If you are planning to install solar panels into your new home, then it is essential to take a look at some of the factors that might affect the installation.
Here are some things you might need to consider for installing solar panels while building a new house. Keeping these things in mind from the start will save you money, time and regrets later on.
Lay of the land.
The shape of your lot can have a significant impact on the efficiency of your solar panels. For instance, if your block of land has a steep hill on the northern or eastern side, the sun will only hit your solar panels much later in the day compared with a flat block or one with a hill on the southern or western side.
If you’re considering buying a lot in a coastal area, check with your electricity provider whether you’ll need to install solar panels higher than the average salt and wind corrosion rate to make sure your panels can withstand harsh coastal conditions.
Design of the roof.
You don’t need to choose a design solely for the solar panels. There are roof designs that are great and are solar-ready also. You might only need to do some planning on how the solar panels and different roof equipment should be placed. For maximum sunlight, allot the northern portion of the roof for the solar panels. For the other roof structures such as antenna, ventilation pipes, satellite dishes, and skylights, you can place them in the southern part of the roof.
Power supply.
The electric power supply can be of two kinds: the single-phase and the three-phase. The phase is described as the current or voltage present in an existing and neutral cable or the distribution of power load. Usually, homes require less power, and so single-phase power supply can be enough. But if you plan to have solar panels, you might want to consider using a three-phase power supply.
A three-phase power supply will provide your home a more stable voltage, which results in higher production of the inverter. It can export about 15kW to the grid giving you higher feed-in tariffs.
Wirings.
Most of the time, solar wirings are live and can reach up to 600V DC. Solar panel cables cannot be kept safe with a circuit breaker or safety switch, so it must be hidden appropriately to avoid injuries and accidents. The solar cables should be placed before the internal walls are sheeted.
If possible, do not accept a solar pre-wire contract from your builders. It is better to hire the services of solar panel accredited installers to do the work because they are more experienced with the job and will follow set guidelines. They also know the right materials and designs to be used.
Solar panel quality.
If you see yourself spending more than ten years in your new home, you should bear in mind the quality and degradation rate of the panel you will install. It should last and function for as long as you are residing in your new house. Before choosing your solar panels, you can look up through web pages of solar companies to know more about their products.
Location of the inverter.
The good thing about installing solar panels while building a new home is choosing and positioning the solar system pieces of equipment correctly. It is best to place your inverter near to the switchboard to minimise cost and voltage rise. The ideal location for the inverter would be the southern wall or in the garage. You can also opt to connect your inverter to your home network connection so you can also monitor its function and condition.
Lets work together.
Designing a custom home takes a lot of time, and wanting to add a solar panel can add to your workload. However, adequately preparing for it during the build stage will make things a lot easier. Pre-planning the inverter location, land lay, and roof obstacle considerations, etc., are just a few of the things that you need to include in your preparation.
When brainstorming initial build ideas, you can talk to a solar company to ensure that your custom home is as solar-friendly as possible. A good installer will be able to help and guide you each step of the way. Keeping open communication with them is essential to ensure that your build and solar installation progresses as smoothly as possible.
If you’re in Australia or New Zealand looking to incorporate solar power into your new build, give Solar Shop Online a call on 1300 620 290 or contact us online.