Stop! Read This Before Buying Solar Panels
When you invest in something big, you want to make sure that you make the best out of it. Same thing with investing in solar energy. Solar energy system consists of a set of components you can utilize to save thousands of dollars from your electricity spending, but it works only if you use it the right way. Therefore, first thing first, our team will help you dig into the essential components of your solar system and show you how each of them works in a circle to bring you the electricity you need.
Solar Panels
Solar panel or solar PV is the core of the system. The panels consist of more than 60 Photovoltaic (PV) cells which are capable of converting sunlight to electricity, or Direct Current (DC) power in particular. The cells are powered by sunlight, not by the heat from the sun. As long as the light is strong enough to light up the day, it will also be enough to trigger the PV cells. That being said, even though it is cloudy outside, your solar panels are still working.
To catch as much sunlight as possible, solar panels must be positioned in the right direction and at the right angles. For Australia, the best sunlight comes from the North, North-West, or North-East. As for the angle, 30–45 degrees is considered as the most efficient. That’s why if your roof is flat, the installers will build in support to tilt your panels till they reach the perfect degree.
Now, you might be questioning: How much do the solar panels cost? How much does the solar installation cost? Well, there are a lot of aspects that can affect the total cost of your solar panels and installation. Those things vary from your average power consumption, your roof angle, your habit of using electricity, or even your plan for the future. As the calculation might get complicated, you can contact our Energy Consultant, and we will create a quote for you for free!
Inverter
All of the home appliances at your home use Alternative Current (AC) Power. This is where your inverter plays its part. It operates to convert DC power (generate by your Solar Panels) to ready-to-use AC Power.
Inverter is also highly important in managing the power source at your house. It is capable of switching between the solar and the grid automatically. It always prioritizes the energy from your solar panels. However, if you don’t have sufficient energy, it will withdraw power from the grid. Clockwise, when your power from solar in your system is over the limit, the inverter will take it out to the grid.
There are several inverter brands that you can choose. Some brands, for example, GoodWe, will allow you to monitor the performance of your solar system online. All you need to do is connect to the internet and log in to their website or application.
Electricity Meter
A meter won’t be a new thing for your home. Even before you decide to have solar panels, your energy retailers must have set up a meter for you.
An electricity meter is a device placed by your electricity retailers to record your energy consumption from the grid. You might have a traditional disk meter at the moment, and you must change it to a smart meter by the time you switch to solar energy. The smart meter is compatible with your solar system because it is bi-directional, meaning that it can measure the energy you take from the grid and supply back to the grid.
The data collected by the electricity meter is reported back to you in the form of a quarterly or monthly bill. You can see how much money you spent consuming power from the grid and how much credits you gain from feeding-in to the grid.
Grid
You read this term several times in the previous section, but you might still be wondering what a grid is. An electricity grid is the electrical power system that transmits power from the power plant to each household or office building. Your ability to supply energy to the grid will grant you electricity credits which simply help you save more money on electricity.
Now you know the essential components for your solar system, it’s time to know how solar energy can benefit you on a daily basis. Let’s calculate how much solar power you need and how much it can save you in the future. Our energy consultant is keen on discussing this matter with you! Contact us via:
P: 03 9333 0433
