Generating your own free solar power sounds extremely complicated. At the same time, you know that generating power this way is an environmentally-friendly thing to do. Your interest in off-grid solar systems is justified – and so is your desire to learn more about it. We here at Peak Services want to help you transfer your home to an off-grid solar system, which is why we have composed a starter guide that is supposed to get you on the right path.
First things first – is going off the grid the right call?
This call is a highly personal one, as it depends on what you want and what you are comfortable with. Many people will find going off the grid too intense, while others will wonder why they haven’t done it before. And while we can’t tell you whether you should go ahead and do it, we can provide you with a couple of pros of making this decision.
Harvesting solar energy is one of the best things you can do for your home – and the environment.
To start with, going off the grid is an environmentally-friendly thing to do. Using solar power is one of the best ways to protect the environment and reduce your carbon footprint. And while many people believe that solar panels are an expensive investment, they actually pay off in the long run. Sure enough, you’ll have to invest every once in a while in things like solar panel bird proofing but, other than that, you will have no additional expenses.
Secondly, by going off-grid, you stop being dependent on all electricity retailers. That means that you won’t be affected by any electricity blackouts and power outages. This also means that you will be protected from rising electricity costs, as you will have nothing to do with any retailers. However, we have to admit that there is a small downside to this – you will have to depend only on yourself. This means that if there is a malfunction with your equipment, you won’t be able to call anyone to your aid. It’s all about weighing the pros and cons of this decision and making the best call for yourself.
Determine your needs before getting started
Planning is the most important component of every endeavor. It allows you to make a solid budget, create a timetable, and be more efficient. Take something as simple as your roof maintenance into consideration. You need to decide when is the right time to clean your roof and gutters, when is the time to invest in pigeon control Summerlin NV services, and ultimately plan when you want to replace your roof. We know, it can be scary, but it helps you get your finances in check. It should be no different if planning to invest in an off-grid solar system.
So, what should you determine? For starters, decide how much energy you are going to need. Secondly, try to determine how your needs might change throughout the year and seasons. And if you think that your needs might change down the line, try to find a solution that could provide some room for alteration. Truth be told, renewable energy systems are very variable and at times unpredictable. But hey, considering how great they are for the environment and the ones using them, they have the right to have that one little glitch.
Planning includes much more than just budget calculations. It also concerns future predictions.
Off-grid solar systems – how do they work?
Oftentimes referred to as Stand-alone power systems (SAPS), they work by generating electricity from solar panels. You knew that part. This electricity is then used to charge a solar battery via a charger controller. So far so good, but it’s not that simple. The electricity produced this way will then be converted by using an inverter, which allows it to power your home, business area, or business appliances.
Now, what’s the biggest advantage of off-grid solar systems, you ask? Since you can store the electricity in a solar battery, you can run your home exclusively from solar energy. That means that you will have power even at night time when there is no sun exposure. Thus, you will be able to have complete independence and, apart from some residential solar panel cleaning services every now and then, you won’t have to invest any additional work in your panels. If you are one of those people who like their free time to remain, well, free, then this will be it.
The components that an off-grid solar system needs
An average home doesn’t need all that much equipment in order to have a functioning off-grid solar system. The good news is that this system won’t require comprehensive equipment. Of course, depending on your needs and the scale of your solar power system set-up, you can invest in additional equipment. But if you just want to get started, for now, you are going to need three different components.
Solar panels
Let’s begin with the most obvious one, shall we? You knew this had to be quite an important piece, as the name itself suggests it. There are a variety of different solar panels on the market, and which one will work best for your property mostly depends on the usable space of your roof and how much sun exposure your home has.
Purchasing suitable solar panels will be the first step toward a functioning off-grid solar system.
Roofs, in general, are an important structure in a home. They provide shelter and are also the first point of contact with the outside elements. That’s why it’s important to maintain this part of your home. It’s suggested that you invest in roof cleaning Las Vegas services as a part of your annual or bi-annual household upkeep. Sometimes, it’s necessary to spend a bit of money just to save money in the long run. Considering the cost of a new roof or solar panels, you get why you will need to worry about maintenance.
Solar batteries
Now, we assume that you want your home to have power even after the sun goes down. Hey, hot water and electricity aren’t limited to daytime activities only. To ensure that your entire home has electricity at all hours of day and night, the second piece of equipment you need is solar batteries.
The exact mechanism in which these batteries work is a very simple one. Throughout the day when there are a lot of sun rays, the solar batteries are going to be charging. Once the sun sets, you will still have available solar power because of all the power the batteries have accumulated. When you think about it, they are one of the most efficient solutions your home can have. They make sure that you use up your investment to the fullest, ensuring that every dollar you have spent on solar panels is well worth it. Keep in mind that you can have one battery or a few of them – it completely depends on what you need.
The batteries also require a charger that will control the voltage that your batteries receive, thus preventing the battery from overheating and sustaining any damage. Come to think about it, they work just like a regular charger and phone, so you can use that relationship to understand how the solar panel charger and batteries actually work.
All of your household appliances are going to draw power from your panels.
Solar inverter
Perhaps you need us to tell you that the entire name for this piece of equipment is a solar converter to give you a better idea of what it is used for. Put simply, this piece is going to ensure that all the solar power collected by your panels gets converted into the power needed for your household electronics to function. We are talking about stoves, TVs, refrigerators, you name it. Now, for your off-grid solar system, you will need one particular kind of inverter – a stand-alone. Of course, you are free to look into other options, as well.
The bottom line
Are you still on the fence about investing in off-grid solar systems? Well, then you have some thinking and planning to do. It is a general rule of thumb to do some comprehensive research if you are in doubt about whether you should do something or not. Our opinion is that solar panels always pay off in the long run, even though they might require a bit of an investment in the beginning. Should you decide to go through with the option of solar power, know that our team is always at your disposal for maintenance. One phone call is enough to keep your panels clean and durable.
