Know All About Solar Panels before Buying Yours!

Being a responsible citizen, a small contribution to a greener planet may bring big changes, you should surely check out solar panels for the same. You should consider a few tips before purchasing a solar panel to maximize its utility. Consider using the best solar panels as they are the future. They will ensure to reduce the consumption of other energy providers and pave the way for the use of sustainable resources. By using solar panels, you will save the rising energy bills each month and contribute towards greener alternatives. Since it is a capital expenditure, check the quality, solar panel price, and performance. For better understanding, let us understand more about solar panels.

Solar Panel Price:

Solar panels are developed with unique technology, and their prices are determined based on capacity and technology variant. In the case of monocrystalline panels, they are 5 to 10 % costlier than polycrystalline panels because they are more efficient. Solar panels are priced in terms of per-watt price that is the standard price. The price starts from Rs. 34 per watt for 40 ~ 380 watts of the panel. Cost varies as per the rating and efficiency of the solar panel.

Types of Solar Panels:

Solar panels are bought as a long-term investment and it is a capital expenditure. So make sure to buy the best solar panel considering all the features they offer. For home installations, the top names are SunPower, LG, REC, Panasonic, Silfab because of their high efficiency, competitive pricing, durability, reliability with premium protection, and fair prices. In most cases, monocrystalline solar cells are considered to be at the top. Other factors that can be considered while evaluating solar panels are the temperature coefficient that measures how much or little a panel’s production is lowered in hot temperatures, material warranty for failure against environmental factors, or manufacturing defects.

Small Solar Panels:

While most solar panels require a lot of space on your rooftop and can be quite difficult to handle, there are small solar panels that can be used in various ways. Some of them are as a phone charger, for RVs during camping, small off-grid solar projects on portable energy appliances. They have low resistance compared to the rest reducing the efficiency to 10%. They will function as per the amount of sunlight they receive. There are two types of solar panels- low-wattage solar panels and portable solar gadgets. Low wattage solar panels are installed at roof-tops and are a great solution for small-scale electricity generation projects. Portable solar gadgets are generally handheld or foldable for easy transportation and use.

Things to know before purchasing a solar panel:

Since you will be making a long-term investment, it becomes quite essential in analyzing all the points before buying a solar panel for your use. Here is a list of 10 tips to be considered before buying a solar panel.

• Maintain your roof in good condition:

Since solar panels are quite durable and since they are installed on your rooftops, make sure that they are in a good condition.

• Install it where you reside permanently:

As solar panels are used for a longer duration, you need to carefully plan if you would be staying or using that premises for a longer period or move to another place sooner or later. This can impact your decision-making.

• Suitability of your home and its direction:

You need to look into a few indicators before buying a solar panel. It would not be a wise decision to buy one if your home is surrounded by dense trees or skyscrapers as they can obstruct the sunlight from harnessing energy. You also need to look into your roof direction for the best possible use of a solar panel.

• Warranties and contractors:

Warranties will help your panel to repair without any additional cost, and having good contractors helps in need of any emergency.

• Maintenance is a priority:

Since the solar panel is durable for a longer time frame, make sure to keep its maintenance top-notch for better performance and lesser breakdowns.

• Requirement:

Different panels are used according to their place and utility. A residential place and a commercial unit will need different types of solar panels. So make sure you select an apt one.

• Brand:

Make sure to reach out for good brands like a luminous solar panel, loom solar panel, waaree solar panel, ult solar panel, and Adani solar panel for reliability and quality.

• Efficiency and power output:

It is better to buy a solar panel with higher efficiency and power for better performance.

• Cost-benefit analysis:

After analyzing the efficiency and power consumption, you can determine the number of panels based on your power consumption. This will help in determining the overall cost-benefit analysis of the solar panel.

Solar Panels: FAQs

Which type of solar panel is the best?

A. For selecting the best solar panel, certain factors like the purpose, installation, and performance need to be taken into consideration.

For residential properties with large roof space, the polycrystalline solar panel would be the best. They are cost-efficient for large spaces and provide efficiency and power.

For residential properties with small spaces, monocrystalline solar panels would be the best choice. They help in maximizing energy bills in a small space.

Thus for residential purposes, polycrystalline solar panels and monocrystalline solar panels are the best fit.

Thin-film solar panels are used for commercial buildings that can handle the additional height of traditional panels. They cannot be used in residential space because of lower efficiency. Though they are of low efficiency, commercial places can have more spaces to cover more roofs with panels.

Q. How many solar panels are needed to run a house?

A. With an average monthly consumption of electricity of 1000kWh, 26-30 solar panels will be required.

Q. How much electricity does a solar panel produce?

A. The production of electricity by a solar panel depends on the sunlight exposure to the panel. If a home solar panel is exposed to direct sunlight, it can produce 300 watts in an hour. That means, if 10 hours of direct sunlight during summers, it can produce 3000 watts or 3kWh per day.