It might seem that the continued increases in Grid Power costs are intended to force people into converting their homes to Solar Power. Each month the electric bill just keeps getting higher, and people sit bundled up trying to stay warm in the winter, and shutting off the central air system during the summer. Let’s take a look at solar power vs grid power.
Solar North is a term that came into being with the photovoltaic generation, and simply means a compass and protractor are used to establish the peak angles of the sun during the brightest part of the day. Once this information is gathered, the person installing the system will know what angles to set the panels for the greatest amount of year round performance.
Mounting the panels is the next step, and they are usually installed on a roof top of the house or office building. Sufficient room should be allowed between each set for EMT personnel to safely navigate the roof, in the event of a home fire. An external shut off switch is required for safety of utility and emergency workers.
If the home is already wired for Grid power, the electrical lines from the solar unit are usually brought into the home at the same point. This makes it easier to install, maintain and troubleshoot. Batteries will take up some room, and should be easy to access when checking them for water levels. They should also be properly vented to allow gases to escape to the exterior of the home.
A dual switching system is installed to allow a choice of either Grid, or Solar operation. This switching mechanism is usually installed beside the Grid breaker panel, and all other sun supplied devices are connected to the new switch. The configuration can vary, but there are also automatic detection units to monitor the sun side electricity and switches back to the power company should there be a need.
Depending on the size of the installation, all of the household electrical needs can be achieved by collecting electricity from the photovoltaic panels. Some people decide to do partial installations where only the most expensive to operate devices are connected, such as central heat and air units, and clothes dryer and oven. Of those partial installations, most of them eventually become complete systems that provide all of the electricity needed for the home.
Most homeowners are experiencing electric bills that are well over several hundred dollars a month. When multiplied for a 12 month year, this adds up to several thousand dollars a year paid to the local electric company. Then considering how much creature comfort people are having to give up in order to keep those bills down to only that much, in a five to ten year period a solar system could more than pay for itself.
Selling electricity back to the utility company can be a rewarding experience, not only for a sense of getting back at them for high prices, but also to make a profit. Solar power vs grid power has tax incentives which can help in financing the installation, and once in place it also helps to protect the environment with a non-polluting source of electricity.
At Solar Systems USA, we are convinced that the call to transition from fossil fuel dependency is not only the duty of governments but for each one of us. Our online solar store has products and information to get you started on this noble cause.