Have you ever wondered what kinds of home solar panel systems are available, how much they cost, and how much they will benefit you, and your wallet. Well today I will answer all these questions, along with the installation.
There are 2 main types of home solar panel systems they are as follows, a grid tied, and off grid system. These system vary in use and cost. There is also 2 main types of solar panels, evacuated tubes, and flat plate panels. The differences in these 2 systems is minor but noticeable.
The evacuated tube system is best for northern colder climates, because they use cylindrical tubes which allow for the capturing of sun rays in a 360 degree manner. The tubes also have a special coating on the inside that keeps the solar energy bouncing around inside the tube, allowing for more solar energy to be collected. They are also more adapt for the colder climates because while they trap the light they also trap the heat keeping the tubes from freezing and becoming inoperable. Each collector system has parallel rows of transparent tubes, each containing 2 glass walls(inner and outer), a heat pipe with fin. The prices for an evacuated tube system range between $1,300 and $2,400 per unit.
The flat plate systems are more adept in warmer southern climates due to the design of the flat plates, they have a larger absorber area that’s not insulated for colder climates. Flat plate systems are less costly, but are not as efficient as an evacuated tube system, due to loss in solar insolation cloudy/overcast days. Although they are more cost efficient, easy to install, easy to service and maintain. Flat plate systems average around $700 per unit, some units are more expensive.
The evacuated tube system is assembled in modulars for easier installation, which allows for a more flexible time frame for installation. Just simply install the evacuated tubes after pressurizing the system. On average the installation should take around 1.5 hours per collector to complete, but all it saves is the cost of a contractor to install it. The flat plate systems are very easy to install with general knowledge of plumbing and electrical work. Please Note: Most state laws and utility company’s require a master electrician or certified PV installer to install these systems in order to be eligible for state and federal incentives along with being able to net meter.
