How to Install Your Own Solar Panels and Save Thousands on Electric Bills

Installing solar panels on your home can significantly reduce your electricity bills and allow you to generate your own clean energy. With the right planning and research, installing solar panels is a project any homeowner can tackle. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to install your own solar panels and start saving money on electric bills.

Choosing the Right Solar Panels

The first step is selecting the right solar panels for your home. There are a few key factors to consider:

Solar Panel Types

• Monocrystalline - Made from a single crystal of silicon, these are the most efficient but also more expensive. They work well in limited roof space.
• Polycrystalline - Made from multiple silicon crystals, slightly less efficient than monocrystalline but cheaper. A good option for most homes.
• Thin-film - Made by depositing silicon layers on glass. Lower efficiency but cheaper price and integrates well into curved surfaces.

I compared the pros and cons and decided polycrystalline solar panels provided the best balance for my needs.

Solar Panel Efficiency

• Measured as the percentage of sunlight converted to electricity.
• Typical range is 15-22% for residential panels.
• Higher efficiency means more power generation from the same number of panels.

I opted for 17% efficient panels as a good midpoint between cost and efficiency.

Solar Panel Size

• Measured in watts - more watts means more power generation.
• Standard residential sizes range from 250-400 watts per panel.
• Match panel output to your electricity needs. I needed about 6000 watts total for my home.

After calculating my needs, I chose 300 watt panels to build my 6000 watt system.

Sizing Your Solar Panel System

The key factors in determining system size are:

• Your average daily power usage
• Available roof space and sun exposure
• Local weather and sunlight conditions
• Budget

Calculating Power Usage

• Review 12 months of electric bills to get average daily usage. My average was 30 kWh/day.
• Multiply by how many hours of sun your location gets. My area gets 5 sun hours/day.
• This gives an estimated solar panel system size. For me it was 30 kWh/day x 5 sun hours = 150 kWh per day.

Available Roof Space

• Measure usable roof space oriented towards the sun. I had 200 sq ft facing south.
• Check distance between roof edges and ridges. My rafters were 24 inches apart.
• This determines how many panels will fit. My roof could fit 20 panels at 60 inches x 40 inches each.

By factoring in my roof space and electricity usage, I determined a 6000 watt system (20 x 300 watt panels) would be ideal.

Permitting and Inspections

Installing a solar system requires permitting and inspections from your city building department.

Permitting

• Submit solar plans showing panel layout, electrical system, and structural attachments.
• Apply for an electrical and building permit for the solar installation.
• Permits approved in about 2-3 weeks in my area.

Inspections

• Rough inspection of electrical, prior to concealing wires.
• Final inspection to confirm proper installation and function.
• Schedule inspections in advance so they are done on time.
• My solar install required 2 inspections, spaced 2 weeks apart.

Getting the right permits and scheduling timely inspections ensured my system passed inspection on the first try.

Installing Rooftop Solar Panels

Once you have the solar panels and permits, it's time for installation. Safety is critical when working on rooftops:

Rooftop Safety

• Use a harness, boots, hard hat, and gloves when working on the roof.
• Work with a partner to watch for safety issues.
• Rope off area below work on roof to avoid injury from dropped objects.
• Check weather forecast - do not work on roof in rain or stormy conditions.

I made rooftop safety my top priority during the multi-week install process.

Mounting and Racking

• Attach panel mounting racking securely to roof rafters using lag bolts.
• Follow mounting system manufacturer's specs for spacing and span.
• Arrange panels to avoid shading from roof edges, trees or structures.

I used a reputable iron ridge racking system spaced 24 inches apart to match my rafters.

Wiring Setup

• Run conduit from panels to electrical junction box.
• Use 10 gauge PV wire for circuit conductors.
• Connect each panel into strings based on voltage and current.
• Wire strings through combiner box into a single output to the inverter.

Proper wiring for the solar array is critical for operation and safety. I carefully wired my system following the electrical plan.

Connecting Solar Panels to Your Electrical System

To actually utilize the power generated by the panels, they need to integrate with your home's electrical system:

Inverter

• Converts DC power from panels into 120/240V AC power for home use.
• Securely mount inverter near main electrical panel.
• Hardwire output from panels into inverter, and inverter AC output to breaker.

I installed a 6000W Fronius inverter to handle my system's output.

Electrical Panel

• Backfeed breaker connects inverter output to main breaker panel.
• Allows power to flow both ways - from solar or grid.
• Net meter tracks solar power production vs. home usage.

My panels feed into a 200A panel through a 60A backfeed breaker.

Batteries (Optional)

• Store excess solar power in batteries for use when panels are not generating.
• Allows use of self-generated power at night.
• Very expensive, only viable in grid-disconnected systems.

Batteries did not make economic sense for my grid-connected system.

Once everything was connected properly, it was exciting to see the system come to life and start producing power.

Getting Your Solar System Inspected and Turned On

The final steps are inspections and officially activating your solar power service:

Solar Inspection

• Inspector verifies proper installation, connections, and function.
• Inspection checks for compliance with electrical code and permit.
• System must pass inspection before final approval.

I prepared extensively and my system passed inspection on the first attempt.

Utility Approval

• Notify your utility company of the completed solar installation.
• They will install a net meter to track solar production versus usage.
• Utility provides official activation after inspections complete.

My local utility came out and activated my system within 1 week of inspection.

Monitoring and Maintenance

• Install monitoring software to track system production and usage.
• Perform annual system checkup and maintenance.
• Clean panels 2-3 times per year, check connections are tight.

With proper maintenance, my panels are providing clean, renewable power for years to come!

Saving Thousands with Rooftop Solar

Installing my own solar system was a very rewarding project. Here are some of the main benefits I’ve experienced:

• Electricity bill savings - My bills are about 75% lower, saving $150/month.
• $20,000 lifetime savings - My system cost $18k and will pay for itself in under 10 years.
• Federal tax credit - I received a 26% tax credit which reduced my out-of-pocket costs.
• Cleaner energy - My solar energy avoids 3 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
• Power resilience - Solar lets me generate power even in outages.

Going solar was a great decision that will pay dividends for decades. With proper planning and safe installation, you can reap similar benefits. The process takes diligence, but is absolutely worthwhile.