Everything you need to know about installing solar power for your home
Here at Brite Lighting & Electrical we fully understand the South African consumer’s struggles with electricity.
We know the feeling of sitting at home without electricity for hours, wondering when the power will come back, and we know there is a better solution.
Instead of using a generator which empties your pocket with fuel and maintenance cost, why not become self-sufficient and install a solar power system in your home?
Many South Africans have already been proactive and have installed a solar energy system in their homes, and have started seeing amazing benefits in savings.
In this article, Brite Lighting & Electrical explains everything you need to know about installing solar power for your home. Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions.
What is solar power and how does it work?
Solar power harnesses the natural energy from the sun through solar panels installed on your home’s roof. The solar energy is converted into electricity to power your entire home.
Solar panels contain hundreds of cells that consist of layers of semi-conductive material (normally silicon). When the solar panels receive sunlight, the cells create a flow of electricity.
Despite popular belief, solar panels don’t need direct sunlight in order to work (although they work more efficiently in direct sunlight). They can generate solar power even on cloudy days.
Each solar panel can generate between 200 and 350 watts of power when it is in strong sunlight.
Most homes have a back-up power system in case the solar panel system cannot generate enough power. When the solar panel system does not have enough power to attend to the household’s needs, the regular electricity system kicks in. This, however, is rare, and normally only happens when there have been several days of consistent rain and cloudiness, and the household has a high power demand.
Since South Africa has a lot of year-round sunshine, it’s the ideal opportunity to take advantage of this free commodity and enjoy a constant electricity supply.
Although solar power system installation cost is pricey, you will certainly save a lot of money in the long run. Considering the continuously rising cost of electricity, your solar power investment could pay off sooner than you think!
Remember that the sooner you install your solar panel power system, the sooner your investment will pay off! So, why spend another period of load shedding battling to keep your appliances running when you can be self-sufficient?
What are the benefits of installing solar power at your home?
There are countless benefits to installing solar power at your home! Below are the main advantages:
- It increases your home’s value
- You don’t have to rely on Eskom for electricity - so no more power outages!
- You save money - Your solar power investment will pay itself off sooner than you think
- You help save the planet - Solar power is completely natural and you can have the peace of mind that you’re not increasing your carbon footprint by using fossil fuels.
What are the different components needed to install solar power at your home?
If you’ve decided to take the plunge and install a solar power system in your home, congratulations! For all DIYers and contractors, Brite Lighting & Electrical has a comprehensive range of solar components to get you started.
All you need to solar power your home is available at Brite Lighting & Electrical.Some of the key components you will need for your solar system are:
- Solar Panels to be installed facing direct sunlight (these are also called solar photovoltaic panels)
- Solar Storage or Batteries (these are typically lithium ion batteries)
- A Hybrid or Solar Inverter (this device converts DC solar power into AC power)
- A DC Combiner Box (these are electrical switches to shut the system off when it’s being repaired)
Our team is available to advise you which are the most suitable components you need for your specific scenario.
Installing a solar panel system in your home does not take long. After an initial assessment, installation can take place and the system can be connected as soon as it’s completed.
How to calculate how many solar panels you will need
The number of solar panels you’ll need for your solar energy system will depend mainly on the size of your home.
When calculating how many solar panels you would need, your solar energy expert will take the following into account:
- The size of your home
- Number of occupants
- How much you want to decrease your carbon footprint
- Your average daily energy requirements
- Your home’s current electricity usage in Watts
- The size of your roof and how many solar panels it can accommodate
- How much sunlight your solar panels can harness
- The weight of the solar panels
- The size of the solar panels being installed
- How efficient the solar panels are
To determine how many solar panels you’ll need, a general rule of thumb is to multiply your household’s average electricity usage by the number of peak sunlight hours in your area. You would then need to divide this amount by the solar panel’s wattage.
Low-wattage solar panels typically have a 150 Watts capacity, while high-wattage panels can have a rating of 370 Watts.
You may need to consult with a solar power expert who will be able to calculate the exact number of solar panels you will need and can advise you of the best types of panels to use.
Where to find solar panels, batteries, inverters, and accessories
Did you know that Brite Lighting & Electrical sells a wide range of solar panels, inverters, batteries, and accessories?
Whatever your solar power requirements are, Brite Lighting & Electrical is your one-stop solar accessory shop.
Come and visit us in store at our Benoni shop. If you can’t get to our physical location, you can always shop on our online portal and get everything you need from there.
Read More : 4 Backup Power Solution For Your Home
Our online store is safe and secure, and we deliver for free throughout South Africa for any order over R1000.