How Does a Residential Solar Power System Work?

Residential solar power systems are becoming more popular with people concerned with global warming and energy resources being depleted. A solar power system in your home can save you money as well as having the ability to create your own electricity, eliminating the need for public resources.

A residential solar power system is utilized by converting sunlight into electricity. Placing solar cells on your existing roof does this. There is a piece of equipment called an inverter, which turns the DC power into electrical power. It features plug and play equipment so you can hook up your appliances. On days with a lot of sunshine, certain companies allow the excess to be retained so you can run the electricity at night and on cloudy days. However, you can still get power from the utility company on those occasions, saving money on your power bill. Panels are designed for direct sunlight and you will need about 125 square feet of roof space. Solar components are about 5 feet in size. There is no maintenance involved although the batteries do need replacing every few years but usually last about ten years.

Types of systems

There are usually two types of systems available. One only supplies electricity on days with sunshine, and the other has a battery backup so you have power at any given time, even on cloudy days. The residential solar power systems can be utilized during cloudy skies. However, the electricity on such days will supply only half of the power you would normally receive.

Residential power systems are available to homeowners and businesses. When installed, customers can receive tax break incentives and rebates per government standards.