Solar panels are rising in popularity as clean green renewable, and cost-effective power. However, making the most of it and ensuring you get maximum power from your panels is all about optimization.
Making the right adjustments to suit your power needs is simple if you follow the advice of the experts. Here are some essential tips shared by solar power experts on how you can maximize solar energy in your home;
Cleaning Solar Panels
In order to optimize the use of your home solar panels, you must know the proper management of the panels. Solar panels need to be cleaned every 6-12 months, depending on your home’s location. Dirty panels will disallow for optimal energy use! Because the sun only shines in the daylight, solar panels are most efficient during the day. Charge your devices during this time instead of overnight!
Leonard Ang, CEO iPropertyManagement
Do Not Use More Than One Device At A Time And Carry Extra Batteries
The efficiency of solar energy is determined not only by the capacity of the system but also by the power consumption of the family. Moderate power use improves overall efficiency, while a backup battery can extend it into the night and offer autonomy when needed.
While overall consumption will still be determined by the use of individual devices, utilizing one device at a time may help keep consumption low. Vacuum cleaners and dishwashers, as well as hair dryers and electric razors, should not be used at the same time.
Similarly, avoiding utilizing gadgets like TVs until you have time to devote to them may be helpful. Some of the above-listed solar-powered devices and systems also have backup batteries. Using them at night may help to reduce overall usage while also providing autonomy in the event of an emergency.
Steven Emerson, Technical Expert Mobile Biponi
Buy One Of The Most Efficient Solar Models
Solar panels are usually made up of photovoltaic cells, which further convert solar energy into usable electricity. And less efficient solar panel models are not able to convert all the sunlight into electricity. So make sure you buy the most efficient one.
Avoid Putting It Into Shady Areas
You should never install a solar panel in shady areas. It works best if it is placed on a rooftop because it gets direct sunlight. So check the location before installing a solar panel because the shade can affect the output of your solar panel model.
Adam Rowles, Reduce Power Bills
Solar Roofs
Solar roofs achieve two objectives: maximum solar energy generation and a beautiful aesthetic. Solar roofs employ all productive roof surface area and cover a greater percentage of the roof as compared to conventional panels, often allowing fully integrated solar roofs to generate energy beyond the homeowner’s needs.
Though solar roofs have a similar output to standard rack-mounted panels, each individual solar shingle is smaller, allowing them to be strategically placed to capture the maximum amount of sunlight. Solar roofs also allow homeowners to have a beautiful, uninterrupted aesthetic making solar a more acceptable option for those who prefer not to —or cannot— install traditional panels on their house.
Jessie Schiavone, SunStyle CEO
Get The Right Angle
Homes have already started turning towards solar panels as a way to contribute help to the environment. One way to maximize solar energy effectiveness is by ensuring that the solar panels are properly installed and are placed at a right angle.
It is essential to ensure that they get as much exposure to the sun as possible, so it can make an extreme difference in how much the solar panels can absorb energy throughout the day. In addition, the solar panels’ angle can also affect their long-term efficiency. It is usually recommended to have the angle tilted 28°–30°.
Factors like this are essential to make the best use of solar energy at home. It is important to remember that the more sun that strikes the surface of the panels, the more energy they produce, and the more optimal the performance they will offer.
Sam Perez, Digital Marketing Associate Solaric Corporation
Get A Battery For Storage
The first step to maximizing your solar power is to purchase a battery for storage. If you don’t have a way to store the power, you’ll only be able to use the solar energy while the sun is providing it. A battery can hold the excess solar power that you don’t use during the day so that you can draw from that when it’s dark out.
Spread Out Your Electrical Draw
Another important way you can maximize your solar energy is to spread out your electrical draw. Instead of running the microwave, dishwasher, and dryer at the same time, run one at a time so that you won’t have to tap into your electricity. If you don’t overdraw your solar energy at one time but instead spread it out, you can use solar energy to accomplish more of your day-to-day tasks.
Melanie Musson is a Home Solar Power Expert with Clearsurance.com
Chase The Sun
It’s no secret that the position of your solar panels, as well as your house location, will directly affect the amount of solar energy harvested by solar panels. The ideal scenario is to have a south-facing roof with unlimited sunshine throughout the day. In other words, before going solar, plan ahead of the positioning of the panels, and in case your roof is partially shaded, consider installing ground-mounted panels.
Choose The Right Inverter
A good investment to improve your panels is adding micro inverters. These are installed on each panel, and it will make sure that even if one panel is covered by shade, the others will still produce energy. If your system is off-grid and you use a battery, you will need the battery-based inverter that will convert the solar energy stored in the battery as needed.
Monitor The Battery
The same way as smartphones and most batteries, solar panel batteries don’t last forever. The average lifespan of the battery is between 5 to 11 years. Installing a battery monitor is a way to track the battery’s health, so you know you are getting the most from it.
Stefania Filizola is a Design Editor at Fixr.com
