A Five Step Guide To Solar Panel Installation
A Five-Step Guide To Solar Panel Installation
Over a million houses have gone solar in the U.S. and more people are thinking about installing solar panels to their roofs. If you are in the market to get new energy, it is worth learning what goes on during an installation or how to do your own. Before you can get those shiny black solar cells to power your devices, there are five major steps. These are the five main steps that your chosen solar company will follow to install a solar system.
1. Engineering site visit
An engineer will visit your Arizona solar company to inspect your home and verify that everything is compatible. This visit is usually scheduled within 24 hours of you signing the contract.
The evaluation verifies that there are no cracks or other issues on the roof. This ensures that panels can be installed easily and natural light can enter. If there are any issues, such as hail storm damage that could invalidate warranties or other weather conditions, then they can often be resolved between the installer companies before actual installation takes place.
2. Documentation and permits
Other than applying for incentives, you will need other paperwork such as building permits. The permits are specific to your location and your installer will help you determine them in many cases.
People often apply for federal and state solar incentives. These include the Federal ITC. Local solar programs. Clean energy financing initiatives such as PACE. Rebates on top of SRECs are also available. These benefits can be obtained from many different sources so it is crucial to not only have the information you need but also to know who does the work. This will ensure that one doesn't waste time trying out multiple companies before finding the perfect person.
3. Order equipment
You will need to evaluate inverters and solar panel components for your system. While your installer will most likely recommend one particular brand of each component, there are other options available if you prefer. Brand comparisons should consider durability, efficiency, and aesthetics.
4. Solar panel installation
After wiring is completed, they will install the racking that will support your panels. This is the only piece which will actually be attached on your roof. Once the electrical wiring is complete, the solar panels can be attached to the rack. An electrician connects the inverters to each other so that direct current energy can finally be converted into alternating electricity.
5. Approval of interconnection
The last step to going solar is connecting your panels with the grid. You will need to approve the inspection of your system by the local government before you can connect your panels to the grid.
You will be ready to interconnect the grid after this local inspection. Before the system can be connected to the national grid, a representative from your electric company will inspect it.