In general, there are 3 major types of solar panels – portable, residential and commercial solar panel systems.

Portable solar panels are very small products that can supply low voltages (and limited power) to handheld or portable gadgets. There are rollable solar chargers, foldable solar panels and small, thin-film panels. The type of solar panel to be used depends on your application.

Residential and commercial solar panels are made using either crystalline silicon, thin-film or string-ribbon technology. They are much larger than portable solar panels and require inverters to convert direct current to alternating current. This conforms the electricity supply to the requirements of the household or commercial electricity supply.

Choosing a suitable brand is another major consideration. Purchasing from leading solar panel brands ensure that you have the service and advice that will most likely serve your needs. When it comes to repair and maintenance, spare parts and labor are adequately catered for – more so in larger companies than in smaller mom and pop shops.

Here is a list of leading solar panels brand: BP Solar, Evergreen Solar, General Electric, AEE Solar, Kaneka, Mitsubishi Electric, Kyocera, Sanyo, SunWize, Suntech, Sharp and Uni-Solar.

There are professionals in these companies that can help you size your solar power system. With your average power consumption figures and number of sun hours at your location, they can determine the specifications you need for your solar panels and other related components.

Depending on your budget, you may be advised to install as many solar panels as is required to supply all your household electricity needs. Or you can install the solar panels in stages. The specifications for each option are different and it is important to purchase a system that fits your requirement so you’ll not spend more money than necessary.

Along with solar panels, other necessary components for a home solar power system are inverters, batteries and mounts. These, too, have different specifications and you’ll need to choose one that suits your need.

Another consideration when buying solar panels is the warranty period. Companies offer different warranty periods and it is important to check that this period is much longer than the calculated payback period.

Keeping these pointers in mind as you shop for solar panels, you are better equipped to buy solar panels that can serve you for decades and put money back into your pocket.

Continue Reading:

1. Flexible Solar Panels
2. Solar Energy Panels — Solar Trickle Chargers
3. Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 2 of 3)

In order to size your solar energy panels, you have to decide if you want a direct grid-tie system without batteries or not. If you do not want to use batteries, the size of your solar power generator will simply be what you can comfortably afford ($$). This will help you offset your energy bills, but you’ll have to draw power from the grid at night. Things will be rather different if you want to install an off-grid system with a battery bank.

Contrary to what most people think, step #1 to sizing your solar power system is to check if there is any energy wastage in your home — lights that remain turned on 24/7, pool pumps that keep running even during the night, heaters that never stop pumping hot air, et cetera. Only after you have eliminated these “leaks” can you determine how much energy (KWh) you use every day. Otherwise you’ll be spending lots of money on a larger-than-necessary solar power generator.

It’s easy to determine how much power you use on a daily basis. A quick glance at your utility bill quickly reveals the number. This is the result of those big power-sucking elements around the house. Some examples are your clothes dryer, water heater, air conditioning, refrigerators and heaters. Having your power consumption in mind, you’ll have to multiply it by a factor of 1.15 to correct for power loss through inefficiencies in the system. (Inefficiencies occur as a result of imperfect transmission through the inverter, cables and batteries.)

Even if you are not going to immediately build a solar energy panel now, it’ll be useful to go around your house to look for these energy vampires to slay. Before we go on to the next part of “Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels” series, please do this exercise. It’ll be beneficial to you in the long run and you’ll thank me for it.

Continue Reading:

1. Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 2
2. Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 3
3. Home Solar Power — Different Ways of Harnessing Energy From The Sun To Reduce Energy Bills