How to install a solar panel at home?

Do you wish to switch to solar energy source and reduce your electricity consumption as soon as possible? Are you hesitant to shift to solar panels because of high installation cost? Well it definitely is a long term saving if you successfully manage to install a solar panel for your home. However, you can save the installation cost if you do some research and buy your own kit to do it yourself. This would help you save around 40-50% of the installation cost.

One important thing you should know about solar energy systems is that they should use latest technology like micro-inverter. This system helps in saving and reserving more energy with each PV having its own grid tied inverter. You can easily install such solar panels on your own and they are less sensitive to shading and flexible to start small. You can increase the size of the system as your budget and affordability increase.

A grid tied system is more cost effective than an off grid system because you do not have to buy expensive batteries. You also do not have to worry about changing or replacing the batteries after a certain time. You have a choice to install a system depending upon your affordability. You can even choose to have a smaller system that generates a part of your electricity consumption. One thing about these systems is that they do not operate if the power grid is down.

Planning your solar panel installation

Before you think about the installation or buy a system, it is important that you plan everything. You have to evaluate different options and get the permit from your local utility station. They might have some building codes or rules that you should abide by in order to install and plan your paper. You should know about the rules and local obligations to avoid any issues later

You can find a reliable person from the utility department and get the details from him about the installation and permits. Usually they are helpful and will assist you in in installing your home based solar panel. Solar panels are comparatively new in Pakistan for residential use so you would have to know your choices. The permit costs are affordable and it does not take much time to get a permit

You should also be careful about the size of the solar panel you are going to install. In a grid tied system, size does not matter a lot because the grid will supply power when your photovoltaic system does not have enough supply. Most of the people rely on solar energy systems with several hundred watts but you can even have a larger one to meet all your power needs. You should calculate your consumption of electricity per day and per month to see how much power supply you will need. It is practical to install a smaller system because you can compromise on some electricity usage for home but a larger system than your use will be a waste of time and money

Here are some simple steps to follow in order to install a solar panel in your home on your own. You can even find installation experts for solar in Pakistan but it is better to save that amount by doing it yourself

1. Find a consultant who is experienced and understands the entire process and products best suited for you. Ask your friends and neighbour who have solar panels on their homes to suggest you the right person or the products
2. Prepare a list of questions before you go ahead and make a purchase. This list should include:
3. How much space do you have for installing solar systems on your roof
4. Do you want to have the solar panels on your roof or on the ground
5. How many daylight hours sun shines in this area where you are going to install
6. Is the area shaded or not
7. Does your rooftop support enough weight to have solar panels and racks
8. What about sun exposure during winters
9. Check your average and highest consumption of electricity. You can find it by reading your bills and comparing different utility bills for different months to see the maximum and minimum energy you need
10. Try to reduce your energy usage so that you need less solar panels to create enough power for you
11. Educate yourself about the benefits and precautions you should take. Read services and other details on our website to know more about these systems. You can find most of the answers in the FAQ section for installation at home. Try to read other sources on the web and get a manual for solar so that you are safe and well aware before you start the installation process
12. Know the difference between different types of solar panels and see why you should choose one over the other.
13. Know the size of your solar panel that you want to install, this would be different for off grid and grid systems
14. Set your budget after you know the size you are looking for and compare different suppliers to find the one that is most affordable
15. Talk to the local utility manager; check out the rebates, taxation and rules you need to know in order to install a system. This would increase your cost from what you were expecting
16. Find a reliable electrician who will set up the entire wiring for you and create “the code” for you to install your system
17. Contact a solar panel retailer or visit our website and place your order for the exact size you need so that we can get back to you with a custom built panel

If you are still wondering whether you should install this solar panel on your own or ask a professional to do it, you should know that it helps you save up to 60% of the installation cost when you buy a kit and do some research to install the system on your own

Solar panel Pakistan offers complete guidance from size estimation, ordering, installation, and activation. If you have any further questions or if you think I missed something please feel free to add it in the comment box below and we will definitely get back to you