Basic Home Solar Panels Buyer's Guide

If you are decided to make the switch to solar power then good for you! Solar PV prices have never been lower; in fact it has plunged by around 50% today compared 3 years ago. PVs today also have better efficiency rating, better lifespan and improved protection against the wear and tear of outdoor elements.

Before you buy, make sure to bring a checklist with you considering the following:

Panel Type, Cost and Efficiency
There are a number of home solar panel types each having their pros and cons, be sure to conduct a research before rushing to a dealer and know every basic information about each type so you won't end up buying the most expensive type that doesn't suit your energy needs and environment. Companies exaggerating efficiency rate often are unreliable, on average, solar PV panels in the market today with exception of prototypes have an efficiency rating of about 18% anything higher just isn't possible yet.
Cost may vary depending on the type of solar array and the dealer that you will be buying from, always remember to shop around first to get the best deal possible before pushing through. Just a tip – It is always better to spend a little more on quality rather settling on cheap and often unreliable products.

Know your rebates and incentives
Solar enthusiast may be geeky on this stuff but if you are not, then it is best to browse the web for reliable sources or phone experts on this matter. In general, what you need to know are the current rebates and feed in tariff (FiT) scheme implemented by the federal government and the state. Across the country Queensland's solar rebates and FiT remained stable; some states either closed the scheme down or lowered the rates.

The feed in tariff scheme may seem complex, but is really easy to understand, it oblige the state to pay home solar panel users for the excess electricity that is sent back to the grid which is recorded by your home smart meters given that you abide to the guidelines released by the government (maximum system size per phase, period of application, safety measures and metering type).

Installation
The installation process is very important in achieving the maximum potential of your solar PV system, installers should place the panels on the perfect spot considering shading, intervals between each panels to avoid overheating and proper wiring for safety purposes.

DIY Solar Panels and Windmills Building Guides

For those who would like to build their own solar panels, here are 2 reliable solar panel (+windmill) building guides:

Earth 4 Energy - Make your own solar panels or wind turbine. More info here

Home Made Power Plant - There are some other guides for DIY wind and solar generators, but all of those that I've read don't get into the same details. More info here


About the Author
Premier Solar is committed to being Australia's leading Solar Power & Renewable Energy solutions provider for both homes and medium to large scale commercial solar projects. We are specialists in effective and affordable solar panels System design and use only fully certified installers and product components which pass all government standards and certifications, to enable our customers to access full discounts and rebates, as well enjoy the peace of mind of 25 year warranties from long established manufacturers.

Article Source: Basic Home Solar Panels Buyer's Guide