Solar energy is the most powerful source of energy available. The amount of sunlight hitting the earth at any given moment produces enough solar energy to dwarf any type of generator we’re currently using.
Another bit of good news is that people are catching on. The amount of solar power we generate as a country has multiplied within a few decades.
It’s one thing to talk in terms of nations and statistics, but what does this mean on an individual level? Let’s say you want to switch to solar energy. How many solar panels would you need to power your home?
We’ll talk about that in this article.
Solar Panels and How They Work
While it’s easy to point to a solar panel and claim it’s the way of the future, the specifics are a little more complicated. The first step is sunlight encountering the solar panels and becoming energy.
Most generators, including solar generators, produce direct current electricity at first. Direct current electricity, or DC, is when electricity runs on a straightforward path.
The problem is that most appliances and other large electronics run on Alternating current or AC. AC describes a current where electricity is switching directions rapidly, often dozens of times per second. More energy is generated from AC, which is why it’s the standard for most objects.
From there, the AC electricity is sent into the wires in your house, and the rest is straightforward.
Powering a House
You may be asking – how many solar panels would it take to power my home? The answer is that it varies from house to house, and for several reasons.
One of the key factors is you. How much power do you use per month? You can start by viewing your last few energy bills, then, with a little bit of math, figure out which aspects of your lifestyle require the most electricity. To calculate your home energy needs you can check out this article.
This can be further broken down into other factors like house size, family size, and how often you have the lights on.
The state you live in is also a factor since some states generate more electricity than others. The state with the most solar energy users is North Carolina.
You can find some great people to help you install your solar panels at blueravensolar.com/north-carolina/charlotte/
Calculating Panels
The good news is that you’re not the one who has to calculate this. The power company tracks your electricity use and lists it on your bill.
TO calculate the number of panels you’ll need, divide the wattage number by 1.31 and 1.61. This will account for the amount of sun exposure that you might have access to. Each state is a bit different, but Maine and Arizona are generally agreed to be the states with the lowest and highest amounts of sun exposure, respectively.
Divide the results of those calculations by 250. 250 is an average of how much energy a solar panel will generate. This should give you a sense of how many solar panels you need.
How Many Solar Panels are Needed to Power a House?
How many solar panels do you need to power your home? There’s not a single definitive answer.
We’ve offered some advice on how to calculate it in this article.
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