With so much focus on energy conservation and enabling a greener, more efficient way to power our planet, it’s no wonder that solar PV panel systems have become wildly popular among both business and residential owners. Solar PV panels refer to the “Photovoltaics” (PV) method of generating or creating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity. This is accomplished by using semiconductors that demonstrate the photovoltaic effect.
Photovoltaic power generation or creation employs solar panels which are made up of a number of cells containing photovoltaic material. At the risk of sounding overly technical, below are a few examples of these photovoltaic materials:
- Monocrystalline Silicon
- Polycrystalline Silicon
- Amorphous Silicon
- Cadmium Telluride
- Copper Indium Gallium Selenide/Sulfide
Setting aside all of the technical aspects, finding the appropriate PV solar panel system for your home, business or structure is extremely important and there are a few key factors that you will need to keep in mind during this selection process. In short, below is what you need to consider when selecting which PV solar panels will work best for your target structure.
Solar Panel Specifications
The following information will give you an idea of why it’s extremely important to have an experienced solar PV panel specialist helping you decide what will work best for you and why. Choosing SolarPanelLeverage(s) was a wise place to start as it’s our job to ensure that all this detail oriented work gets taken care of with ease.
First and foremost, you will need to determine which type of solar cells will work best as well as which physical characteristics on your structure will be best suited for your solar PV panel installation. Next, you will need to know how many cells each panel you are interested in has and how they have been (or will be) connected. You will also need to find out the voltage output rated in DC and what the maximum DC voltage is. The size of the panels is extremely important, so you will need to be sure of the exact height, width and thickness of your panels.
In addition to these factors, the overall design details, thickness of the glass, and the efficiency of the cells should all be thoroughly researched before making any final decisions. This insures that you’ve done all of your homework and will eliminate the wait and see or reactive approach should any issues arise post installation.
Another important, yet easily overlooked detail concerns the solar panel’s tolerance to weather variations and the overall conditions of frequently occurring elements such as rain, hail, snow, wind, extreme heat as well as extreme cold. You will need to select a panel that is appropriately rated for your specific environmental conditions.
Keep in mind that the entire purpose for installing solar PV panels is to improve your structure’s electrical output performance. This mean you will need to consider and check the following:
- Power in watts
- Current in amperes
- Voltage
- Open circuit current
- Short circuit current
- Electric connections
- Nominal operating cell temperature
- Type of cable terminals
- Panel’s performance characteristics (these should be tested by the Manufacturers under controlled conditions with results clearly graphed out)
- Dimensions (exact measurements so the panel fits the selected installation area)
- Weight of the panel (especially important for roof installations)
- Warranty (this is essential as it protects you from liability due to any manufacturing defects. You will also need to ensure that the installer is following the manufacturer’s installation guidelines exactly in order for the warranty to be honored)
While all this information sounds daunting and overwhelming, it is everyday routine for the right solar PV panel systems installer. Contact us today at SolarPanelLeverage(s) so we can help you start living in the most green and cost effective way imaginable.
