Thermal Energy: Tips For Buying Your Solar Power System
Buying a solar power system for home use is an exciting experience. However, this decision of going for thermal energy shouldn’t be made in haste. Before you buy a solar power system for your home, take into account all the important factors. You can use the following tips as a guide.
Recommendations
If some of your friends, colleagues or neighbors have already been using a solar power system, you can ask them for recommendations. They may tell you about their experience and the problems they faced. You can also request them to show you their installation.
Manufacturer’s warranty
Usually, solar panels stand the test of time and can generate power for at least 25 years, which means the panels you buy should come with the warranty of 25 years. Only buy from a reputable seller.
Price expectations
You get what you pay for. You can’t get high quality equipment for a low price. What you need to do is compare warranty periods, components and price. It’s panels that cost more money, so make sure you have the money to invest in quality panels.
Solar panel certifications
The certification on the panels shows the kind of testing they underwent. For example, the certificate may indicate that the solar panels were tested by a high-standard independent laboratory and the panels met their quality standards.
Types of panels
For more power and efficiency, you may want to go for thinner film panels. The thing to keep in mind if you have a small roof, you should go for panels that take up less space and produce more power.
Here it is important to keep in mind that no solar panel will generate a good amount of energy in full shade.
Solar panel mounting
The tracking system, ground mounting or the roof should be engineer certified. For instance, if you are a resident of a cyclone area, your mounting system should be cyclone rated. Usually, quality systems are certified and they can withstand windy conditions.
Solar inverter efficiency
A power inverter is a device that is responsible for converting DC current into AC current. Make sure you buy an efficient inverter system. High quality inverter waste less electricity during the process of conversion.
Get quotes
It is a good idea to get a few quotes when you are going to spend a lot of money on a solar system. The prices of a solar power system vary between providers. Solar power systems made from inferior components may cost less to make but will cost you more in the long run. The reason is that they are less efficient and reliable.
Stay away from high-pressure sales people
Quality solar power systems cost a good deal of money, which means you can’t buy them for a few hundred dollars. So, it’s not a good idea to make decisions on the spot. Instead, take into account all the factors before making a decision. Avoid pressurized decisions at all costs.
So, keep these tips in mind when investing in a good solar power system for your home needs.