Solar Panels In South Carolina

When properly installed, especially in hurricane-prone areas like Florida, the strict installation regulations ensure that solar panel systems are as safe as the rest of your home and roof. In many circumstances, the added reinforcement actually helps the home and roof fare better in a hurricane than a home without solar panels. Of course, as in any natural disaster, anything can happen and there is no way to guarantee your solar panels won’t sustain damage or be ripped up along with the roof.

Flexible solar panels are limited in the materials they can be made from. Rigid solar panels can be made with more efficient components, and are generally thicker, which means more material to interact with solar rays and produce electricity.

Residential solar panels are typically 65 inches by 39 inches or 3.25 feet by 5.4 feet, although there are some variations among manufacturers. Each panel will also weigh about 40 pounds on average.

In most cases, cleaning your solar panels isn’t really necessary. They get a great rinse off every time it rains. However, if you live in a dry state you may need to clean them from time to time. It’s generally advised that you hire a professional to do this so that you don’t do any unintended damage to your solar panels. However, if you plan to do it yourself, it’s not all that difficult. All you really need is a hose, a good brush, and some patience. Make sure to take your time and gently, but thoroughly scrub the panels until all the dirt and debris is removed.

Solar panels are made from a wide range of materials and chemicals that each contribute to the conversion of solar light into usable electricity. The main component in any solar panel are crystalline silicon wafers. These wafers are semiconductors that are able to generate electricity from sunlight in a process known as the photovoltaic effect.  In addition, solar panels use glass, wires, metal components, and batteries in order to fully convert and store the sunlight as usable energy for your home.

Solar panels have a typical lifespan of 25 to 30 years. Once solar panels reach this point they begin to decline in efficiency. However, with recent advances in solar panel technology, it could make more sense to replace your solar panels in 10 years to maximize the improved efficiency.