With enticing tax incentives and the decline in costs over the past ten years, solar panels have become one of the best ways to add equity to your home while also doing right by the environment. If you’re considering taking the next step towards a greener home but you’re worried your home might not get enough sunlight, this post is for you. Whether you live in a place that doesn’t get much sun or you’re worried about panels overheating, Primitive Power is here to offer complete confidence in your ability to power your home using the sun.
How Do Solar Panels Convert Sunlight Into Energy?
Let’s take a look inside your system! Every solar panel is filled with silicone wafers loaded with boron and phosphorus, which create P-N junctions. Photons from the sun hit those junctions, and as they begin to move and work their way through those junctions. Then, they attach to metal conductors running through the panels, then leave the panel creating DC (direct current) power as they move into your inverter, which powers your home.
Does Your Home Get Enough Sun for Solar Panels?
With your current utility company you have a meter on the side of your home, and it only spins forwards. As you use power the meter keeps track of what you are using and you get billed for that. It works a bit differently with solar panels!
Any extra power that’s generated but not used right away will go down the side of the home to the meter, which actually spins the meter backwards. Any and all extra power will be stored for you, ready when you need it! It kicks in at night or when your system isn’t producing as much because of the weather. It’s total peace of mind independent from the utility companies!
Peak Sun Hours for Solar Panels
One factor that we consider before installing solar panels on your rooftop is the number of peak sun hours your home receives. A peak sun hour is a calculation of how intense the sun hitting your rooftop is. Ideally, your home will have a couple hours of day when it receives at least 1,000 watts of photovoltaic power per square meter. This is a pretty intense volume of sunlight in a small, specific area. Even if your region has lower peak sunlight hours, though, the high-efficiency panels we use absorb every possible ray of sun and put it to work!
Can Solar Panels Overheat?
Minnesota gets less than 200 sunny days each year, where sunnier states like Florida can expect almost 240…more than a month of extra sunlight! While some homeowners worry they’re not getting enough sunlight for solar panels, others worry their system will overheat. While solar panels can overheat, it’s unlikely that they will get hot enough to reduce their efficiency. Primitive Power’s top-of-the-line equipment is built to withstand any weather condition and will serve your home for many years!
Your panels come with a 25-year warranty that ensures you always have a working system. You also have access to 24/7 support with the Primitive Power app, which keeps you up to date with your system and how it’s running. We want to be here every step of the way, even after your panels are installed, to keep you educated and informed!
Solar Panels, Sun, and the Angle of Your Roof
Part of the Primitive Power proposal process is creating a rendering of your home to show you exactly where the panels would sit on your roof. We’ll calculate your sun and shade exposure, the direction your home is facing, and the angle of your roof to see just how much sunlight your panels can expect to receive on any given day. That information helps us figure how many panels your rooftop needs. It’s the kind of science and math that may sound boring…but we love nothing more than making these calculations for your home!
If you’re worried your home doesn’t get enough sunshine for solar panels but you’re interested in lowering your energy costs and owning your power, Primitive Power can help! We offer free quotes complete with a rendering of your home with panels on the rooftop. You’ll be able to find out exactly what to expect in cost over the next 25 years and we’ll walk you through the specifics of the energy your panels will produce. Our solar experts are ready to answer all of your questions and walk you through the installation process for total confidence in your new system!
