How Many Solar Panels Are Needed to Power a House?
Looking into solar power and wondering just how many solar panels you need?I would think this is one of the first questions that you would want answered.
Thinking how much room you have and if it is enough or if you can afford them.
Well let's look into that very question and see how many solar panels it takes to power a house.
Exactly how many solar panels you will need is connected directly to what you want to power and the total power of these devices.
If it is your house, that you want to power go back and take an average of your last year's hydro usage, from your hydro bill.
If it is some other device, perhaps outside patios for example check your devices manual specifications and see how much power it takes to run that particular device or devices'.
There are factors that will affect your panels output and the main one is the amount of sun hours per day for your particular region.
This is called Insolation,whichis a measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time; this will determine the amount of electrical power a solar panel will deliver.
More sun hours bigger the output of power will be, less sun light per day less power output, makes sense.
There are charts of the amount of sunshine a certain area will receive per day.
A quick look at other things that will reduce your electrical output:
At certain times of low light or if other situations cause low output you may need to have a generator on hand to charge your battery's for these situations.
With all that out of the way how many panels do I need to power a house: take the total daily watt hours and divide them by the hours of sunshine/day?In general a rough number of panels that can run everyday appliances would be six (6) 80-100 watt panels at 1m2 in size.
Remember the amount of sunshine will change pending the time of year and the region you live in.
Another factor to take into account is the adding to the household electrical load in time with other electrical appliances, can opener's toasters', etc.
How many solar panels does it take all depends on the factors that we have discussed and I am sure some we have not.
Each location will have its different problems that will arise.
Talk to your solar installer and I am sure he can set your mind at ease withthe amount of panels that will be needed, how to overcome some of the factors affecting your output and how to get the most out of your panel array.
Technology is ever advancing the solar panel industry, I am sure the output will also change of the new solar panels and the number of panels needed will also change.
Thinking how much room you have and if it is enough or if you can afford them.
Well let's look into that very question and see how many solar panels it takes to power a house.
Exactly how many solar panels you will need is connected directly to what you want to power and the total power of these devices.
If it is your house, that you want to power go back and take an average of your last year's hydro usage, from your hydro bill.
If it is some other device, perhaps outside patios for example check your devices manual specifications and see how much power it takes to run that particular device or devices'.
There are factors that will affect your panels output and the main one is the amount of sun hours per day for your particular region.
This is called Insolation,whichis a measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time; this will determine the amount of electrical power a solar panel will deliver.
More sun hours bigger the output of power will be, less sun light per day less power output, makes sense.
There are charts of the amount of sunshine a certain area will receive per day.
A quick look at other things that will reduce your electrical output:
- Shade
- Dirt
- Snow
- Pollen
- Bird droppings
- Typical solar panels has a 12-20 % efficiency
At certain times of low light or if other situations cause low output you may need to have a generator on hand to charge your battery's for these situations.
With all that out of the way how many panels do I need to power a house: take the total daily watt hours and divide them by the hours of sunshine/day?In general a rough number of panels that can run everyday appliances would be six (6) 80-100 watt panels at 1m2 in size.
Remember the amount of sunshine will change pending the time of year and the region you live in.
Another factor to take into account is the adding to the household electrical load in time with other electrical appliances, can opener's toasters', etc.
How many solar panels does it take all depends on the factors that we have discussed and I am sure some we have not.
Each location will have its different problems that will arise.
Talk to your solar installer and I am sure he can set your mind at ease withthe amount of panels that will be needed, how to overcome some of the factors affecting your output and how to get the most out of your panel array.
Technology is ever advancing the solar panel industry, I am sure the output will also change of the new solar panels and the number of panels needed will also change.
Source...