Understanding the Truth About Solar

There are many things to consider before deciding whether to buy solar panels for your home. Knowing your specific circumstances, such as the age of your roof, and the solar rooftop potential of your home, which is dependent on your geographic location, how much shade you get, and the photovoltaic (PV) system you choose, can help you make better solar decisions.

Misconceptions about solar systems, such as whether they function during stormy seasons, or whether they are efficient enough to meet your home’s energy needs, may delay your choice. You may be thinking, are solar panels worth it? The truth is, solar can be a fantastic addition to anyone’s home and when planned strategically, the system can perform beyond expectations.

Solar Energy Rain or Shine?

Because some sunlight reaches the ground even on rainy and snowy days, solar technology may be used in almost every situation. Believe it or not, but heat, can sometimes interfere with the conversion of sunlight into power, therefore solar panels in cold, sunny climates characteristically function best.

However, if you happen to live someplace cloudy, investing in the right technology, like a system that uses microinverters, will ensure you get the most power from your system. This type of inverter is the most efficient and technologically advanced on the market. Whether you live in good or bad conditions, microinverters will still allow the system to produce the most energy when compared to other types of inverters. These tools also make it possible to screen the performance of individual panels to identify the cause of any production issues.

Are Solar Panels 100% Efficient?

The world-record for efficiency of a solar cell at room temperature under regular sunlight is 39%. Using these cells, however, would be too expensive for a typical household solar project to be cost-effective. In the past 20 years, standard module efficiency has increased from around 13% to over 20%. The reason this is not closer to 100% is because sometimes sunlight will bounce off or convert to heat rather than electricity. Also, solar cell materials do not normally absorb the different forms of light that make up sunshine, such as infrared.

The sun, however, generates a tremendous quantity of energy. In about 90 minutes the sun creates more power than the entire planet consumes in a year. Standard PV panels are therefore able to provide plenty of power to meet a typical household's demands with no issues, and at a cost that is comparable to or less than that of grid electricity.

Ready to Go Solar?

If you have been interested in switching to solar generated power for your home, then you should consider a DIY project. Not only would you save money on your electric bill each month, but you can also cut costs by doing the installation yourself. Start your project with DIY Solar Power or reach out to one of our experts with your questions. All of our equipment is top-of-the-line to ensure your system performs efficiently.

For more industry news and updates, be sure to follow DIY Solar Power on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To get your home solar project started, Build Your System now and review your fast quote.