| Step number one in getting started with any solar | | | | If you find the right solar professional, they will |
| power setup in your home is to perform an | | | | instruct you in those parts of the installation that |
| energy audit. This is where you evaluate the | | | | you are capable of and allow you to do some of |
| amount of power (in kilowatts/hour or kilowatt | | | | the work yourself, saving you on some of your |
| hours) that you'll need in any given day. | | | | labor costs. |
| You will also need to take into account the site | | | | Even if you don't decide to have a professional |
| where your home is located. Geographical | | | | install your solar system, it would be well worth |
| considerations such as climate, number of peak | | | | your while to consult one with your design to |
| hours of sunlight per day, number of days of | | | | make sure it's a viable design, one that's taken all |
| peak sunlight per year, and average rainfall will | | | | the necessary considerations into account. For |
| play a big role in how efficient a solar system you | | | | example, there is a wide selection of panels, |
| can design. | | | | controllers, inverters, and batteries, each one |
| Any solar electric system will need, at the very | | | | manufactured with different requirements, each |
| least, the following components:a collector (usually | | | | one not necessarily interchangeable with the other. |
| solar panels);a mount (to put it on);an inverter (to | | | | To further minimize the chances of |
| convert 12 volt DC power to 110 volt AC | | | | incompatibilities between components in your solar |
| power);a circuit breaker or fuse box and fuses & | | | | system, consider purchasing all the elements of |
| switches (to regulate the power transferring from | | | | your set up from the same company and |
| the panels to your outlets and/or storage | | | | consulting with someone on their sales team that |
| batteries); | | | | is knowledgeable in solar electric power. |
| (optional) one or more storage batteries; | | | | In fact, many companies sell solar kits that |
| (if you get a battery) a charge controller (to keep | | | | contain all the components you would need to set |
| from over- or undercharging the battery and | | | | your house up with solar power, with the |
| severely reducing its lifespan); | | | | certainty that all the components are compatible. |
| Once you've purchased all the elements of the | | | | Whatever you decide, you don't have to break |
| solar system you've just designed, installation is | | | | the bank to try and supplant your entire power |
| fairly easy, though the simplicity of installing a | | | | grid reliance with solar power right away and all at |
| solar power system does not mean you should | | | | once. If you're interested in availing yourself and |
| necessarily do it yourself. There are numerous | | | | your household of the multifold benefits of solar |
| advantages to hiring a professional installer with | | | | power, start small. Get yourself a single solar |
| training in both electrical systems and solar | | | | panel and see how well that works for you. When |
| electrical systems, including knowing how to set | | | | you're ready, add on more panels, batteries, etc., |
| everything up to code, should the building | | | | one at a time as you can afford it and as your |
| inspector ever have the need to look it over (ie. | | | | needs evolve. |
| for insurance purposes). | | | | |