Modern Breakthroughs in Home Solar Panels

The average homeowner would reduce or eliminate their annual electricity bill by installing a solar power system. If they install a properly sized solar panel array they can easily generate all of their power from sunlight and never have to worry about another utility bill again. Though easily installed, some homeowners can have problems that prevent them from getting the most return on their investment. There have been improvements in solar technology and these innovations can help to overcome these issues and make solar power the perfect answer for many homeowners.  You can make use of these developments whether you’re purchasing solar panels or making a DIY solar panel.

Having a house with proper orientation to the sun is probably the biggest concern for most homeowners. Homes must have a side that faces south in order for solar panels to operator at peak efficiency. As the sun travels across the sky, a southern exposure ensures that the solar panels get a good amount of sun through the day. In years past, this was a major concern as the older panels had a very specific need for constant sun exposure. If their positioning was even a little bit off, it could have a major impact on the amount of power they could generate

This problem is solved in modern solar panels by using more efficient solar cells. These newer solar cells are not only able to generate larger amounts of power from the same sunlight as older cells, but they can also tolerate the sun hitting them at a more severe angle as well. Many locations that were not good choices for solar power before can now be used because of this wider tolerance. So, these newer solar cells are ideal for installations there is less than perfect alignment. These newer solar panels can still generate a lot of power even when they are out of a traditional alignment with the sun and also do a great job in periods of diminished sunlight as well.  These newer panels don’t have to be rotated during the data to point directly at the sun.  This makes it much easier to do a home build solar panel project.

This is much better than older solar panels that needed a large, continuous amount of sunlight to generate electricity. Older panels were inactive early in the morning and late in the afternoon because of this. The amount of sun at these times doesn’t cross the electricity production threshold required by these older panels. The newer solar panels can take advantage of these lower levels of sunlight and will produce power proportional to the level of sunlight available. They will produce maximum power during mid-day when the sun is at it’s peak, but will still generate electricity, though smaller amounts, as long as some sunlight is available. Because they are able to produce more power for a longer time each day, these newer solar panels can produce more total power each year. This additional power can have a big impact on savings and can make all the difference to homeowners that are trying to justify a solar power system for their home.

One of the best ways to increase the resale value of your home is with a solar power system.  A solar power system is sure to increase the value of your home whether it provides all of the power needs for your house or only provides a supplement to power provided by the electric company.  A simple diy solar charger will get you started in the right direction.