Expert Solar Guide: Planning, Installation, & Benefits
Learn from an experienced solar system owner about installation options, roof considerations, & cost calculations
In this video, Ricky (Two Bit Da Vinci) begins by talking about the first step to consider before installing a solar system: planning. People should understand their goals of going solar, whether it's for saving money, helping the environment, self-reliance, or a combination of these reasons. They should also decide if they want an on-grid or off-grid system. Ricky explains the differences between these two options & provides tips on choosing the best solar panel system for different situations.
Ricky starts by suggesting homeowners who plan to install rooftop solar have a good roof with at least 20 years of life left before installing solar panels. Rooftop solar has a number of benefits including making use of otherwise unused space & keeping your attic much cooler in the summer by blocking large areas of your rooftop from the sun. He then moves on to discuss the installation of solar panels. Explaining the installation process & how to connect them in series or parallel to optimize their performance. Also highlighting the pros & cons of each method, such as shading issues & wire size limitations. Overall, the video covers the basic concepts of solar panel installation & the factors to consider when choosing the type of installation.
Ricky then shares his experience with solar panels in their own home & provides calculations for the amount of energy needed to fully offset his family’s usage. They estimate that a 10-kilowatt solar system would produce enough energy to cover most of their annual usage at a cost of around $21,000 after tax credits to install. The speaker notes that there are many factors to consider, such as time of use billing & tiered billing, when considering the cost & benefits of installing a solar system. Perhaps my favorite takeaway from this video is that Ricky’s home, being in California, a state with a high average utility cost per kWh, will only take him just over 4 years to recoup the entire cost of the system! This is in stark contrast to the system he had installed on his previous home about 10 years prior which cost around 3 times more & took 8 years to pay for itself. What a difference & a testament to how far solar technology has come in just over a decade!