Your Guide to Sizing Residential Solar Power Systems

Solar panels are available in different sizes. And when we talk about sizes, we generally refer either to their rated power output, which is given in watts (w), or their physical size. The two are related because the more watts a solar panel can produce, the larger it is.

When considering installing a solar power system in your Palm Coast home, one of the biggest technical challenges you will face is the correct sizing of the system.

Deciding on the size of your residential solar power system in Florida depends on two factors:

• The average amount of sun hours per day in your area.
• The daily power consumption of your electrical loads.

To give you an idea, most residential solar panels you will find in the market today are rated to produce anywhere between 250 and 400 watts. What you should always keep in mind, though, is the fact that these panels are capable of producing that much energy only when the sunlight falls directly on them. What that means is that a typical residential solar panel runs on its rated power output for only 4 to 5 hours every day, when the sun is at its peak intensity (usually at midday on a clear day).

To estimate the size of your solar array, you will need to consider the watts produced by a single panel during peak sunlight hours. For example, if you need a 1500 watt (or 1.5 kW) solar system to power your Palm Coast home, you would need 6 x 250w solar panels or 5 x 300w solar panels. 

This is just an example, and it may not apply in your case, as the energy consumption and energy efficiency of each home are different. Then how do you work out the optimum number of solar panels and the total wattage of your residential solar energy system?

List and add together the hourly power requirements of your appliances and lights in terms of watts, and you will arrive at the total watt-hours per day you need. The final power rating of your solar energy system can then be calculated and sized based on the portion of your home’s electrical energy consumption to be supplied by the system.

Let’s face it: solar energy systems in Florida are pretty expensive. And even if they more than makeup for that hefty initial investment by helping you save on your energy bills, buying all the solar panels you need to power your Palm Coast home may not always be a financially viable option. The sunlight is the sunlight, and it is not much you can do to increase it, but lowering your home’s electrical demand can save you a lot of money in the long run, as well as lower the size (and thereby, the cost) of your new residential solar system.

To make your move to solar energy more economical and convenient, get in touch with Solar-Fit today. As the leading solar power company in Palm Coast, Florida, Solar-Fit offers affordable, “Zero Down” Solar Easy plans to help you design the perfect system for your home within your budget.

Sponsor Ads

• Ad Space Available - Rent it Now!

Report this Page

Created on Jan 25th 2021 05:03. Viewed 264 times.

Share on APSense

Comments