Installing solar panels for home is definitely one step towards minimizing your energy expenditure, but does that ensure you are getting the best out of your solar panels. Well, not really. To maximize the output of your solar panels for home, you need to follow a few guidelines at the time of installation of your solar panels for home. While the responsibility of installing the solar panels and ensuring maximum output lies with the installation experts, it is still recommended that you have a basic understanding of what factors impact the output of solar panels for homes. Continuing the discussion forward, here are a few prerequisites to maximize the output of your solar panels for home. Let’s take a look.
1. Number of solar panels
The first thing that determines the output of a solar panel for a home is the number of solar panels. The higher the number of solar panels, the higher the output. A general Rule of Thumb is that for every KW of output, one needs to install 3 solar panels of 330W each, and the roof space for installing the solar panels is around 100 square feet. In case you don’t have enough roof space, you need to install solar panels with better efficiency as they occupy less space but generate higher output.
2. Measures to countershading issues
The amount of energy generated by a solar panel is directly proportional to the amount of solar energy it receives from the Sun. Though the solar energy produced is enough to ensure that solar panels deliver their maximum output, sometimes the solar panels do not receive enough energy due to shading issues. So it is important to ensure that your roof has fewer trees and buildings that block the sunlight from reaching your solar panels. In case there are any buildings or trees near your roof then install your solar panels on an elevated structure to minimize shading issues.
3. The direction of solar panels
The direction in which solar panels are installed also has a major impact on the output produced and so it is important to install them in a direction where they receive maximum sunlight. Countries like India that lie in the Northern hemisphere receive sunlight in the southern direction. So it is advisable to install the solar panels in the south direction. To find out the direction of your house, you can use a compass.
4. Tilt Angle or the Installation Angle
The tilt angle of the solar panel is an important factor to consider when installing a solar panel. It is defined as the angle between the solar panel and the roof surface. The tilt angle varies from location to location. While the tilt angle range of Indian states varies around 10 to 35 degrees, India can be divided into four zones based on the tilt angle range. Here’s a reference map by Luminous India that shows the 4 zones with states and tilt angles.
Zone 1 – J&K, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand – 30-35 degrees
Zone 2 – UP, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana – 24-30 degrees
Zone 3 – Gujarat, MP, Jharkhand, WB, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa – 18-24 degrees
Zone 4 – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala – 12-18 degrees
Wrap Up
As mentioned earlier, it’s always good to have a basic understanding of the prerequisites for installing solar panels for homes. Besides that, you also need to buy from reputable solar panels for a home brand that offers quality products, reasonable prices, and generous warranties. The best thing is that they have excellent teams of solar panel experts that will not just guide you in choosing the right solar panel system for your home but will also ensure the proper installation of your solar panels for your home.