There are many factors that you must consider when deciding on how many solar panel panels you will need to power your house. These include how many sun hours your home gets, how much energy it uses per day, as well as the 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 how large your roof is, the size of the panels you need to power your home will also depend on other factors. An array of 20 solar cells will produce approximately 900 kilowatt hours of energy per month for a typical American house. Unfortunately, most American homes don’t have six hours of direct sunlight each day so it's difficult for you to calculate how many solar panels will be needed to cover your home.
You can easily determine the number of solar panels that you will require for your home by looking through your utility bills. Add up the monthly electricity consumption and divide by 12. Then, you'll have a good idea of how many solar panels you'll need to cover your entire home.
Peak sun hours
One of the most important questions when building a solar power plant is "How many solar panel will I need?" The answer to that question varies by location and season. The closer you are to the Equator, the more sunlight will you receive throughout the day. California, for example, has more peak sunlight hours than Washington. Therefore, if you are building a solar system to power your Washington home, you will need a bigger system than if it were built in California.
You can expect three to five peak hours of sunlight per day depending on where you live. 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. The peak sun hours in most parts of the United States last around three to five hours.
Average daily energy consumption
The number of hours that solar panels are exposed to sunlight determines how much energy they consume daily. A solar panel can generate up to 1 kilowatt-hour of energy during peak hours. A 250-watt panel can produce 30 kWh electricity per 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 location of the panels affects how much solar panels consume daily. For example, the days in the northeastern United States are shorter than those in the southwest. Residents living in these locations will need more solar panels than residents who live in more sunny areas. Design also plays a role in the efficiency of solar panel. The efficiency of solar panel indicates how efficient they are at converting each square foot.
Cost
Installing solar panels to power your home can be costly. A ten-kilowatt solar system can run you about $70,000. This is an economical option if you live near a sunny area that has high energy usage. Otherwise, it can cost up to $8000.
Consult a trusted contractor to estimate the cost of solar panels. 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. The kilowatt-hours you use each month will be a good estimate for the number of panels you need.
Off-grid vs. on-grid options
Consider many factors when you are considering solar panels to power your home. The cost and return on your investment can be affected by the system's size and type. The best solar installers can assist you in making these decisions. It is also a good idea to do your research so you can make an informed choice.
The batteries used to store excess electricity in off-grid solar system are stored in batteries. This stored energy can also be accessed in bad weather or at night. These systems can be scaled to provide enough energy to power your entire day. However, because the weather can be unpredictable, off-grid solar systems can fail to meet their initial goals.