Choosing the Best Solar Panel
A long as your home has adequate roof space and the correct orientation to the sun, a solar power system could provide all of the electricity for your home. Because of a problem with one or the other of these requirements, many homeowners who would otherwise be interested in solar power have not been able to take advantage of the technology. This meant that the solar panels may not have produced enough energy to justify the cost of installation. Improvements in solar panel technology in recent years should give hope to these homeowners, as modern panels are more efficient than older versions and are also more tolerant of sunlight that is hitting them at a steeper angle. Combining the solar panel with a 12 volt battery and charge controller is the most common application, making a 12 volt solar charger.
These modern solar panels are better than those in the past because of improved technology and more advanced manufacturing techniques. The solar cells used in these solar panels have improved in several ways and offer consumers better electricity generation than solar cells available even a few years ago. The primary advantage of the newer solar panels is that they can generate more electricity from less sunlight. This is good for homeowners since it means that they are more effective for longer portions of the day. Older panels had a limited range of operation during the day and needed the sun to hit them directly. During the early morning and and late afternoon these older panels would produce little to no electricity. They were also intermittent on cloudy or rainy days since even though the sun was shining, it may not have been bright enough for the panels to generate power. These newer panels will help many homeowners justify the cost of installing a solar power system because they will produce more electricity in all levels of sunlight. This can also be good news for people who have homes with less than perfect alignment with the sun.
Another benefit of these newer solar panels is that the average home will need fewer of them to generate enough energy to eliminate their electric bill. The cost for the system will also be less because fewer panels will be used. This can make a big different for people with limited roof space. If you’re interested in how much energy you’ll need solar panels to generate for your house, take a look at Solar Panel Calculator.
The newer solar panels also will also last significantly longer. Older panels would last 10 to 15 years in a moderate climate before they needed to be replaced. During that time they would generate their peak power for the first 10 years or so and then slowly degrade to the point of needing replacement. This was because as the solar cells aged, they would fail one by one. The collection of solar cells would generate less and less energy as more and more of its cells failed. Because these newer solar cells are far more durable, they will last longer than the older versions and also generate more energy for longer as well. This makes the investment in solar power technology an even better choice for the homeowner as they will enjoy the benefits of solar power for many more years. A great way to save on the cost of solar panels is by building your own home built solar panel.
