Residential Solar Power

So you have decided to join the environmental bandwagon and begin powering your home with solar power. You plan on purchasing, or better yet, building your own solar panels (for more info on building your own solar panels, check out my DIY Solar Panel). This is not only good for mother earth, but for you the consumer as well. Not only will your power bills be lower than ever (if you decide to stay connected to the grid), but also many countries and states offer subsidiaries, tax cuts, and grants for homeowners who decide to install a solar energy system!

There are two basic ways to go about enjoying residential solar power. One is to construct a system that is completely independent of grid supplied electricity (meaning all the energy the home uses is supplied through solar power, or some other means of home energy generation). The other method is to remain on the grid, while still making your own electricity when the sun is shining. Like most things in life, both of these systems have their inherent advantages and disadvantages. Continue reading to discover which method of residential solar power is right for you.

Independent Residential Solar Power:

This option is tailored to those who prefer to not be associated with power companies, or for those who reside in remote locations. An independent system is completely self sustainable, and therefore completely off the grid. The following items are necessary for an independent system to work:

  • Solar Panel Array: a group of solar panels that will collect sunlight to convert into electricity. These obviously need to be placed in a location where sun can be collected for as many daylight hours as possible. The roof of most homes is a good choice.
  • Deep Cycle Batteries: these lead acid batteries are the heart of any independent solar power system. They are responsible for storing the excess electric energy created by the solar panel array. This stocked up energy will be used during the night or on cloudy days (whenever the sun is not shining). The more batteries a system has, the more surplus energy can be saved for later use.
  • Charge Controller: also known as a regulator, this device ensures that batteries are not under or over charging. This is useful to have, as it greatly improves the performance and over all life expectancy of these batteries.
  • Inverter: the light electricity produced by solar panels is in the form of a 12 volt DC current. Any device or appliance that has a 12 volt power rating can use this electricity. However, most appliances in the United States rely on a 110 volt alternating current power source. An inverter simply converts the original collected energy from 12 volt to 110 volt for home use.

These are the essential components required for an independent residential power system. In addition to this, wires and connecters are also vital, so that the entire system will work together!

Grid Tied Residential Solar Power:

The other form of using solar energy to power a residential home is by staying on the grid. This method is good for those living in urban or suburban areas. The main advantage of this system is that home owners can still use grid power when there is no sun shining, or when the solar panels are not producing enough energy to meet the household demands. This principle works in reverse as well. If your solar panels are producing more energy than you are using, many power companies will purchase your excess electricity and us it to power your neighbor’s homes. Your meter literally turns backwards! Another strong advantage to this system is that you can have as many or as few solar panels as you want. Even a small group of panels can make a sizeable difference on a monthly electric bill.

This is a winning situation for all groups involved: the homeowner’s power costs are reduced, the electric company gets excess energy, and it is much more environmentally friendly than relying solely on grid power!

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