| Home solar electricity is more affordable today | | | | The first type is a grid-tied system. With this |
| than it was even a decade ago. You may be | | | | system you tie your solar panels directly into |
| waiting and wondering how large a system you | | | | your current power meter. This gives you two |
| need and how much it will cost. Here are some | | | | sources of power, electricity from your solar |
| simple pointers that will help you get on your way | | | | panels and electricity from your power company. |
| fast. | | | | The second type of solar panel system for home |
| Figure out how much power you will need to | | | | solar electricity adds battery back up to your |
| generate from your home solar electricity | | | | grid-tied system. You fill batteries from your solar |
| system. You'll be calculating kilowatts. First, | | | | panels largely for use as emergency back up. And |
| calculate you're the daily wattage you use in your | | | | you send the excess back to the power |
| home averaged out over a year. Remember that | | | | company through your meter. By law, they will |
| your electricity varies pretty greatly across the | | | | pay you for electricity you send them. |
| seasons. You can do this by looking at your | | | | The third type is a stand-alone system. In this |
| electric bills. | | | | case, you take your home off the grid altogether |
| Also decide what you'd like to replace. Would you | | | | or never put it on the grid to begin with. |
| like to create back up electricity, power a | | | | When you're researching solar panels, consider the |
| workshop, or take your whole house off the grid? | | | | wattage rating, the efficiency rating, and the |
| This will give you an idea of the id of solar panels | | | | guarantee. The guarantee is often a good |
| and arrays you need based on their wattage | | | | indication of the quality of the system. Don't |
| outputs. | | | | expect the same performance from a system |
| Then decide which kind of system you want. | | | | with a short guarantee as you would from one |
| There are three general types of solar panel | | | | that is guaranteed for many years. |
| systems for supplying electricity. | | | | |