Before you take the leap to invest in a home solar system, consider all the factors that could improve your experience. Each home and person is different, meaning that your solar system experience will be unique compared to your neighbour, family member or friend.
Proper planning for your solar system ensures that you invest in the most optimal system for you and your home. This will also help with avoiding unplanned issues during the installation process.
We’ve collated some of the most important solar system factors to consider prior to purchase to make sure your solar experience is as smooth as possible.
Which Type of Solar Panel Should You Choose?
There are many different types of solar panels to choose from and having so many choices can be overwhelming!
The performance of your system depends on the type of solar panels you choose and their suitability for your roof, home location and budget. Without expert experience, you’ll be left at a disadvantage when deciding on a type to go with.
We always recommend purchasing your solar panels with a reputable Australian provider to ensure top quality and performance, but there are also a number of types to consider in the field:
Monocrystalline Panels
- Great for converting sunlight into usable electricity
- Efficient
- Space savers that don’t require large roof space
Polycrystalline Panels
- Generate lower heat resistance compared to monocrystalline
- Requires large roof space
Thin-film Panels
- Low cost
- Requires a lot of roof space
Where Should I Place My Solar Panels?
Now that you’ve chosen your solar panel type, it’s time to think about location and your roof. Before making a purchase, make sure you’ve considered the shape, condition, weight capacity and warranty status of your roof. Considering your solar panel investment relies on the ability of your roof to carry them, this should be one of your first considerations.
As well as this, it’s important to consider the placement of the panels on your roof. Positioning is a factor that can impact the function of your solar system by providing it with more or less sun. In order to produce maximum energy, direction and angle need to be considered:
Direction
- Northern hemisphere – place your panels facing true South
- Southern hemisphere – face your panels true north
- East and West facing panels will produce less energy
Angle
- Tilt the solar panels by optimising their tilting angles
- Increases efficiency and output
How Do I Figure Out How Many Panels I Need?
Like we mentioned, every home and person is different and all require different solar needs. A typical solar panel will produce 300 watts/hour. It’s important to make note of how much energy you typically use as a household to calculate how many panels you’ll need to run effectively.
To determine this, check out your past electric bills and multiply your household’s peak energy usage by peak sunlight hours for your region. Divide that number by the panel’s wattage and you’ll have an average energy requirement to share with your installation company.
Who Should I Choose For My Installation?
While we’re biassed and we’d love to say choose Powersmart Solutions – there are a number of important factors to consider when choosing a company to complete your solar system installation.
Length of Project
- A small scale project should be a quick process (days) and require less manpower
- A large scale project will be more costly and could take weeks to months
Warranty Options
- Warranty should always be a factor considered
- Analyse the company’s warranty offering before agreeing to work
Accreditations and reviews
- Solar systems should only be installed by accredited professionals with industry experience
- Always check reviews for initial installation, but also for the ongoing performance of the team and panels
Overall…
There’s a lot to consider before going ahead with a solar system purchase in order to ensure you get the most out of your investment. At Powersmart Solutions, we love being part of the process from start to finish and helping you make those tough choices. Once you’ve got your ducks in a row, you’ll be ready to start using the most cost-effective and reliable source of clean energy in Australia.
