WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION

Solar power is a good alternative to regular grid power, but you may be wondering just what the installation process is like. How long will it take? Do you need to do anything to prepare? The exact process may vary slightly depending on who is installing the panels, but overall, you’ll have a similar experience to the one below.

SET UP MOUNTING SYSTEM

Wherever your solar panels will be placed, you’ll need a mounting system. This will need to be set up on an angle and that will depend on where the panels are placed. Most of the time, they will be added to your rooftop, but this isn’t strictly necessary. The mounts will allow the panels to get maximum sunlight throughout the day, so they need to be tilted at an 18-36º angle.



ADD SOLAR PANELS

With the mounts in place, your technicians will add the actual solar panels. The number of panels will correspond to the amount of electricity you need in your home and the size of the panels. These need to be bolted to the mounting structure and secured carefully. You don’t want them coming loose in a storm.

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION

Next, the technician needs to turn off the home’s electricity in order to wire the panels into the electrical system. They will usually use MC4 connectors to connect the system to the electricity and ensure that the panels will pass the electricity on to the home.

A solar inverter is also necessary. This takes the electricity produced by the solar panels and turns it into something the house system can use. It’s usually a good idea to place this in its own space in the basement or garage. However, if you do install it outdoors, keep it in a cool place that is shielded from the sun and has access to the main electrical panel. It will be connected to the consumer unit which should have a meter on it so you can see exactly how much power the solar panels are generating.

The entire solar system may be connected to a solar battery, which will keep energy for you to use at night or when the panels are not collecting as much energy. This is not necessarily needed in order to connect to the grid, but if you are going off-grid, you definitely need batteries to prevent the electricity from stopping in the evenings.

TEST THE PANELS

Now that everything is connected, the power should be turned on and you can see how well the solar panels work. If you have a meter installed on the inverter, you’ll see immediately as the solar energy begins to filter through to your home.

The entire process of installation may take up to three days, depending on the complexity of the system and how many panels are being installed.

Are you interested in green energy? Contact GE National to learn more about green energy options.