What will be covered in this guide?

  • How to get licenses for solar installation
  • choosing the appropriate equipment
  • Verifying reputable solar contractors
  • Putting your solar system in place

We collaborate with a group of solar industry professionals to provide impartial assessments that enable you to choose the best option for your house.

Since no other website has been covering renewable energy for as long as we have, we have access to more data and intimate knowledge than other websites.

The Ultimate Solar Panel Installation Guide: How to Install Solar Panels

Not sure how to install solar panels but want to go solar? It takes more than just purchasing panels online and watching a few YouTube videos to install them, as you’ll see in this post.

You’ll need to employ a solar business to do the solar panel installation itself if you don’t have previous expertise working in the electrical contracting industry.

Fortunately, there are several trustworthy top solar firms with years of expertise in the field from which to select.

There are a few procedures you’ll need to take to make sure your clean energy system is approved and installed correctly, in addition to choosing the finest firm for your home’s energy requirements.

We’ll go through the procedures you must follow in this post while putting solar panels on your house or place of business.

Use the buttons below to start requesting quotations from nearby installers when you’re ready.

Installation of Solar Panels in Five Steps

You may lessen your reliance on conventional utility providers by installing a home solar power system, which will also pay for most (or all) of your monthly energy costs.

Additionally, it provides a practical way to reduce your environmental impact, leading to cleaner, healthier communities.

Contrary to popular belief, the bulk of factors affecting a solar project’s performance have nothing to do with the installation itself.

There are a few details to keep in mind before moving on to how to install solar panels.

First, expert understanding of solar technology, engineering, and design is necessary for installing solar panels.

In other words, the typical individual will probably want to avoid doing a DIY solar panel installation and instead use local installers who are experts in the field.

More money may be saved over time with a correctly planned PV system than with the majority of do-it-yourself installations.

The installation of solar panels won’t happen overnight, which is the second point to keep in mind.

Even after selecting the finest solar panels for the task, there are still a few crucial installation stages that must be followed to guarantee a dependable, efficient, and successful renewable energy system.

The fundamental stages in installing solar panels are as follows:

Step 1: Conduct A Site Inspection With An Engineer.

The firm will send an expert to your house to assess your present electrical system and make sure everything is suitable with the design of your planned solar panel system once you choose the finest solar installation company for your home and sign a contract.

This engineer could work for the solar firm directly or as a freelancer.

Be aware that the engineer may advise upgrading or replacing your obsolete electrical system if you have one.

Generally speaking, this is a sign that your new solar energy system will need more amps than your existing electrical system can provide.

Your roof will be examined by the engineer in addition to your electrical system.

They must make sure it has a strong structural foundation and can withstand the weight of the solar panels.

The engineer will also be able to inform you whether you want a unique mounting solution, for example for a flat roof.

One of the most crucial aspects in the process is selecting a reliable solar engineer since a solar energy system will only function as well as it is planned.

Do you still need a business to install things? To connect with a local solar installation and get a free estimate, click here.

Step 2: Obtain the Required Permits

You must clear a few administrative hurdles before installing solar panels.

To guarantee that your solar panel installation is lawful and complies with all applicable zoning and safety regulations, you specifically need to get the necessary permissions and documents.

The hassles that may result from installing anything before licenses are granted are unbelievable.

The good news is that although there is a lot of paperwork involved with installing solar panels, your solar business handles the most of it, which may make this stage seem scary.

Even if all you need to do is sometimes provide a signature, it’s still crucial to understand what’s going on in the background.

Your solar installer will submit the following claims:

  • On your behalf, get local electrical and/or construction permits
  • Agreement for interconnection with your local utility (in other words, permission from your utility to install solar and enroll in net metering)
  • Applications for regional or national incentive schemes to reduce the initial cost of solar panels

You may be able to get refunds, tax credits, or other financial help to cover installation expenses by filling out this application.

Your solar installer will need some time to complete all the documentation, and it may take several weeks or more for government agencies to review it all.

Every few days, check in to see how things are doing and receive updates to make sure everything is still going as planned.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease because solar businesses are busy.

Use the buttons below to start requesting quotations from nearby installers when you’re ready.

Step 3: Purchase the Correct Equipment

Your solar installer will be prepared to make an order for your equipment once you have all the necessary licenses and documentation in place.

You will have already chosen the finest solar batteries and inverters for your house at this time, as well as the sorts of solar panels you need.

Typically, these choices are included in a solar proposal that is delivered to you before you sign your contract.

Naturally, you’ll want to make sure you do your study on the various solar panel alternatives and how they operate.

Your solar installer can assist you in choosing equipment that will enable you to meet your solar energy objectives, regardless of whether you desire the most cost-effective or efficient solar panels.

Your name will be added to the installer’s waiting list once your solar equipment has been ordered.

Basically, this means that as soon as your solar panels come from the distributor, you’ll be placed on the schedule for an installer to assemble them.

Step 4: Install Your Solar Panels

The big day finally comes.

Your solar installer will arrive up and begin prepping your roof, especially by confirming that all tiles or shingles are properly connected.

The cabling required to connect your household solar system to the electrical system will then be installed by the technician.

Your installer will install the racking, which holds the solar panels in place, once the wiring have been installed.

The inverter (or numerous microinverters) is linked to the panels once the panels have been put into the racks.

Your installer will also set up a battery bank if you have one.

The duration of the installation of solar panels is one of the most often asked topics.

You should expect the process to take one to three days in total, depending on the size of your property and the extent of the solar panel installation.

This stage of the procedure ought to be the easiest if your solar system is well thought out and developed.

Step 5: Obtain Approval And Connection For Your System.

Your installer will effectively “flip the switch” to turn the system on after it is installed.

Prior to this, you’ll probably need a local government official to inspect and approve your home solar system, providing what is known as authorization to operate (PTO).

In essence, this is only a safety measure to make sure there are new eyes to check the wiring and electrical work.

A representative from your neighborhood utility company is also required to join the system, which entails connecting it to the power grid.

This enables you to continue using power as needed and to securely feed any excess energy back into the grid, which may lead to utility company credits via net metering schemes.

Questions Regarding Solar Panel Installation?

The fundamentals of installing solar panels may be summed up in these five stages.

However, these are just broad principles, and particular actions may differ from one property to another and from one installation to another.

Finding the best solar businesses in your region and scheduling a consultation session would be a wise next step if you have any further inquiries about how to install solar panels.

If you decide to switch to solar electricity, you may learn more about the exact steps involved in installing solar panels and what to anticipate.

To get a free estimate and schedule a meeting with a licensed solar energy installation in your region, visit the links below.

FAQs

Can I set up solar panels myself on my house? –

Technically, you can certainly put solar panels on your own house.

However, unless you have extensive electrical skills and understanding of solar energy, we don’t advise doing this.

Although we have no reason to believe that you won’t be able to complete a satisfying DIY home project, the cutting-edge technology solar companies use to design and plan solar installations can have far more long-term advantages than any savings you might achieve by installing solar panels yourself.

To power a home, how many solar panels are required? –

Depending on how much energy your home uses, you may need fewer or more solar panels to power it.

However, we anticipate that most residences would need at least 10 panels as a minimum.

How are solar panels installed step-by-step? –

The following sequence is often used while installing solar panels.

Note that unless you have prior knowledge in electrical contracting, we advise homeowners to employ experts to do this.

Step 1: Construct a platform for the solar panels or install your racking.

Step 2: Attach the solar panels to the racking and mount them.

Step 3: Wire the solar panels

Step 4: Connect the wire to your control panel

Step 5: Ground your system to ensure its safety.

Step 6: Connect your home’s solar system to

How To Install Solar Panel Videos Suggestions From Youtube

Do It Yourself Solar Power? – Easy DIY Solar Panel Installation! – JerryRigEverything
How to Install Solar Panels | This Old House – This Old House
How to install solar panels yourself on your roof. (It’s easier than you think) – Unbound Solar

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Written by Bob Matsuoka
Bob Matsuoka is a blogger and founder of RVing Beginner blog. He has been blogging for over five years, writing about his own family’s RV adventures, tips for people who are interested in buying an RV or taking their family on an adventure by RV.