Solar panel installation is becoming increasingly commonplace, and within the next 20 years, most households will have some form of solar panel system. The technology behind solar panels is relatively straightforward, but it can appear daunting at first.

However, it’s important that we understand a bit more about it, in the same way that it’s important that you understand a bit about the electrics in your home, or how the water works. Here, we are going to introduce you to the various components of a solar panel system. If you have a solar panel installation, these are the bits of kit they will install.

Solar panels: the most important piece of equipment within the system is the solar panels. There are a number of different types of solar panel, but most are PV cells. PV stands for photovoltaic, and what this basically means is that when light hits the cell it creates voltage (or electricity – a volt is a measurement of electromotive force; don’t worry about the technicalities at this point). PV cells require direct sunlight, so in the UK they work best on south facing roofs.

Mounting brackets: This housing secures the panels to the roof. It is relatively heavy, and so you need to have the roof surveyed to make sure that it is structurally sound enough to support the mounting. Usually, with a solar panel installation, they have their own chartered surveyor look at the roof, but do double check that they have carried out the survey before you agree to the installation.

Wiring: this is self-explanatory. There are numerous wiring components. The solar panels need connecting to each other as well as other items, such as batteries, charge controllers, inverter and junction boxes. There’s a surprising amount of wiring.

Batteries: not all systems will have batteries, but some do. Often, the off-grid systems have batteries but the grid-tied systems don’t. Off-grid means that the electricity is not connected to the mains so doesn’t go back to the national grid. Grid-tied refers to solar panel systems that link to the national grid. With the grid-tied systems, any surplus energy goes back to the grid, but with an off-grid system, it is stored in batteries.

Charge controller: the charge controller controls the electricity stored by the batteries. It helps to prevent it from draining unnecessarily; it also prevents it from over charging. There are a number of different features offered by a charge controller, and this differs between brands and models. The better the model, the more features it offers.

Inverter: an inverted is a piece of equipment that changes the current of the electricity generated from direct current to alternating current. We need inverters because our electrical equipment (e.g. fridges, laptops, TVs, etc.) run on alternating current.

Grounding tools: it’s important that the solar panels be grounded correctly. If they aren't, then they can cause a fire hazard. Grounding tools simply ground the electronics where required.

If you are having a solar panel installation Yorkshire done on your home you will probably end up having PV modules fitted on your roof.

This is for a good reason as these particular panels convert sun and daylight directly into electricity. Thermal panels, however, heat water and for that you would have to have a tank fitted. For domestic use the latter will only heat your water and not power your lights, appliances and heating.

With our weather as it is there is not always an abundance of sunshine, so you need to understand that you will not always produce enough energy. This is especially true in the winter months and in Yorkshire it is also not as sunny as in the South East of the country.

In the winter you will use a combination of home produced energy and electricity supplied by your provider for some of the time. In the summer, however, you are most likely to go into overproduction and you will be able to sell the surplus back to the National Grid.

You may wonder how these payments are made to you. You will receive amounts via your chosen payment methods. These will be made when generation and export meter readings are received. If you do not have an export meter you will receive estimated payments that are based on a 30kW system.

Any good installation company will assess your roof space before giving you a quote. You will need to know whether your roof is strong enough to carry an array of panels. Moreover the position of your roof is very important. If it is north facing it will not be worth your while having panels installed as they will not generate enough amount of energy.

If your roof needs strengthening, you will understand that this will be an extra cost over and above the installation price.

There may be other costs involved before you can apply for the Feed in Tariff. If your home does not have an energy performance certificate, you will have to have one prepared at a cost.

If you own your own home and haven’t got solar panels on the roof then you should now seriously think about it.

Solar panels will decrease the amount of electricity you buy from your normal provider and these are bills that can only increase. It’s more than unlikely that you will have received a letter from the electricity company telling you the price is being reduced.

From an initial online quote to a completed installation can be a swift and trouble free procedure. When you fill in your details including the address and post code the Company will immediately be able to tell you whether your house faces in the right direction to benefit from solar panels.

You should be able to step outside and check the roof is facing south or at least within a maximum thirty degrees of that. It is also important to check the sun’s rays are not obscured by other buildings or perhaps large overhanging trees.

The roof should be exposed to the sun throughout daylight hours and when you have established all this then an online quote is easy and quick to obtain.

A solar panel installation Leicester is the same as any other part of the country and costs just the same in Scotland as it will in Cornwall. The team will arrive the day after some scaffolding has been erected.

Two roofers and an electrician along with a site supervisor will ensure the job is done within two days. The work involves securing a frame for the panel on the roof ideally at a thirty degree angle to the horizontal.

The panels consist of cells that are photosensitive to light and convert light rays into DC electricity. These cells are arranged into groups known as modules and these in turn are linked together into an array.

The more panels you have the greater the electricity production but your home’s roof must be inspected to ensure it will be able to take the weight.

When the work is finished the savings begin and you will see those benefits on your very first bill.

For solar panel installation Leicester please visit at Contact Solar