Energy costs continue to rise and the trend looks set to continue as resources on the planet dwindle.
This has led to an increased interest by companies and individuals in wind and solar power.
These natural alternatives are generally expensive to install but, over time, can pay for themselves. They can also help to reduce your energy bill to zero.
But, before you dive in, there are several things you should know.
Hook Up To The Grid
It is possible to come off the grid and rely on the electricity you generate. However, to do this you’ll need a set of batteries and intelligent chargers.
This will allow the batteries to be charged while the sun is out and you’ll still have power. The batteries then supply you with power for the evening.
If your batteries run flat, you have no electricity until the sun is out again. That’s why many people choose to connect to the grid and sell excess power to the grid.
This allows them to pull power from the grid when their own system isn’t creating electricity.
You should note that you need a reputable level 2 electrician such as ontimelocalelectrician.com.au to connect you to the grid.
Basic Equipment
To create your own power most people choose the solar route, although if you’re in the right location a small wind turbine may be an option.
To create a solar system you need solar panels. Most houses will want to generate around 6KWs of energy, that’s between 15 and 20 solar panels.
You’ll also need cables, inverters, and the racking to fix all the panels to. In most cases, it’s best to affix the panels to your roof.
The inverters can be small ones attached to each pane or you can opt for a larger one that connects all the panels together.
This is the part of the system that receives the most stress as it consistently converts the DC current created by the panels into an AC current that your home appliances can use.
Click here to learn more about house electric ac or dc.
The Right Equipment
It’s best to speak to the professionals regarding which brand of equipment to use. You need to connect with some who has experience learning about equipment and seeing how it is used in real applications.
You should note that the best-known brands are generally more expensive but don’t necessarily offer any advantage over the cheaper brands.
They may produce a little more power and they may last a little longer. But, when you compare this to the saving of a cheaper brand, you’re likely to find the major brand doesn’t offer a distinctive advantage.
Fitting
You’ll need to check your local regulations before undertaking this project. It’s likely that you’ll need planning permission to mount the solar panels on your roof. Plenty of homeowners are doing this these days, so finding answers quickly shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
You may be able to do most of the work yourself. However, you can’t connect your supply to the main grid without using a qualified electrician.
They can also check your install which will help to keep your insurance company happy. After all, you don’t want to get it wrong, damage your home, and find it’s not insured.