Solar panels come in a bunch of shapes and sizes, so there are a few questions you should ask yourself before you buy. In this blog post, we’ll tackle five things to help you make a choice:
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When pairing your foldable solar panel with your solar generator, you’ll want to consider the capacity of the battery. A larger battery will be suited to a larger solar panel, or even multiple solar panels chained together. However, if your power station has a smaller capacity, you can get away with a much smaller panel as you have less capacity to charge.
Let’s take EcoFlow DELTA Pro as an example of a large power station. It has a Wh capacity, expandable all the way to 25kWh. In this case, a small solar panel will take a long time to charge your unit to full. Here you should use larger panels such as EcoFlow’s 400W panels (coming ), or you can chain multiple smaller 160W panels together. With multiple solar panels, you’ll be able to charge larger EcoFlow power stations in mere hours.
If you’ve got a power station that puts portability first, such as EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro (768Wh) or EcoFlow DELTA (Wh), you might want to opt for smaller panels to stay travel friendly. A good pick here might be a 110W EcoFlow Solar Panel or the 160W option. Again, you can chain panels together here to charge up in 4—8 hours.
If you’re solely looking for home backup, you’ll likely have a larger solar power generator, such as a EcoFlow DELTA Pro or EcoFlow DELTA Max. In this case, the same advice applies, a larger portable solar panel or multiple panels would be best for faster charging. EcoFlow DELTA Pro also supports rooftop solar when the grid is online, a nice touch when integrated with your home via the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel.
With camping on the rise, the need for outdoor power is on the rise too. If you’re heading camping, portability is usually an important factor. Your panel should also be dust + water-resistant. Here, EcoFlow’s 110 or 160W panels would be good picks as they’re compact & efficient too.
With the above in mind, you’ll start to get an idea of what kind of solar panel you need. If portability is more important to you, you might opt for a smaller panel such as EcoFlow’s 110W panel. The larger EcoFlow 160W solar panel is a good middle ground, with the 400W option a good choice if you need to maximize charge speed for larger power stations.
Whichever panel you go for, they’re all foldable, come with a kickstand carry bag, and are dust and water resistant.
TLDR? Here’s a summary. When shopping for a solar panel, you should consider the solar panel’s wattage (the higher, the faster your power station will typically charge), portability, and also dust & water resistance. You should also double-check your solar generator’s limitations for solar input, voltage and ensure it has solar charging ports.
You can weigh up what is most important to you to pick the right panels & compare options here.
As energy becomes all the more expensive, solar panels continue to grow in popularity. Thinking about it: why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of free renewable energy from the Sun? However, installing solar panels is never as easy or straightforward as one might think. There’s the initial expense to consider as well as selecting the best type of solar panel for your home. Then there’s the whole process of getting them installed and hooking them up.
But, this shouldn’t stop you from investing in solar panels. After all, once you’ve got them installed, they’ll save you money on your bills, not to mention add value to your house. That’s why we’ve pulled together this guide on essential things you should know before buying solar panels.
Also check out the pros and cons of buying a home generator, and if you want to maintain a warm house this winter, here's how to save money on your heating bills.
Solar panels essentially convert sunlight into energy. Most can be found on rooftops, but they can be installed almost anywhere where there’s a steady source of sunlight. That’s why the panels on the best solar lights can sometimes be found directly on top of the light.
The generated energy can either be stored in a dedicated battery and then used directly in your home, or fed back to the main electrical grid, which in turn provides credit to your account. In either case, you save on your bills.
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If your roof is old or damaged, it might not be prepared to take the weight of solar panels. You should get it inspected by a professional to confirm if it’s structurally sound. It’s also best to get any necessary repairs fixed before you order your panels. At the very least, your shingles should be relatively new; otherwise, the whole grid will need to be removed to access the repairs in the future.
If your roof can’t take the weight, and you’re not prepared to pay for a replacement, you can alternatively place solar panels in your backyard. Just be sure to aim them in the best direction for sunlight.
There are three main types of solar panel to choose from; monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline is the most common option you will see on residential homes. This is considered to be the most efficient of all the solar panels, but it comes with a steep price as a consequence.
Polycrystalline panels are a little less efficient by comparison, but they don't cost as much. Thin-film panels, on the other hand, have a much finer design, which makes them more flexible and portable. These aren’t as efficient as monocrystalline though. The best option for you will depend on your home and your budget.
And then there's the question of solar panels vs. solar shingles. Solar panels are more traditional, and are lower in cost by comparison. Solar shingles are newer, and rather than sitting on top of your roof, are designed to look like your shingles, so they're more aesthetically pleasing. However, solar shingles are significantly more expensive than solar panels.
Make sure you’re fully aware of the expense of installing solar panels before buying. On average, expect to spend at least $15,000 to $20,000 to buy and install solar panels. You will likely need to hire a professional to install them, and you also need to account for any repairs your roof may require beforehand.
Be prepared that while you will save money on your bills, it will take a long time to make back the initial expense. Many solar panel installers will provide a calculator to see how much you'll save per month if you have solar panels.
One of the biggest questions you'll face is if you should buy or lease your solar panels. If you lease your panels, you don't have to pay a large upfront cost, which is typically around $10,000 or more. However, you do not officially own the panels if you choose this option — the equipment is owned by a third party. Plus, it won’t add value to your property as it’s not a permanent asset, and you won't be able to claim tax deductions.
However, leasing isn’t a total loss. It will still provide savings on your utility bills over time, and you won’t have the initial upfront cost.
Each state and municipality will have its own set of rules in terms of solar panels, and you might need a permit to install them. Check in with your local authority to see what’s required.
Depending on what’s needed, this may take some time to approve, so get this sorted first before browsing and selecting your solar panels. A good installation company will be able to take care of the permitting process, but be sure to ask them.
Another bonus is that some states offer incentives to encourage you to install solar panels. The particulars will depend on your location, but you can get tax rebates and breaks to reward you for your sustainability.
Plus, the federal government provides tax credits to residents as well, so make sure you check what you’re entitled to and take advantage. Again, though, if you're leasing solar panels, you won't be able to claim this rebate.
Solar panels are great for providing electricity when the Sun is out, but what about at night? Many solar panel installers also provide the option of adding a battery backup, so that when the Sun goes down, you can still draw the benefits of your solar panels — and not use power from the grid. A battery backup will add at least $5,000 to the overall cost of your system, but will provide you a source of power in case there's a power outage in your area, without requiring a noisy generator.
Want more information on perc solar panels? Feel free to contact us.