Solar Power System For Home: Ultimate Beginners Guide

Solar power for homes is increasing in popularity and decreasing in price. Many homeowners are discovering the advantages of Solar Power and you may have even seen quite a few solar panel systems being installed in your own neighborhood.

You're probably wondering:
How much do solar panels cost?
How much money will I save on my electricity bill?
How solar panels work?
Are solar panels worth it?

This video is a general overview of solar energy for beginners so you can make the best possible decisions regarding solar power for your home.

A solar panel (or photovoltaic panel) is a panel made of solar cells. Solar cells are the essential component by which light is converted into electrical energy and they are usually made of crystalline silicon. Each solar panel usually contains from 32 up to 96 solar cells.

Depending on the way solar cells are made, solar panels are categorized as polycrystalline, mono-crystalline, or thin film. The first two categories, which are the most common types of solar panels, are made of crystalline solar cells. The third category (thin film) is made of amorphous silicon.

Frameless solar panels have been on the market for more than a decade. Also, solar shingles and solar tiles popularized by the tesla solar roof are two types of products that are becoming more popular among residential applications.

How do solar panels work?
Solar cells produce electricity by converting the tremendous solar energy that the earth receives every day in the form of sunlight and more specifically in the form of photons. Most typical commercial solar solutions convert sunlight to electrical energy at an average efficiency of 3 – 17%

In order to have a complete system that will produce electricity for your home, you need the following components:
a) solar panels
b) solar panel mounting structures
c) an inverter
d) an electrical panel with the necessary switches and circuit breakers
e) DC and AC electrical cables
f) Power meter.

Generally, residential solar systems are separated into 2 main categories: off-grid and on-grid.

In the case of an off-grid system, the electricity generated by the solar system will be used to cover 100% of the electrical usage of a home since the house is not connected to the electrical grid at all.

In a on-grid system, the house where the solar panels are installed is connected to the main power grid. Electricity generated by the solar panels can either cover the electrical needs of the house or when you produce more electricity than needed, it is sent to the power grid.

With net metering, your monthly electricity bill is calculated both ways, based on the net of your overall energy consumption and the monthly output from your solar panels. If you are producing more energy than you’re using the utility company will actually pay you!

How much will I save on my electricity bills if I install solar panels?
How much you actually save depends on a number of factors.

Where you live matters a lot. Sunnier is better. For example. A 5Kw installation consisting of 20 solar panels can produce approximately 8,000 kilowatt-hours every year if your house is in a hot and sunny state like California, but the same system will only produce approximately 6,000 kWh every year if your house is in a less sunny state like Connecticut.

The available surface on your roof, the unshaded part with the appropriate orientation, determines how many solar panels you can install and consequently your savings.

How much does a solar panel system cost?
You need to know how many solar panels you need. In 2019 the average cost of a residential solar panel is $2.99 per watt, so with an average solar panel system size of 5 kilowatts, you are looking at an average cost of $14,950 before any tax credits or incentives. Equipment makes up the majority of the cost but permits and labor for solar installation are also factored in.

Benefits and negatives of solar power for your house:
Pros:
-A true renewable energy source
-Reduce your electricity bill and provides insurance against rising power prices
-Low maintenance cost
-Financial incentives from the government
-They operate quietly, with no moving parts and emit zero pollution.
-They have a long service life and reliability in operation. The guarantees given by the manufacturers for the solar panels are generally for more than 25 years of good operation.
Cons:
-Initial costs, but marginal cost drops to zero once the price of installation is paid off.
-Weather Dependent so it is an intermittent energy source, and can not be relied on in critical applications.
-Energy storage systems to smooth demand and load like the Tesla power wall are expensive.

[jeremiahsmith]

Thank you for this, I work with a solar company in DFW, TX and this helped me understand what we're doing a lot better. Now I can better serve my clients.

[kevincourcey]

Probably the best introductory solar video I've seen. I'll be referring people to this in the future. Nice work.

[EITFM]

I added a solar panel system to my home in California in 2018, was a great decision.

[video_game_is_for_children]

"Off grid system solar panel (storing your own electricity without electric company) can be illegal in some area"
Instant rage.

[GiorgiAptsiauriX]

2:40 shows two layers where top one is P type silicon and bottom one is N type silicon. P type has shortage of electrons and N type has a surplus of electrons.

[warrenlogan]

I just bought into the power home solar system. I wanted a battery
backup instead of a generator. Installation was fast and good. The
installers were great. The concierge never contacted me till I sent
emails to them. When I tried to contacted them I was put on hold and most
of the time I hung up after 25 to 30 min. That is not near as bad as
the next thing. I am new to solar but I was told I would get a 26 percent
$14, 000.00 (something) dollar energy tax credit to pay down my $50000.00 my system
and lower my monthly payments. Well that's not true in Indiana if your retired.
Your social security is not taxable. You need to have earned more than the energy

tax credit to get that amount returned my tax man told me. Which I didn't. I contacted my sales man.
He acted kinda surprised. The system works like it is advertised
It's my fault for not doing my home work. So If you live in Indiana and your retired with no

taxable income don't fall for this. Unless you are young and have a
large income.

[MaxPlayne]

5:27 "Many jurisdictions do not allow you to operate off-grid" can someone explain how on earth did we allow the government to dictate if we can be off-grid and especially, why??

[beccamayberry]

Gotta say this was super informative and nailed most of what I was looking for as far as what the system is made up of and other details. Thanks a lot!

[theantiqueactionfigure]

Back into a house that I installed solar on 6 years ago. It was a rental for the last couple years. From 5-15-2022 to 8-19-22 my net is $20 worth. The A/C has run pretty constant for the last two months in a So California heat wave. This is the second house I've had solar installed on. Solar is a total no brainer.

[Electricallyu]

Certainly, a must in all residential houses to reduce the carbon emission.

[energyindependencelife]

I really apreciate that people are getting actions done to get independent from all the big corps that are definitly ruining or world and taking our money for thing that should be free for all! I love to do my researchs and finding a lot of people sharing their expirience and knowledge on this special subject... it just gives me hope!

[TheGoldenRoman]

"How much does it cost to install a solar system?" I'm already happy with the one we have man. Maybe an extra moon would be cool.

[sinvulasinvula]

This is wonderful ...Solar is the new solution of the expensive Transformers

[TruckTaxiMoveIt]

If a tree falls on some panels does it stop the whole system does the system continue to work what exactly happens?

Can you bifocate or trifocate the system so you have dc to ac as dc-to-dc or direct dc for your continuous heating systems like water heater, boiler, and pool heater?

What is the general impact of a solar system on ones homeowners insurance policy cost -- does it generally cause it to go up or down?

[kusumsonkar]

The photo in the beginning of your video: the solar plant in it has been planted incorrectly because Shadows have arrived in that picture in your plant.

[alexysortiz]

Went solar a few years ago in Puerto Rico and pay just $30 a month for a/c use from grid!!!!

[roelsajulga]

Filipinos needs this. So nice to have one.

[mazvimbakupa.chihota]

The solar panels should face the equator NOT south (08:14). You are right though since u are American and think the world starts from your east coast and ends on your western seaboard.
Also, inclination of the panels should roughly be the latitude degree on the map within which the panel sites will be located. ie 35° or higher for the Americans, check your exact neighbourhood...

[Green__one]

If only net metering was a thing around here. Instead we have bidirectional metering, which means that energy I consume from the grid costs twice as much as they pay for energy that I export to the grid. The opposite of what is implied in this video

[pardontheplay]

Great editing and vocal instrument. Keep your vocals occupied with nourishment. Truly. Great oration of available products. A+Love