How to Connect Solar Panels to a House
A home solar panel system costs about $6,000 and, depending on your energy use, can pay for itself in six to eight years. An experienced do-it-yourselfer can do most of the installation, but you'll need an electrician to complete the wiring and installation of the inverter. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Solar panels (aka PV modules)
- Grid-tied inverter (for on-grid system) or off-grid inverter
- Stainless steel lag bolts
- 3/8-inch stainless steel bolts
- Poles (for trellis or pole-mounted system)
- 2 by 4s (for trellis or ground-mounted foundation framework)
- Batteries (for off-grid system)
- Breaker for main electric panel
- Ladder
- Stud finder
- Laser level
- Chalk
- Drill with pilot bit
- Flush mounts
- Metal flashings
- Metal mounting rails
- Architect
- Electrician
Instructions
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Call the planning department in your area to obtain building code requirements, if any, and any necessary permits. Some local governments require the electrical work to be completed by a certified professional.
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Determine your desired arrangement for the solar panels. The ideal installation places the panels on a south-facing roof with an unobstructed view. If your roof faces another direction or the south face is obstructed, you can use a south-facing trellis, a pole mounted system or a ground mounted design. For a larger system, consult an architect to obtain a design that looks good and maximizes efficiency.
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Purchase your components. If you want an off-grid system, you'll need to buy storage batteries, but with a grid-tied system you can go without. You can obtain most components online or at your local building and/or electrical supply store. Choose PV modules with a 20 to 25 year warranty and an inverter with a 10 year or longer warranty.
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Begin installing your solar panels by using the ladder to get on the roof. To be safe, have someone on the ground holding the ladder.
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Use the stud finder to identify the rafters, marking each with chalk as you find it.
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Align the flush mounts on the rafters using the laser level.
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Use a pilot bit to pre-drill the entry holes. This reduces the risk of the rafters splintering.
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Attach the flush mounts to the roof rafters with the lag bolts. Leave two to four inches of space between the panels and roof for air circulation.
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Cover each mount using a metal flashing.
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Attach the metal rails to the mounts with the 3/8-inch stainless steel bolts.
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Snap or slide the panels into place on the rail-and-mount system. Check the manufacturer's directions to see which method to use. The panels should face south and be angled to the same degree as your location's latitude.
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Connect the panels to one another with the electrician's assistance.
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Have the electrician connect the solar panels to your inverter via the house's electrical conduit, and complete the AC and DC disconnects.
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Have the electrician install the home's new breaker, then connect the solar system to it.
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Tips & Warnings
The best time to install solar panels is while roofing or reroofing a home, because it's easier to identify the rafters without the roof.
References
- Photo Credit Solar energy image by lefebvre_jonathan from Fotolia.com
