Solar power systems that are installed on your home are amazing they take sunlight and convert it into electricity! It's electrifying! If it is a very sunny day then more electricity will be produced than if it is an overcast day. An can expect to generate around ten watts of power per square foot of solar panel per day. However this figure can vary depending on the size of the panels that you use.

Solar power systems are very expensive to install initially, however once you have paid for the installation they are actually cheaper than paying for your electricity bill! Many people install them just because they help the environment, but others simply install them to save themselves money.

How do they work?

There are five main parts of solar power system. You can attach the actual panels to the roof of your property, although they can also be attached to other areas that receive enough sunlight. Home solar power systems generate power in DC (Direct Current) however if you need to run appliances then you will have to install a converter to convert the DC into AC power. AC power is what you normally receive from your utility company, most non battery powered products run off this.

Another part of the system is the electric panel; this is responsible for connecting the power to your fuse box. Then the power is distributed to wherever you need it.

The fourth part of the system is the meter, this handles any extra power that you generate which can then be sold to the grid. This causes your meter to run backwards which gives you extra money from your utility company. You will also still need a utility company in case you need more energy than your solar system can supply.

There are two different types of systems, you can use an off the grid solar system, or a tied or net metering solar system. Off the grid systems are the simplest these just use the electricity from the solar panels. No extra power can be obtained from a utility company as there are no power lines connected to the house. To make these systems useable you need to use batteries for night time use. It's also a good idea to purchase a generator so that you can get power if you don't have enough juice left in your batteries!

If you opt for a net metering system this is where power lines are still connected to your home, which means you don't need batteries. You basically sell your power back to the electricity company when you are not using it all which causes your meter to spin backwards. When you need extra power at night then your meter will spin forwards. You must talk to your provider before setting up one of these systems as there are several different important regulations.