If your home electric appliances are organs, then the solar panel is the heart. It powers the whole house by using what plants use - sunlight! Solar panels work for decades without much maintenance. You no longer need to depend on state-manufactured electricity, bills, or power cuts. A simple, sleek machine now can look after all your electricity needs.
Such an important instrument needs careful planning and correct care. This will make the heart of your house robust. Here are the things you should know for helping your solar panel operate in the best way possible:
A monocrystalline solar cell has a single silicon crystal while polycrystalline has multiple. The former produces 6.93 watts per square foot more energy than the latter. A monocrystalline cell allows for better electron movement as only a single crystal exists. Multiple crystals decelerate movement, thus producing lesser energy. It is advisable to carefully browse through the monocrystalline options in the market.
An on-grid solar PV system means you will need battery storage and a back-up generator to help with the hard days. Sometimes, your solar panel may store more energy than you need. In such cases, you can transfer it to a battery storage unit for later use. But if it's not a lithium battery, overcharging may lead to the release of hydrogen gas which is lethal. Also, if you need more than what the solar panel can produce, you may need a generator. It is better to invest in an on-grid solar panel as you can wire the extra energy to the state and receive a reimbursement (this is called feed-in-tariff) for the current you supply. If in case you fall short, you can ask the government to look after the extra supply for a fee. This process is called net metering.
Debris blocks sunlight and prevents the PV cells from reacting. Make sure that the glass pane is always clear of dirt. Dirt can lower functioning by 10%. Do not be afraid of the rains, the water is useful for keeping the panels clean and smooth.
Though India is sunny, it is also very warm. In hot temperatures (31 deg. Celsius +), the production of electricity by solar panels drops by 30 percent of their rated energy output. We suggest keeping the inverter and other parts in shade, choosing reflective material, raising the panel a few inches from the ground for air circulation, and spraying water as it reduces the temperature by 8 degrees. These are great ways to reduce the temperature. We believe that the backsheet of the panel should be researched carefully as it insulates the solar cells from heat.
Old flooring may not sustain the weight of the solar panel. Once installed, it is difficult to renovate in the future as it means reinstalling the solar panels. That's expensive! This precaution will keep solar panels working for 25 years and more! Additionally, it is crucial to check how much weight the roof can bear.
Make sure the panel is not under the shade of any structure like buildings, trees, or utility poles.
Slope the roof by 10 -- 30 degrees as this helps water run off the panel. Or you can erect the panel in the northern direction for optimal use.
Each silicon cell generates 0.5 V. There are about 36 -- 72 cells in one panel. Please calculate how much energy you consume on average per day and decide on how many panels you will require.
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