.
Peak sun hours
A key question to ask when you are building a solar power station is how many solar panels I will need. The answer to that question varies by location and season. The sun will shine more during the day the closer you live the equator. California, for instance, has more peak sunshine hours than Washington. If you want to build a solar panel system for your Washington home, you will need to have a larger system that you would if you were building it in California.
Depending on where you live, you can expect between three and five peak sun hours per day. The amount of peak sun hours you get will vary depending on the location of your home, the time of day, and how high the elevation is. In most areas, the peak hours of sunlight are approximately three to five hour.
Energy consumption per day on average
Solar panels' average daily energy consumption is determined by how many hours they receive sunlight. A solar panel is capable of producing up to 1 Kilowatt hour of electricity during peak hours. A 250-watt panel will produce 30 kWh in one month. Similarly, a 350-watt panel would produce 42 kWh in the same month. These figures are only averages. They can vary depending on where the house is located and how large it is.
The average daily energy consumption of solar panels depends on where the panels are located. The sun is shorter in the northeastern United States than it is in the southwest. Residents in these areas will need to have more solar panels installed than those who live in sunny regions. In addition, the efficiency of solar panels depends on the design. The conversion rate per square foot of solar panels is the efficiency.
Cost
Installing solar panels to power your home can be costly. A 10-kilowatt system of solar panels can cost around $70,000. This can be a cost-effective option if you live in an area with moderately high energy consumption. The costs could run to $8000 otherwise.
To determine the cost of solar panels, you should consult with a trusted contractor. To ensure that the contractor is aware of your energy requirements, it's a good idea to keep a copy of your monthly electric bill. An estimate of how many panels you'll need will be made based on the kilowatt-hours that you use each monthly.
Off-grid or on-grid?
Consider many factors when you are considering solar panels to power your home. System size and type will impact the cost and return of investment. These decisions can be made by a professional solar installer. Doing your research can also help you make a more informed decision.
Batteries are used to store excess power in off-grid systems. This stored energy is easily accessible at night and in cloudy weather. These systems can generate enough energy for you to last the day. However, because the weather can be unpredictable, off-grid solar systems can fail to meet their initial goals.