Assess Your Options For Using Solar
Purchasing and installing a system that you fully own and maintain is no longer the only option if you want to go solar. Even if you rent your home or don’t want to purchase a rooftop system, there are many programs will enable you to still benefit from solar electricity.
Below are some of the options available for using solar energy at home check with local installers and your utility for programs available in your area.
Purchasing a Solar Energy System
Purchasing a solar energy system with cash or a loan is the best option when you want to maximize the financial benefits of installing solar panels, take advantage of tax credits, and increase the market value of your home, and a solarize program is unavailable or impractical.
The solar installer will connect the system to the grid, and receive an interconnection permit from the utility. When the PV system generates more power than the homeowner requires, the customer is often able to sell excess electricity to the grid, and when the homeowners electricity needs exceeds the capacity of the system, the home draws energy from the grid as usual. Learn more about grid-connected home energy systems.
Purchasing a solar energy system is a good option if one or more of the following apply to you:
Community or Shared Solar
Consider community solar if one or more of the following apply to you:
Learn more about community and shared solar.
Solar Leases
Solar leases are a good option if one or more of the following apply to you:
Calculate Your Power Load
Before getting to the solar installation task, it is crucial to sum up the power that you use at your home. This isnt rocket science. All you have to do is to note down the home appliances that you use on a daily basis, which include television, lights, fan, and so on. Next, add the time for which these appliances run in a day. Go through the specification chart in your household electric appliances to check their usage duration or run time, and their power rating.
Now calculate the Watt-Hour by multiplying the runtime of an appliance with its power rating. Follow this step for each electrical device, then sum up the individual watt-hour numbers to get the grand total. You can also simplify this calculation by using an online off-grid load calculator.
How Can I Install Off Grid Solar System Capacity
Rooftop Solar systems are generally installed on a home’s roof, wall, tin shade, garden, door, etc. There are a few checks to be done before the installation of the solar panel stand, such as longitude and latitude angle, sun direction, wind pressure, wiring connection, area optimization, etc. To give the best installation according to customer needs, an engineer visit must be done.
Loom Solar is a trusted solar panel manufacturer in India when it comes to installation of a solar system. The company has successfully installed solar systems all across India in states like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, etc. Loom Solar has the experience of installing 1 kW, 5kW and 10 kW solar systems. Most of the installations have been done at residences, factories, transportation, hospitals, schools, offices, petrol pump, etc.
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Focus On Quality Rather Than Quantity
Though all solar panels convert the suns energy to electricity that your home can use, theyre not all made to the same high standards. You get what you pay for and lower quality panels will typically cost you less up-front, but youll end up having to replace them more often.
More expensive panels are typically higher quality and will last for decades without getting damaged by the elements.
Its always best to invest in fewer high-quality panels than it is to buy more low-grade panels. Many panels come with a warranty which will cover the cost in the event the panels need to be replaced.
Kits That You Complete Yourself
Pretty much all of the 100-watt solar kits available on Amazon or other online retailers come with the solar panel, charge controller, mounting brackets, and wiring from the panel to the charge controller. After you purchase the kit, youll have to the supply the inverter, battery, fuses, and all additional wiring separately.
These kits are a good compromise between the Goal Zero and hodgepodging your own system together. There are many companies out there making small 100 watt kits, including Renogy, Grape Solar, WindyNation, and Eco-Worthy.
Kits like these typically range from $150 to $300. How much does this set-up cost in total, after adding in the inverter, batteries, and additional wiring? Lets find out!
Heres a quick example of costs to build a solar system with one of these half-kits:
Renogys 100-watt Starter Kit, comes with the solar panel, charge controller, mounting hardware, and some wiring.
Plus extra for additional wiring and fuses.
Adding all this up, our total expense is around $700, just 30% of the cost of the Goal Zero above, which has enjoys prettty much the same specs .
Lets say youve bought all the parts and now you have to put it together. Youre not exactly sure what to do! How do you store and transport your new solar system?
Well, youve got a few options:
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Pro #: Solar Panels Offer A Great Return On Investment
The overall payback period on solar panels is typically between 4-9 years in most states.
The best part is that with a tiny house, this can be achieved with a relatively small investment. A 3kW system, for instance, will cost you just $6,327 .
Learn more: Calculating your solar return on investment
Furthermore, there are many solar financing options available to help with upfront costs, including loans, leases, and power purchase agreements.
The exact cost youll have to pay depends on a few different factors, most important of which is your energy usage. If you consume a lot of electricity, you may need a slightly bigger system, while energy-efficient tiny homes might be fine with a smaller setup.
Calculate your bill savings and ROI on a solar panel purchase
Off Grid Solar System Factors
First and foremost, calculate your load. Figure out the total load of your home. This will determine the power and quality of your off grid solar system. Next, youll want to consider the battery your system will need to store electricity.
There are different types of batteries, and it depends on the appliances youll be running and your power sources. However, these systems will use lead-acid batteries, and a larger system will require a more significant bank.
As part of your solar array, youll need to consider the solar panel. Make sure that youre getting sufficient solar energy, and thats determined by the number of hours the sun is shining on your solar panels.
There are different types of solar panels available, and the most popular is monocrystalline solar panels. These generate the most electricity, but they can be pricey. For smaller loads, amorphous solar panels are a great choice.
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Where Will My Panels Go
With tiny homes, panel placement is a different story than with adding solar to a larger home. And if you plan to take your tiny home on the road, theres even more options!
On the ground
There are a lot of reasons why ground mounted systems are the most popular option when it comes to tiny homes. First, the most obvious: tiny homes have tiny roofs! You can fit two or three panels on the roof of your average tiny home, which wont be enough to cover most peoples energy needs even in a tiny home. With a ground mounted system you can have as many panels as you need.
Ground mounted systems are also great because you can put them wherever you have the space for them. That means you can point them where theyll be the most efficient, and position them to get the most amount of sun based on your property. Theyre also easier to access if you need to brush snow or debris off of them.
On the roof
When most people think of solar, they picture the panels on a roof. Roof mounting is classic and looks cute, but for tiny homeowners, it only makes sense for a small number of folks.
This option is for those who have drastically low solar electricity needs since you can only fit two or three panels on the roof of a tiny home. This option might be for you if you are using solar to supplement another source of electricity, or if you plan to use just enough power to keep your lights on.
On the road
Pro #: Solar Systems Can Be Customized To Your Needs
Solar panel systems are completely modular they can be designed to be as large – or as small – as you need.
This is a major advantage as it addresses whats probably the biggest challenge for tiny homeowners – finding objects that match the limited dimensions of their living space. Many tiny homeowners are familiar with the disappointment when their preferred brands dont offer what they need.
This is not an issue with solar panels. They are modular by nature, which means that you can build a solar panel system with any popular residential solar panel brand by simply reducing the number of panels used compared to a typical home installation. By the same token, its possible to start with a small solar panel system and add to it later.
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Drinking Water From The Sun
The village of Rema in Ethiopia operates a solar pump with a connected water tank. The well is far away from the village, and the water used to have to be piped to the village with a diesel pump. But this was often broken or there was not enough fuel. Since 2016, a solar pump has been supplying water to the 6,000 inhabitants, many of whom also need the water for their fields.
Solar energy around the world: From mini-grids to solar cities
What Are Small Home Solar Systems
Put simply, small home solar systems are solar energy systems that are sized specifically for low-power residential use. While there is no definitive capacity limit, these systems generally have a capacity of 800kW or less, and dont need to be permanently fixed to a roof or building.
This tremendously reduces the logistical and financial barriers to solar energy installation. Additionally, the lower power requirement makes small solar systems an attractive option for those living in apartments or condos where a traditional rooftop system might not be feasible.
Small home solar systems can take a number of different forms: from stand-alone units that generate electricity which is then used by the home, to systems that are integrated into the homes electrical grid and provide power back to the utility company.
The most important thing is that small solar systems are designed to be modular and scalable this means that they can be easily expanded as your energy needs grow .
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Pro #: Solar Panels Will Increase Your Energy Independence
Tiny home dwellers tend to be careful about their consumption patterns, and are eager to be as self-reliant as possible. When it comes to energy consumption, the easiest way to achieve a smaller footprint is by going solar.
Depending on the type of system you choose, solar power can be used to lower your consumption of dirty grid power, provide you backup power during grid outages, and in some cases cut your connection to the grid entirely. In the wake of incidents like the California wildfires and Texas winter blackout in February 2021, backup power and decreasing reliance on the grid are more attractive than ever.
Heres a quick look at the different levels of energy self-reliance you can achieve with solar:
1. Cover most of your daytime usage and export surplus power
With a relatively small grid-tied solar panel system, its possible to generate enough electricity to both cover your entire daytime energy usage and have enough electricity left over to export to the grid . Grid-tied solar systems are both the most affordable type of system, and the most common.
2. Cover most of your day and night usage, plus save some backup power
The next step in energy independence is to add a solar battery to your system. This could be in the form of a lithium battery, lead-acid battery, or even a solar generator . Whatever type you choose, your solar battery bank can either be used to cover part of your nighttime usage and/or store several hours of backup power to cover a grid outage.
Renogy 400 Watt 12 Volt Off Grid Solar Premium Kit
- Charging is weather dependent
You can be in charge on your solar power off-grid system with the help of the Renogy Premium Off-Grid Solar Kit. This solar kit is reliable and efficient, and they can perform the tasks that you want a solar kit to perform.
The kit includes a compact design with a 100W mono off-grid solar panel. The mono solar panel is sleek in design and size, plus it is also sleek in color and weight.
The panels are made from the best solar cells that Renogy has developed, and they are efficient and effective.
Renogy Premium Solar Kit includes a Rover MPPT Solar Charge Controller that has a power tracking technology that can increase your solar panel charging power.
The best off grid power systems also include mounting brackets, an adaptor kit, and a fusing component for the controller, a tray cable, and battery protection.
A Bluetooth power module is also included in the kit that allows you to monitor the parameter changes remotely and directly through the application called Renogy BT.
You can install this premium kit works on a boat, an RV, or even when you go camping. It can be installed in the ground with a mounting system or through a campsite off-grid.
The main purpose of this kit is to monitor and recharge a battery bank with 12-volts. Although you cant run your direct current loads off the solar panel or the charge controller, you can run it by connecting your direct current loads to the battery bank.
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Do Solar Panels Increase The Value Of Your Home
Solar panels can increase the value of your home as they make your house more energy-efficient. This is one of the home improvements that make your home more attractive to potential buyers, as the new owners can enjoy the same benefits of reduced electricity bills.
Naturally, the size of the solar panel system will affect just how much the value will increase, and bear in mind that different families will have different energy expenditure habits. That means that one system may be adequate for some families and inadequate for others.
For some buyers, solar panels are not a valuable addition to a home, so it does depend on personal preference.
Small Solar Power Systems Can Charge Your Gadgets While Traveling
Are you drawn to the convenience of solar panels? Does the idea of taking a solar panel with you when you go camping, tailgating, or traveling to charge up all your gadgetry whenever you want appeal to you? If youve thought about buying a small solar power system but dont know exactly where to start, weve got you covered!
This article isnt about solar designed to power a house or cabin. Were also not talking about tiny solar panels that can only charge your phone when the sun is out. You know the ones those little solar panels you can clip to your backpack.
No, were talking about a solar system right in between those two. Systems that are small and portable, but have a battery and can charge your phone, run your lights, and charge your laptop indefinitely. Maybe you want to connect it to your RV or have an easy setup for your power supply while youre out tailgating.
Whatever youre going to do with your solar system, youve got a myriad of options available. You can buy premade kits that are convenient but expensive. There are semi-kits that youll need to add on to. Lastly, theres full-on DIY for the handy ones out there. We look at them all below. Take your pick!
, take a look at our article What are the Best Solar Panel Kits? For info on house-sized off-grid systems, read over The Basics of Off-Grid Solar.)
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Rating Of Charge Controller:
Since our system is rated at 12V, the charge controller is also 12V.
Current rating = Power output of Panels / Voltage = 125 W / 12V = 10.4 A
So choose a Charge Controller of 12 V and more than 10.4 A.
If you like to reduce your system cost you can make your own PWM charge controller. For step by step instructions you can see my instructable on building a PWM Charge Controller.
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Choosing Your Charge Controller
For any battery-backed DIY solar panel system, choosing a PWM charge controller, rather than a MPPT, will be less efficient, but more cost effective. To calculate the proper size for your charge controller, simply divide the solar wattage by the battery voltage. Again, leaving some room for error, in this instance, a 20A charge controller will work well .
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Small Solar Panel Kits
The Inverter Stores small solar system kits are the perfect choice for your small, temporary or experimental setup. These tiny solar panel kits and flexible solar panel sets are ideal for generating clean power in less energy-heavy environments and for small amounts of additional power in the case of emergencies or to power small appliances. For example, our mini portable solar panel kits can be employed while youre camping, backpacking or if you need quick-setup solar power in your boat, RV or vehicle. We also have small solar panel bundles for permanent applications, which are wonderful for smaller cabins, homes and lodges that are off the grid. As usual, you can expect top-notch quality on AIMS Power solar equipment from The Inverter Store.
The micro solar power kits that we offer at The Inverter Store range from small solar kits with battery to full sets of solar panels both rigid and flexible. Among our collection of prepared solar panel kits for sale, you can find a variety of included tools and electronics, ranging from charge controllers and lithium batteries to mini solar inverter kits and disconnect switches. If youd like more information about what solar system kit is right for you, contact our technical support and one of our experts will assist you. Whether youd like to know how a product functions or if youd like help understanding how to quantify your exact needs for your project, help is just a phone call way.
The Best Solar Panel Bundles
