Figuring Out How Many Solar Panels You Need for Your Property to use Solar Energy

Solar energy is an excellent way to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels and electricity from power plants that use dirty energy sources. However, when you're first getting started with solar panels, it’s difficult to determine how many solar panels you need. It’s even more difficult if you don't know the size of your system. That’s why you must determine the size of your energy system to see how many solar panels you need to convert to solar energy. 

Determine Size of Your “System” 

The first step in figuring out how many solar panels you need is to determine the size of your system. To do this, you need to use a formula that takes into account several factors:

  • The amount of energy produced by each watt of electricity (or kilowatt)
  • The number of hours per day that sunlight shines on your property
  • The amount of shade on your property (if any) during those hours

There is a formula used by many solar panel companies that helps you figure out the total wattage you would need. The total wattage you need translates into how many solar panels you need. To figure out how many solar panels you need, start with this formula:

  • Energy usage x hours of sunlight in your region x efficiency rating = total wattage needed

Here is an example of the equation would work: 

If a home uses 1,000 kWh per month and gets 4 hours of sunlight per day on average , then its wattage requirement would be 4kWh/day x 1000kWh/month = 4000 watts. Since there are 12 volts in a standard home electrical system and one kilowatt is equal to 1,000 watts, this means that 40 solar panels would be required at 12 volts each--or 80 half-size panels (each one half as big as a full-sized panel).

Your Energy Usage

The amount of energy you need to use depends on your lifestyle. If you live alone and don't have a lot of appliances, then the amount of solar panels needed for your property could be less than if there are several people living in the home. 

The number of people living in the house determines how much electricity is used per month, and therefore, how many solar panels are required to power the home entirely with solar energy. In addition, having appliances such as refrigerators or washing machines also increases consumption levels due to their constant use throughout the day. Homeowners should factor these into their calculations before deciding whether to make the switch to solar energy and how many panels you would need to convert. 

Your Home's Location

Another mandatory step in finding out how many solar panels you need is to figure out where your house is located. Use Google Maps to tell you the latitude and longitude of your property.

You also want to know how far north or south of the equator your property is located. This helps determine how much sunlight hits it during different times of year. The further away from the equator, the less direct sunlight there is during certain seasons. Finally, it's helpful if we know what time of day our panels are facing toward their maximum angle toward the sun (and thus produce more power) and when they face away from this optimal angle (and produce less power).

Why Choose Solar Energy

Solar energy is a renewable source of energy that reduces your reliance on fossil fuels and electricity from power plants. Solar panels produce clean, reliable and affordable power without producing greenhouse gasses or other pollutants. The panels have a long lifespan so they don’t need to be replaced often!

Use the formula provided and information given to figure out how many solar panels you need for your property, but it's always best to consult an expert. If you have any questions about how many solar panels you need or want to learn more about how solar energy works, contact a local solar company like Solar Repair! Our team has experience with solar energy and knows the ins and outs of your local area.

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