Tips For Going Solar From Someone Who’s Had Solar For 10 Years
Apr 04, 2023 7:01 am
Tips For Going Solar From Someone Who’s Had Solar For 10 Years
3 min read
Ricky Roy, known for his Youtube channel Two Bit da Vinci, installed solar panels on his home in June 2011. He made a video speaking about his experience, what he would do differently if he were to get solar again, what he would recommend to people considering getting solar and more.
In this article, I will focus on the tips and key takeaways he has for going solar.
Tip 1: Verify the price per watt figure
Don’t assume that the price per watt of a panel is not based on the full price of the solar PV system. Sometimes it is calculated including the installation costs and the cost of some other hardware.
Tip 2: Get panels from a longstanding company
Ricky’s installer sold him solar panels from a panel manufacturer who has since gone bankrupt. As a result, the 30-year warranty on the solar panels is now null and void. To make matters worse, his installer has also gone bankrupt, reducing any chances of him getting compensated to zero. He recommends thinking long-term when picking the brand of panels. Yes, one panel manufacturer may be cheaper, but are they as likely as a well-known brand to be around in 25 years’ time when the warranty needs to be claimed? The same goes for the installer.
Tip 3: Don’t feel obliged to get the absolute best panel
Yes, this may sound like a contradiction to the previous point but hear me out. While taking the previous tip into consideration, it is also to be remembered that solar panels are getting better and more efficient. Chances are, an average panel in 5-8 years will outperform today’s best panel.
Tip 4: Get string inverters
A string inverter is when all your panels are connected to one inverter that converts DC from the panels to AC. This is the most widely used option as opposed to micro inverters where each panel is connected to its own small inverter. String inverters are cheaper and easier to repair because the inverter is usually in your garage.
Tip 5: Manage your costs
Although this goes without saying, it is important to know the full costs of the system you are going with before entering contracts with your suppliers and/or installers. Speak with all the parties you will be dealing with about the upfront costs, hidden costs and post installation costs before agreeing to have your system installed. If you are taking on financing, make sure that you understand all of the terms and conditions, interest, penalties and additional charges involved with taking out solar financing.
Tip 6: Make sure your panels are facing the right angle
In the southern hemisphere, north-facing panels at an angle of 10-45°, depending on which country you live in, produce optimal energy. Eskom charges more for electricity during peak hours: between 6am and 10am, and again between 7pm and 10pm. For these situations, Ricky suggests it may be better to place some panels on the east or west facing part of the roof. These panels will then produce energy during those peak hours, allowing for you to draw less energy from the grid during these high-cost hours.
Tip 7: Clean your solar panels once or twice a year
Solar panels can pick up dirt from dust, leaves, bird poo, and various other sources. Ricky advises getting your solar panels cleaned once or twice a year. This can be done simply by using a mop to clean dirt off the panels or hiring someone to do it for you (I get it, not all of us are willing to risk our lives walking on the roof). Through the data analytics his solar PV system’s app provides, Ricky has observed a 5% increase in energy production after cleaning dirty panels.
Tip 8: Get a battery pack
If you opt for a solar PV system without any batteries, your inverters will not output any energy during power outages, for safety reasons. This will be true even if the sun is shining. Ricky says that the batteries allow his home to store energy during the day (running on energy directly from the sun) and then uses that stored energy at night, causing him to use no grid electricity.
Ricky has 5 235W solar panels with 5 micro inverters. The average output for his panels over the ten-year period was 90,6%. It took him 8 years and 9 months to recoup his costs, as the energy prices in his city have increased by 32% since he got solar in 2011.
What do you think of Ricky’s tips? Do you like them, or do you have your own set of tips? Share your thoughts by replying to this email!
For more information on solar energy, or any other energy related articles, view the blog posts on my website and be sure to open my weekly emails every Tuesday at 9am CAT.
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