What are the best Solar Panels, Components

What are the best Solar Panels, Components

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Choosing the right solar equipment is very important because the components often last for 25 years or longer. Covering modules, inverters, batteries and mounting, you will learn about the components needed for a complete solar power system.

First, determine which components you will need for the PV solar array. For grid-tied system this will include solar panels, inverter, mounting, safety switch disconnect. Inverters can be larger capacity central inverter or many smaller micro-inverters (1 for each module). Mounting can be rooftop, ground or pole. Grid-tied systems can have optional monitoring systems. For off-grid, use all of the above and add an off-grid type of inverter, a charge controller and batteries. This can often increase the total cost by 50% to as much as double.

1: Choosing the Best Solar Panel

There is no easy answer to what is the best solar panel. It can vary based on the price, performance, availability and total system design for each project. Brand A may have a great product one week, then Brand B releases a new product at a lower price the next week. We evaluate the following criteria to find the best solar panels for your home or business.

• Power Ratings are the maximum and average Watts of power a solar panel should produce. The three ratings to understand are STC, PTC and NOCT. These ratings can be used to compare panels. Try to avoid a panel with high STC or factory-rating, but a low NOCT or everyday rating, relative to another panel.
• STC factory-rated maximum DC watts as listed by the manufacturer, e.g. 250 watt solar panel is capable of producing maximum 250 watt continuously under ideal Standard Test Conditions. STC Peak Watts are the FACTORY rated MAXIMUM DC power generated under Standard Test Conditions for sunlight and temperature. STC irradiance at W per square meter, cell temperature at 77F (25C), air mass AM 1.5.
• PTC real-world rated maximum DC watts according to PVUSA test conditions, e.g. a 250 watt STC module may produce maximum 225 watts in PTC real-world conditions. PTC Peak Watts are the REAL-WORLD rated MAXIMUM DC power generated under PVUSA Test Conditions for sunlight and temperature. PTC irradiance at W per square meter, cell temperature at 68F (20C), air mass AM 1.5.
• NOCT nominal rated average DC watts according to everyday conditions, e.g. a 250 watt STC module may produce 195 watts in NOCT conditions. Nominal Watts are the AVERAGE continuous DC power generated in EVERYDAY conditions for sunlight and temperature. NOCT irradiance at 800 W per square meter, ambient temperature at 68F (20C), solar cell temperature at 113F (45C), wind speed 2 mph.
• Module efficiency: Expressed as a percentage, this is the rate at which the module is capable of converting the Sun's energy to usable power. A higher % is better, but be sure to balance that with the cost of the panel. Most standard solar panels have efficiency from 14% to 20%. Some higher efficiency panels can be double the price of average efficiency panels. You may save a lot of money simply by adding one extra panel with average efficiency to achieve the same result. Also note that module efficiency is different than individual solar cell efficiency.
• Brand: Also known as bankability, the brand strength reflects the financial health, market share, product reliability and service reputation of the company. This does not necessarily mean name recognition alone. Many solar brands will be names you never heard of, yet they are some of the largest producers of quality solar panels in the world.
• Listing Certification: The minimum requirement should be UL listed certification. This means the solar module has been independently tested for power output and durability by Underwriter's Labs or equivalent third party testing organization.
• Warranty: Look for at least a 10 year product warranty to cover defects and a 25 year performance or power output warranty that is backed by third-party warranty insurance coverage.
• Cell technology: Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline or thin film can indicate the power output and durability of the solar panel. Mono and Poly represent about 90% of all solar panels produced. Although it is important to compare specific model to model, generally monocrystalline may generate the most power for the longest time. You may give up a small amount of performance but at much less cost with polycrystalline. Thin film modules are typically used for specialized purposes.
• Price per module, affects overall budget. Solar panel prices can change often. Be careful when getting quotes for projects that are planned long into the future.
• Price per watt, for both STC and PTC ratings. We also estimate the expected kilo-watt hour (kWh) production for a PV array to calculate the expected lifetime cost per kWh. This can tell you how the solar panels will compare to what you pay for utility power.
• Physical Dimensions. Do you have limited space for the module or the entire array? The standard solar panels have 60 cells and generally measure 65" x 40" or 17.5 square feet. There are larger modules with 72 cells measuring 77" x 40", as well as non-standard modules with 96 or even 120 cells. Be cautious with non-standard sizes because they may be incompatible with future product generations. It all really comes down to what fits for your home at the right price and performance.
• Aesthetics. Do you care how it looks? Are solar panels in visible area? Sleek, all-black look? Silver or black frame? Blue vs black appearance? Generally pay a little more for black.
• Compatibility, does module have unique shape, size, frame, connector, voltage or amps that limits the compatibility with other solar panels? Solar panels with high compatibility means that you can find similar products from many different manufacturers. Don't lock yourself in to one brand or technology in case you want to upgrade or replace modules in the future.

2: Choosing an Inverter

The solar inverter converts direct current (DC) electricity from the solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity used in the home. For grid-connected systems, the first consideration is to determine if you want a central string inverter, a string inverter with module optimizers, or a micro-inverter system. String inverters typically cost 10% to 20% less than optimizer or micro-inverter systems. They have a 15 to 20 year expected performance life. String inverter warranties usually cover 10 years, and most manufacturers offer optional extended warranties up to 20 years.

The optimizer and micro-inverter systems have a device attached to each solar panel. This means that each solar panel can operate independently of the panels around it. Optimizer and Micro-inverter systems generally cost 10% to 20% more and require extra cables and hardware, but they can produce more power, especially in shaded conditions. Studies show that with full, direct sunlight, a micro-inverter system may produce 2% to 3% more power than a string inverter system. However, with shade or other obstructions, a micro-inverter system may produce up to 20% more power.

They often have 25 year warranties and a longer performance lifetime. Optimizers and Micro-inverters are great for easy system expansion, and they work better in areas that have shading or different roof surfaces. They require a monitoring system to track performance and troubleshoot each individual module if needed.

Read more about String vs. Micro-Inverters

3: Choosing a PV Mounting System

Solar panels can be mounted on a roof-top or pole-mounted on the ground. Roof-top mounting of solar panels is the most common and least expensive option. Pole mounting is used when there is not enough south-facing roof space or there are unusual roof surfaces. If your property has a south-facing hill or sloped area, then ground mounts are worth considering.

Roof-top solar panels can be attached to most any type of pitched roof surface including composition or asphalt shingle, flat concrete tiles, curved or S-tile, slate, wood shake or metal roofs. This can include the roof on the home, garage, carport, barn or most any structure capable of bearing the weight. Solar panels can be also tilt-mounted on flat roofs using attachments or non-penetrating ballast trays for all types of flat roof surfaces.

There are a few variations of ground-mounted solar panels. The most common is a multi-pole ground mount using many concrete piers and 2" or 3" galvanized steel posts. The solar racking is attached to this substructure. There are also single-pole ground mounts that can fit as many as 16 solar panels on single 6", 8" or 10" pole. You might also consider an elevated solar carport as a practical solution if your property allows it.

There are plenty of options when considering how to mount your solar system. We can help you decide the best and most cost-effective method for mounting solar panels for your project

Short on Time? Here&#;s The Article Summary

The article provides a guide for setting up a residential solar panel system, outlining the main components needed: solar panels, a charge controller, a battery bank, and a power inverter. Solar panels absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity, while the charge controller regulates the electricity flow to the battery. The battery bank stores the electricity generated, and the power inverter converts the electricity from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) for use in household appliances.

The article recommends specific products for each component, such as the 200 Watt Eclipse Solar Panel Suitcase for solar panels, the Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 Charge Controller for the charge controller, the Lion Energy UT 700 Lithium Ion 12V Battery for the battery bank, and the AIMS Power 10,000W Pure Sine Inverter for the power inverter. It emphasizes starting with a basic system and expanding as needed, and provides additional resources for further information.

Introduction

As more and more people seek to offset some of their electricity costs with green, renewable solar energy, it is no surprise that we are often asked what components and equipment a person would need to set up their own residential solar panel system.

While getting started with solar electricity is more complicated than simply purchasing a set of solar panels, once you know what pieces of equipment you will need, setting up a stable, reliable, and flexible solar panel system is actually fairly straightforward.

This is where we can help! To help you get started, we will be going over each of the basic components of a home solar panel system. We will also point you in the direction of some high-quality, affordable solar equipment that you can use to start harnessing the power of the sun today. 

The Main Components of a Solar Panel System

To set up an effective solar panel system, you will need to purchase solar panels, a charge controller, a battery bank, and a power inverter. While you may also need other components, like mounting brackets and additional wiring (see solar panel connector types guide), gaining an understanding of the four main pieces of equipment is a great place to start.

The Solar Panels:

Solar panels are the most iconic piece of solar equipment and they are the foundation of any solar panel system.

Solar panels are made up of a series of individual solar cells. There are several types of solar panels, such as polycrystalline and monocrystalline panels, and each will vary in cost and have a different efficiency rating. In general, monocrystalline panels tend to be more efficient and, therefore, most expensive.

As you probably know, solar panels are designed to absorb sunlight and convert it into useable electricity. Typically, each solar panel in your array will be connected to a charge controller, so the electricity can be safely routed to the battery, or inverter.

Since the amount of sunlight your solar panels are able to absorb will affect the overall performance of your solar panel system, it is important that they are angled in a way that they will receive adequate light. It is also important to check their rating to make sure they are actually capable of meeting your energy needs.

Depending on the number of panels, their quality, and their energy potential, you can achieve a number of different combinations of volt and ampere ratings. 

Our Recommendation:

If you are looking for a good place to start, a 200 Watt Eclipse Solar Panel Suitcase offers two collapsible monocrystalline solar panels. They are highly efficient and portable enough to be a practical option for even the most remote solar panel systems.

Hongyuan International supply professional and honest service.

The Charge Controller:

Due to the nature of solar energy, the power output of a solar panel system will fluctuate throughout the day. If you are connecting your solar panels to a battery bank, so you can store electricity to be used as required, you will need a charge controller to regulate that electricity and ensure it flows to the battery at the correct voltage and current.

A charge controller will also protect against battery drain, by preventing electricity from flowing from the battery to the solar panels when they are not absorbing sunlight.

There are two main types of charge controller out there &#; a PWM charge controller and a MPPT charge controller. PWM controllers are much less advanced and act almost like a switch, which will turn on and off at set parameters to prevent overcharging issues.

On the other hand, a MPPT charge controller is more of a &#;smart&#; unit, as they feature integrated computers, which make them programable and adaptable to changing voltages and currents. They measure the voltage of the panels and make sure it matches the battery bank&#;s voltage. This means you can use a higher voltage solar array than the voltage of the battery, which allows you to create a more efficient solar panel system. 

As the name suggests, the charge controller acts by controlling the flow of electricity, which is important for safety and protecting the battery. They are an important component of any efficient solar panel system.

Our Recommendation:

The Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 Charge Controller is the perfect choice for those running 12V and 24V battery systems. Not only does it feature programmable smart charging, it has Bluetooth compatibility and can be controlled through a smartphone.

The Battery Bank:

As you can probably guess, the solar battery bank stores the power your solar system is able to generate. The size of battery you choose will depend on the size and scale of your solar array.

In most cases, batteries are used for backup power. While some batteries are mounted directly into the system, so they can be used as emergency power, or so the homeowner can draw solar electricity during peak price hours, others are designed to be portable. Portable battery banks for solar make it possible to bring solar electricity with you wherever you go, which is why they are so popular with RV and camping enthusiasts. See also solar panels for RV. 

Most solar battery banks also have the option to be charged through a traditional AC power outlet that is connected to the grid. Again, this is handy for situations where the solar panels are not able to generate enough electricity to meet the homeowner&#;s needs.

Our Recommendation:

The Lion Energy UT 700 Lithium Ion 12V Battery is one of the most popular batteries for solar panel systems on the market. It offers excellent value and can be connected to additional batteries when you are ready to expand your system.

The Power Inverter:

Since solar panels provide direct current, or DC power, meaning that current flows in one direction, most solar panel systems will require solar inverters. This is because most electrical devices, especially larger appliances, require alternating current, or AC power.

The electrical outlets in your home provide AC power, so there is a good chance the majority of electronic devices you use on a daily basis will also require this type of electrical current.

A versatile solar panel system will require an inverter, especially if you have any aspirations of running a grid-tied system and feeding some of your solar energy into the electrical grid for utility credits and rebates.

Our Recommendation: 

The AIMS Power 10,000W Pure Sine Inverter is highly adaptable and can work with just about any type of solar panel system. It is highly efficient and is intuitive enough that even beginners will have no problem integrating it into their system.

Keep Things Simple and Learn as You Go

In general, the vast majority of people that build their own solar panel system start out by installing a very basic system. You can always expand and upgrade each component as you go and as your need for solar electricity increases.

By familiarizing yourself with the four key pieces of solar panel system equipment, you are well on your way to reaping the financial and environmental benefits of harnessing and using solar electricity.

P.S. If you strive for more guarantees to ensure your electric gadgets safe, have a look at EMP shield review. 

So, you have read our guide and planning to build up your own solar panel system? then we think you might also be interested in another blog: How to connect solar panels to battery bank charge controller inverter.

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