How to Install Residential Solar Power
More and more people are switching to environment-friendly ways, such as solar power, to fulfill their domestic energy needs. Suppliers and manufacturers are producing do-it-yourself solar kits to make it more convenient for people to install solar power at home. With the help of these kits, you can cut down on the installation costs that you have to pay to a professional. While setting up your solar panels, you must be exercise great care since you'll be working on your house roof. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Solar mounts
- Solar panels
- Conduit
- Measuring tape
- Twine/ chalk
- Electric drill
- Stud finder
- Steel bolts
- Metal rails
Instructions
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1
Find out how much energy you can generate by utilizing the space provided on your rooftop. You can find this out by conducting an energy audit in your house (see Resources). The audit should help you give a rough idea of the number of panels required by your household.
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2
Identify the right location on your rooftop for mounting the solar panels. Ideally, the spot should receive maximum sunlight and should not have any obstructions blocking the panels from storing sunlight. Solar panels are usually mounted facing southwest for this purpose.
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3
Use a stud finder to locate your house's supporting rafters on the rooftop. A stud finder is a small magnet enclosed in a metal container. The magnet clicks against the surface of the container to indicate that it is directly in contact with an iron nail. You will be installing the solar panels on top of these rafters to secure them firmly.
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4
Measure the dimensions of solar panels. Now use these measurements to mark the exact spot where you will install the solar panels. Take the mounts, which usually come with the solar kits, and place them in the marked location. You may use a twine or a chalk to align the mounts properly.
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Pre-drill small holes for the mounts with an electric drill. Use bolts (3/8 inch) for attaching mounts to the supporting rafters.
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Employ a professional electrician to help run a conduit from the inverter to the roof. Though you may be able to do this step yourself if you have adequate experience, it is not wise to deal with electrical wiring as an amateur.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit solar battery image by Tomasz Plawski from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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someday I understand this power system I like it.
