Choosing Solar Panels – Your Ultimate Guide

19 Aug.,2024

 

Choosing Solar Panels – Your Ultimate Guide

Solar panels are a long term investment. So it&#;s important to do a bit of your own research before making your purchase.

BEBEST supply professional and honest service.

Luckily, we&#;ve prepared an easy-to-follow guide including all the important info, tips and considerations to think about when choosing solar panels.

Solar Panel Shopping &#; What To Consider

Cost

Not all solar panels are equal.

Prices vary depending on size, brand reputation, quality of materials, durability, warranty and any certifications the panels might have.

Choosing solar panels on price alone isn&#;t always a great idea. Go for the biggest and the best panels, and they mightn&#;t be suitable for your roof space. Skimp on quality and you might not enjoy the quick payback period you anticipated.

Sticking to a budget is important, but always choose solar panels that best suit your living situation not based purely on bottom dollar.

Panel Materials

The three most popular solar panels in Australia are:

Monocrystalline &#; high efficiency and good heat tolerance characteristics. Often used in limited-space applications. These panels degrade very slowly and have been used for more than 50 years now.

Polycrystalline/Multicrystalline &#; now the most popular choice in residential installs. Features high quality silicon that can be used in any climate and perform well in remote area power systems.

Quasi-Monocrystalline &#; a hybrid panel, morphing the top characteristics of mono and polycrystalline panels.

Note: While choosing the right solar panel type has importance, the quality and reliability of the manufacturer is, and will always be, the most important consideration.

Durability, Quality and Warranty

A panel&#;s warranty is an important consideration when choosing solar panels. It can be an indicator of the manufacturer&#;s confidence in its products.

But remember, warranties will only be honoured for as long as the company operates. It&#;s another reason to select a well known brand of solar panel rather than an obscure low-cost option that may disappear overnight.

Can I buy panels from China?

Not all Chinese solar panel brands are cheap and nasty. On the contrary, some of the world&#;s largest and most dedicated solar energy brands are Chinese-owned.

However, it&#;s important to research when choosing solar panels from overseas. Some solar panels are named in a misleading way so that they appear to be European when in fact they&#;re being made in sub-standard Asian factories.

Tip: Always choose Tier 1 and 2 manufacturers.

Size

The bigger the solar panel in Watts, the more it will cost. A 100 Watt panel will produce 100 Watt-hours of electricity every hour. So you can expect to pay double for a 200 Watt panel producing 200 Watt-hours of electricity every hour.

Tip: Use the back of your latest energy bill for a good idea of how much energy your household consumes.

The higher the wattage, the bigger your solar panels will be in physical size, too. Consult with your installer to ensure that the solar panels you choose will fit comfortably on your roof space.

Important Terms

Tolerance &#; the plus/minus wattage range of your panel. A positive tolerance rating means the panel has the potential to exceed its &#;nameplate&#; wattage under standard testing conditions.

Australian Supported &#; not to be confused with Australian-made. Brands that have a local support system in Australia, including a physical office and Australian staff, are always preferred.

Temperature Co-efficient &#; while panels rely on sunlight, extreme heat can actually make panels less efficient. The lower the co-efficient rating percentage per degree Celsius, the better.

Conversion Efficiency &#; if two solar panels cost the same, but one has a higher conversion efficiency (or greater ability to convert sunlight into usable electricity); then that panel provides the better value for money.

Consult With Experts

Just like solar panel manufacturers, not all solar power retailers are created equally either. When researching which solar panels you should install on your home, make sure you talk to a reputable company. Look for a solar power retailer with physical national offices and ISO certification at the bare minimum.

We hope that this guide has given you a better idea of what to look for when choosing solar panels. For further information, feel free to contact our solar power team!

A Solar Panel Buying Guide: Best Practices for

Buying solar panels for your home is a big deal. While these new installations will eventually pay for themselves over the years, a new system will require quite a hefty investment. This means robust financial planning for your household. Then, there are lifestyle changes that come in the wake of switching to solar.

Choosing solar panels can be overwhelming, especially if you&#;re a first-time solar user. So many options are available today, and analysis paralysis is common for homeowners.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of small size solar panels wholesaler. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

This comprehensive solar panel buying guide will help you with your decision&#;you will learn how to buy solar panels and choose the best options for your household. Let&#;s get started.

1. Ask Yourself Why You&#;re Going Solar

Energy independence is the reason why most homeowners want to go solar. But, if you&#;re buying solar panels, you must clearly define your expectations and use case.

More and more people want to go off the grid and adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle. Others simply want to lighten the load of electricity consumption and install backup power in emergencies. Given the regular rate increases for utilities, another important reason for learning how to choose solar panels could simply be saving on monthly bills.

All of these are valid reasons to make the switch. However, you must keep your primary motivation in mind, as this will affect every subsequent step in the process of buying solar panels.

2. Find Out if Your Home Can Support Solar

Your roof should have enough room for your full solar setup. This entails around 100 to 250 square feet per kilowatt of solar capacity. If it does, you need to inspect your roof thoroughly to identify any repairs or adjustments needed to accommodate your solar panel setup.

While newly-built houses are often solar-friendly, some older structures may need reinforcements. Typically, south-facing roofs with a 15 to 40-degree pitch are the best for solar users. But even east-west roofs with low pitch can support solar panels if there is ample space.

If you don&#;t have the luxury of rooftop space, you can learn where to buy solar panels and put them on the ground. Note that this type of installation is often more expensive than rooftop solar.

Solar panels need four to five hours of direct sunlight for optimal function. Consider nearby trees or structures that will shade your installation and adjust as needed.

3. Choose Your Solar Panel and Setup

Some homeowners prefer doing research and choosing solar panels by themselves. If you&#;re one of them, you must consider multiple factors for finding the most efficient solar panels for your home.

How to choose solar panels?

Start by calculating your household&#;s electricity consumption. This will help you determine the total wattage of solar panels that you need. On average, standard American homes consume 30kWh of power every day, and a 5kWh to 8.5kWh solar array can fully offset this consumption.

The type of solar cell that makes up your solar panel, its roundtrip efficiency, size, durability, and warranty are other key factors. The solar panel payback period should also be taken into consideration. It tells you how long it will take for your solar investment to break even.

Remember that going solar is not only about choosing solar panels. You should also consider energy storage systems (ESS), especially if you want to go off the grid or have backup power. This is where solar batteries, inverters, etc., come into the picture.

You may not need backup if you&#;re a grid-tied user. Either way, it is an effort-intensive and time-consuming process, and you need sound knowledge of solar panels to make an informed decision.

You can simplify the process and talk to a solar consultant. AMECO is a leading solar company in California for residential solar panels. You can get in touch with us and let us do the hard work for you.

4. Shortlist Your Solar Supplier

Once you have all the data you need, you must decide where to buy solar panels. Shortlist three to five solar panels per your requirement.

You can buy solar panels from:

  1. The manufacturer&#;s website
  2. Certified solar suppliers or companies in your area
  3. Home improvement stores like Home Depot, etc.

The first two options are your best bet because they have proven solar expertise. You will not have much flexibility in terms of pricing if you buy the panels directly from the solar manufacturer, but you can get good discounts.

If you decide to go with a local supplier, compare solar companies that have your selection of products before you reach out to them. Do your due diligence on your solar supplier&#;s credibility, track record, and experience.

Some solar suppliers provide installation and maintenance services in the long run. However, in some cases, you may need to hire your own solar installer.

Regardless of your choice, always get multiple quotes from these professionals. Buying solar panels is a hefty investment, and it should pay off in the long run. So, choosing a reliable solar supplier is essential if you want to make good returns on your investment.

5. Plan Your Financing Options

Are you wondering how to buy solar panels without breaking the bank?

The next step is to finalize the financing options for solar panels. Most states provide solar incentives to homeowners buying solar panels. You are also eligible for the federal solar tax credit introduced by the Biden government.

You can find a good deal on a cash payment, but buying solar panels upfront may not be practical. Many elements go into solar installation, which can be quite expensive.

So then, how to buy solar panels otherwise? Go for solar loans. You can save on upfront costs and pay minimal interest over time. Again, consider multiple options before you pull the trigger.

Before buying solar panels, decide which financing option suits your budget the best.

6. Watch Out for Local Laws

Learn about solar laws and regulations in your state before buying solar panels. There are no federal solar access regulations, but local entities may require you to apply for certain permits. Before installing solar panels, you should also check with your local homeowner&#;s association.

Conclusion

Now you know how to buy solar panels. This solar panel buying guide has outlined all you need to get started. Consider partnering with AMECO for all your solar needs!

If you want to learn more, please visit our website ODM 15w solar panel.