Here’s Your Solar Panel Installation Checklist

Installing solar panels is a job best left to experts. But, that doesn’t mean that one shouldn’t have the basic knowledge of the process. As a matter of fact, if you know the guidelines for installing solar panels you will be able to tell if the technician you are relying on, for your solar panel installation, is doing their job right or not. That said, in this post, we talk about some of the basic steps to be followed when installing a solar panel. Make sure your solar panel installation technician follows these steps ‘to a T.’ 

Right Solar Panel Installation = Maximum Efficiency

The installation of your solar panel system plays an important role in determining the efficiency of your solar panel system (the output your solar panels deliver). Here are some of the key points to keep in mind in order to maximize your solar panel system’s energy production.

• Number of solar panels required 

Determining the size of your solar power system starts with determining the number of solar panels that are required to produce enough energy to power your home. Therefore, the first step is to identify the number of solar panels that need to be installed on your property. This in turn would help you determine the roof area that is required to install these panels. 

Thumb Rule – For every KW of panels that need to be installed, one needs 3 solar panels of 330W each. The required roof space (or ground area) would be around 100 square feet.

Here’s a chart to help you understand how many solar panels are required for different solar power system sizes. 

• Minimum Shading for Maximum Sunlight

When installing solar panels you need to ensure that your roof gets enough sunlight through the day. Lesser the number of trees or buildings blocking the sunlight from reaching your panels, more the electricity it will produce. If there are any tall trees or buildings near your roof, it is recommended that you get your solar panels installed on an elevated structure. This will help minimize the issue of shading to some extent.

• Direction of the Solar Panel

Solar panels should be installed in a direction where they receive maximum sunlight. India lies in the Northern hemisphere, and therefore, installing solar panels in the south direction is the best option. Use a compass to find out which side of your house faces the south direction.

• Tilt Angle

Tilt Angie (also known as the installation angle) is one of the most important points to keep in mind when getting a solar panel installed on your roof. It is the angle between the roof and the solar panel . It depends on the location of your property. In India, the tilt angle varies from 15 degrees to 40 degrees based on which part of India your property is located. For example – If you are living in JandK you can instal solar panels at 35 degrees. For Telangana, the tilt angle is 12 to 18 degrees.

To select the right tilt angle for your solar panel installation, you can refer to the on-screen easy reference map by Luminous.

The map has been divided into 4 zones with each zone having its own tilt angle range.

Zone 1 – J&K, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand  – 30-35 degrees

Zone 2 – UP, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana – 24-30 degrees

Zone 3 – Gujarat, MP, Jharkhand, WB, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa – 18-24 degrees

Zone 4 – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala – 12-18 degrees

If you have been procrastinating your decision of getting a solar power system installed on your roof, it’s high time you get one installed now. And while this may seem like a huge initial investment, the good thing is that you will be able to recover all your cost within 3 to 5 years from the date of installation. So, if you are convinced and would like to take this forward, get in touch with one of the experts at Luminous, one of India’s most trustworthy and reputable brand.

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