While installing solar panels for home is a great way to harness the Sun’s energy, it is also important to ensure that the solar panels give the best bang for your buck. In other words, it is important to ensure that the solar panels are highly efficient. This in turn will help you get the maximum output from your solar panels. Continuing on the subject, here are our top six tips for maximizing the electrical output of your solar panels for home.
1. Make sure the solar panels are not installed in shaded areas
As we know, solar panels generate electricity using solar. Shading due to any reason whatsoever impacts the electricity output of the solar panels. In fact, shading of a single photovoltaic cell can impact the energy generated by its neighboring cells. It is, therefore, important to ensure that there are no tall trees and other buildings near the solar panels. And if there are any buildings around your roof then you can have the solar panels installed on heighted mountings to avoid shading issues and ensure maximum efficiency.
2. Hire the services of a solar panel expert to install the solar panels
Installation plays a big role in the overall efficiency of a solar panel system. If not installed correctly, solar panels won’t receive optimal amounts of sunlight and will thus generate less energy. When installing panels the orientation and the angle of the solar panels is a critical factor to consider. According to experts, for maximum sunlight exposure, solar panels should sit at an angle between 18 degrees to 36 degrees. Solar panels installed in the northern hemisphere should be orientated towards the south and vice versa.
3. Clean your solar panels regularly.
Though solar panels require very little maintenance, it’s advisable to clean your solar panels occasionally to get rid of the dust, dirt, and debris that can accumulate on their surface, thereby reducing their efficiency. Depending on what region you stay in and how often it rains in that area is an important factor that will help you determine how often you should clean your solar panels. Typically, the dust and dirt cause a 5% decline in output. But in areas with scanty rainfall, the solar panels may get very dirty reducing the efficiency by around 20%. It is, therefore, advisable to have your solar panels cleaned at least once a year.
4. Keep a tab on your solar panel output.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is that they don’t monitor the performance of their solar panels. And as a result, each time there’s an efficiency drop, it goes unnoticed. One, however, can easily track the output of their solar panels using an energy management software. In case, there’s an unexpected drop in output, schedule an expert visit and have the solar panels checked. The amount you would pay for the expert’s visit would be far less than the amount you otherwise lose when your solar panels don’t work efficiently.
Just as Important
Besides the above mentioned points, you must also ensure that you buy a high quality solar panel from a reputable brand such as Luminous India, the market leader in solar solutions. Depending on the level of efficiency you are looking to achieve, you can choose between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels. Monocrystalline solar panels are more expensive as compared to polycrystalline but they offer better efficiency and are ideal for areas where shading issues due to clouds and other reasons are common. But no matter how expensive they are as compared to polycrystalline, you can be rest assured that Luminous India offers one of the most competitive prices in the solar solutions space in India.
