Installing Solar Panels

 The main thing to remember when installing solar panels is to do your planning and site preparation very thoroughly. It really only takes a few minutes to follow these easy steps to success with your own installation.

The first consideration is where are you going to put them? Some people get all fired up with the thought of having a reduced power bill in the future, but they forget the all important consideration that this product is going to have to occupy an actual physical space somewhere. Planning for your install is a great way to begin.

Do you want it on the roof? Do you want it in the back yard? Do you have a shed our out building that would make an ideal site? Your site is very personal, and very different from others, doing a good job of installing solar panels means doing the planning first. The next decision you need to make relates to your own tool skills, or lack of diy skills.

Do you regularly fix things around the house? Do you build things for your home? Large projects? Because this is a fairly large project compared to say, installing a new dvd player. So be honest at this point, do you need extra help, or even a professional installer. If you need a pro for installing solar panels simply consult our database and you will be able to find a recommended source in your area. All of them are certified and experienced, pick the one you like the best.

Thirdly, let's examine the procedure for doing a proper install. There are two parts. The solar panels take up the most space so naturally you need to locate the place where they will go first. 

Calculate the total area you have available and make sure they will fit. The description comes with dimensions to make this part of your job easier. You might consider solar panel kits as an option too, great for the first timer.

The second part is to locate your control room, or in some cases the battery room (with controllers, monitors, inverter etc.), if you have batteries for an off grid or back up system then this room needs to be ventilated for safety, and it should also not get extremely hot or cold. Some of the monitoring equipment is computerized so it needs to be somewhere safe, and out of the elements.

The outdoor components are all protected, but the indoor parts need protection. Installing solar panels can then proceed once this preliminary planning is done. There are some other safety considerations. Working at heights can be dangerous so be careful. Hiring an installer for some applications just makes sense. Looking up at your 3 story roof and climbing around on it for days is a completely different thing. We have always liked using scaffolding for even the lower height jobs. You only have to bring tools up once, and you can handle large panels much easier too.

They aren't real heavy, but they can be awkward in some situations. The truth is, you probably have most or all of the tools you need to do a proper job too. Cordless drill, saw and wire cutters will serve 90% of what you need to do. The instruction in solar kits is really helpful too. If you need specific help with installing solar panels please contact us.

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