Ideas for the Best Solar Panel for your Needs

There are numerous types of Solar panels out there and I'm sure one will surely fit your needs. Whether you are looking  to be completely independent and off grid or just to supplement your power source or what is commonly called a grid tie in, there will be a few things that you may need to consider before you start your purchase.

Things to consider:

Location

Energy need and usage

Budget

First thing, talk to a Professional.

Talk to a professional, take notes and do your research. It would be advisable that you talk to a professional regarding purchasing your solar panel. Most Solar panel providers or companies will be more than willing to help you on your queries. They will give you proper advice on how many solar panels you may need to purchase depending on how you plan to use it.

There are three types of solar cells:

      1.   Thin film which if flexible and can be molded. These are the most affordable however                 inefficient types.

2.      Polycrystalline Solar cells are far more commonly used, they are of lesser efficiency than the Monocrystalline cells so you may require more panels of this, if space is not an issue you will most like choose this type of solar cell.

3.      Monocrystalline cells are the most efficient at converting the sun's power it's efficient because it works well even when the sunlight is weak. So, if you have space issues this are the panels for you, however due to its nature these cells are more expensive.

Talk to an electrical engineer to get know how’s and help you on the purchase and installation.

If you are looking to fully supply your house or business with solar energy, chances are you might need a stand-alone system. These are more typically placed on open grounds and rooftops, areas where there will be no shading and maximum exposure to the sun.

There are also several types of stand-alone systems. There are the fixed tracks which hold panels at angle equivalent to an installation’s latitude are common. Trackers which track or sense the direction of the sun and tilt the panels to ensure maximum exposure to the sun, however these comes in at extra cost and more maintenance as there are moving parts. There are also the ground mounted or roof mounted which are more common for residential areas.

As you can see there are several than you can choose from and it really depends on your needs on which ones will work for you? You may need the flexibility of thin films, the reliability and cost effectiveness of the polycrystalline or the efficiency of the monocrystalline cells.