5 Important Factors to Consider Before Buying a Solar Panel for a Home

Okay, now that you are here it would be safe to assume that you are considering installing solar panels for home and need help with the factors that one must consider before making a final buying decision. Well, that’s a great way to go about buying a solar panel system because it’s very important to do your own research rather than completely relying on solar panel sellers for the relevant information that can help you make the right buying decision. So let’s get started without further ado.

1. Output Capacity

The output capacity of your solar panels would depend on the daily electricity requirement of your property. It is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a solar panel system because underestimation of your daily power requirement would lead to a lack of adequate power generation and you will have to depend on your local grid for balance power requirements. This will add to your monthly energy bills and will also defeat the purpose of installing solar panels. Similarly, overestimating the daily power consumption would mean investing in an oversized solar panel system which again would add to the initial setup cost.

2. Solar Panel Efficiency

Solar panel efficiency is a measure of the amount of solar energy received by a solar panel that gets converted into electrical energy. Higher the solar panel efficiency, the higher the output (electricity produced). But remember, the required efficiency of your solar panels would depend on the location of your property. So let’s say, if your property is located in an area that receives ample sunlight throughout the year, you can go for a solar panel with lower efficiency as it makes more economic sense. However, if your property is located in an area where there’s a lack of ample sunlight on most days because of clouds or because of shading issues then you can consider going for a solar panel with high efficiency.

3. Types of Solar Panels

There are two main types of solar panels available on the market – monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels. Monocrystalline solar panels are far more efficient as compared to polycrystalline solar panels. The cost of monocrystalline solar panels is, however, much higher and so as we suggested in the last point, one must go for a monocrystalline solar panel if their property is located in an area that does not receive ample sunlight. Another major difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels is that monocrystalline panels are smaller in size as compared to polycrystalline panels.

4. Temperature coefficient

One of the most common misconceptions about solar panels is that the higher the temperature, the better their output. The fact is that while the performance of solar panels does increase with temperature but beyond a certain temperature, the output of solar panels begins to deteriorate. The temperature coefficient is a measure of how well a solar panel would perform on a very hot day. The lower the temperature coefficient of a solar panel the less the impact on its efficiency because of the rise in temperature. 

5. Expected Lifespan

On average, the expected lifespan of solar panels is anywhere between 25 to 30 years. Compare different solar panels based on their expected life spans before you make a buying decision. The higher the lifespan, the more the return on investment you can expect. Some solar panel sellers may try to convince you that the expected lifespan of their solar panels is more than the warranty offered by the manufacturer. But we suggest that for return on investment-related calculations, or for any other calculation, the number of years of warranty offered on a solar panel should be considered as its expected lifespan.

Just as Importantly

Besides the above-mentioned factors, one very important factor to consider when buying a solar panel is the solar panel brand that you choose. Make sure you buy from a reputable brand like Luminous India that not only offers quality solar products at reasonable prices but also ensures exceptional after-sales service for its customers.