Plan for Solar Electric Power

Before you start your plans for solar electric power, educate yourself in what the changes will mean for you. You may want to be totally self-sufficient and at the same time save money on your utilities. Changing to solar electric power will do both of those things and at the same time you’ll be saving our country by becoming ‘green.’

The best time to decide what is needed will be when the home is built, but many are going ahead and changing out the of electric power to solar electric power to achieve the same success as a new home will provide. So in both new homes and older homes, you should first check the windows and make sure they are double paned. Over time window and doorframes become weathered and aged and they need to be draft proof. Attic insulation also needs to be checked and either upgraded or replaced.

After you’ve checked and find that your home is up to standards, plan your solar electric power. You may need a professional to achieve the greatest success. If you’re planning on doing the project yourself, there are some things that you’ll need. Things like a battery meter and a start-stop switch for the solar power generator.

The professional suggest more outlets, and some could be low voltage outlets that will work well for devices that require little energy. Phone answering machines and fans work well with those. You’ll be able to put more outlets outside and in places like workshops, detached garages, or even gazebos. Place the outlets where more work will take place instead of lighting up the entire area, like desks or workbenches.

Power tools, lawn mowers, and other outside devices will require the outside outlets. Most plugs work on 120 volt power, and the stronger electric needs of 220 or 240 volt could be handled with your former electric power, at least until they find ways to convert the solar electric power to that higher voltage. Then you will be totally self-sufficient, and your utility company may be coming to you to purchase your electricity.

When you decide on solar power, keep that in mind whenever you purchase items that will run off that power. Just remember converted solar power is still electricity and it takes a person familiar with electricity to process the photovoltaic collection panels and battery storage units for use in your home outlets.

SolarGEM specializes in Orange County solar energy, Orange County solar panels, and Riverside solar energy.