Solar Power for Residential Installation

Design Elements

• Installing solar panels encompasses more than just screwing the panels into the roof of a house and calling it done. There are other installation aspects to consider. Placement of the panels is important. Place them where they will receive the greatest amount of sun throughout the day. In addition, study the flow and distribution of the solar panels. The company from which you purchase your solar panels should assist you with the best placement and distribution methods for your type of solar panels. The number of panels you need depends on the design of your house. The best time to attach solar panels is during re-roofing, if possible. It is easier to find the rafters during this time, and it avoids causing damage to the existing roof.

Mount Types

• Two main types of mounts work with solar panels. One mount remains in the same place all year, and the other kind can be rotated during the year to face the ideal sunlight exposure. The first type of mount, known as a flush mount, is the simplest to install on your own. It works on almost any kind of roof, although composite and shingle roofs are the easiest types of roofs to work with. The other type, the roof ground mount style, is more expensive and takes more rooftop space than flush mount systems. It may be best to leave installation of ground mount panels to a professional installer.

Installation Tips

• The following process outlines one of the most common, low-profile installation methods for solar panels. Locate the rafters beneath the roof. Screw mounts into the rafters to provide more mount stability. Lay the mounts on the roof and locate the screw holes. Make outlines around the mounts to ensure level and even placement. Predrill holes into the rafters to hold the mount screws in place. Screw the mounts into place and then screw the metal rails that hold the solar panels in place to the mounts. Install the solar panels to the metal rails and then connect them to the array and inverter.