The Proper Installation of Solar Panels
If you've got yourself a set of solar panels, you are probably eager to get them set up and charging your batteries. Before you do, though, let's make sure you are doing it correctly and safely.When installing solar panels, the first thing you need to do is see if they are UL certified. UL certification is a government manufacturing certification. UL certified solar panels have gone through rigorous safety and quality testing. DIY solar panels, as well as some professionally made ones, are not UL certified. Why is this important when installing solar panels?
This is important because some insurance companies will not cover fire damage caused by solar panels that are not UL certified. Are non-UL certified panels dangerous? No, there is little chance of your solar panels causing an electrical fire. We are, however, working with electricity, and you can never be too careful. So, how should you mount your panels?
Installation of UL-Certified Solar Panels
If you have UL certified panels, or if you get the okay from your insurance company for your non-UL certified panels, then the best place to mount your solar panels is on your roof. If your roof is tilted at roughly a 30-degree angle and is facing a southerly direction, it is perfect for a solar panel installation. Just purchase a set of solar panel mounts and use them to secure the panels to your roof.
When you get your mounts, bolt them to your roof before attaching them to your solar panels; otherwise, you are going to have a difficult time mounting your panels. Also, you must be sure that your solar panel mounts are bolted directly into the studs supporting your roof. This is not too difficult--just use a stud finder to locate them. If your roof is flat, or not facing a southerly direction, you can still install you panels there. You'll just need to use a supporting frame that holds your panels up at the proper angle and in the direction of the sun. There are various commercial solar panel mounts that you can purchase, or you can just build your own, whichever you prefer.
Installation of Solar Panels that are Not UL-Certified
If you have solar panels that are not UL-certified, I suggest that you mount your them on a freestanding base next your house. That way, in the unlikely event that they short out, there will be no danger of them catching your roof on fire. To mount your solar panels in this way, you can choose between many types of commercially made mounts, or you can just build your own. As these frames are pretty simple, I suggest that you just build one yourself. You can build your frame out of metal or wood, and in any style you like. The important thing is to make sure that it holds your panels at a 30-degree angle to the sun. If your solar panels are mounted in a horizontal or vertical position, they will not operate properly.
Wiring Your Solar Panels
If you've got more than one solar panel then you are going to have to wire them together. You have two choices. You can use a parallel or a series wiring configuration. When choosing which configuration to use, you need to remember two things. First, your total power output will not be changed by either wiring style. Second, wiring your solar panels in parallel configuration will increase the amperage of your solar panel system. Wiring your solar panels using a series configuration, on the other hand, will increase your system's total voltage. Which wiring configuration you choose will depend on what you are planning to charge with your panels. If you are planning to charge 12-volt batteries, for example, you will want to make sure that your total voltage output is 12 to 18 volts.
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