The need for energy is increasing, so the transition to more sustainable forms of energy has become a necessity across the world. Solar power is growing exponentially on an annual basis, and 17% of Australia has been running on solar power since the year 2020 began.
According to solar installation Sydney owner Mina Gilto, solar panels are a great way to save money on electricity, but before you purchase them, you must understand how they work, what their benefits are, and what maintenance tasks are required to get the most out of them. They may need cleaning or require occasional adjustments to ensure they work efficiently.
Maintain your solar panels with the following guidelines so they continue to give you value for money over time.
CleanlinessÂ
Your solar panels need to be kept clean at all times for them to work properly. When dirt builds upon the surface of the panels, their ability to produce energy decreases proportionately with the amount of dirt present. This means more frequent cleaning needs to take place when there is a lot of dust in an area or if your home is located in an area known to have a lot of birds or other wildlife around.
The Angle
The angle at which your solar panels sit determines how much energy they produce per hour. Some panels sit flat while others are angled in such a way that they can be raised or lowered to adjust their positioning according to the time of day and weather conditions. Solar panels should not only face the south direction but they must also be positioned at an angle equal to your latitude minus 15 degrees per hour during all times between 10 am and 4 pm to produce the most amount of energy possible throughout the day. If you live in an area that has winter with long nights, then solar panels will require some adjusting for them to work properly depending on how low below the horizon the sun sets.
Moving Parts & Reflectors
Solar panels require very few moving parts, but when there is excessive movement in your solar panels, it usually means that they are working too hard. The most common moving parts associated with solar panels are the turning of the panels to face south during daylight hours. This is done automatically by sensors located on your home’s roof. When this movement occurs frequently, you may need new mounting brackets or other hardware for your panels because there are likely some loose parts that need to be reattached.
Underperformance
If you notice that your solar energy system is producing far less energy than usual, then that could potentially mean that the sun is not shining as brightly as it used to where you live. However, if this is not the case and all of your panels appear to be functioning properly, then your solar panels may not be receiving the proper number of kilowatts to process. If you believe this is the case, then you will need to check with a professional.
Dead Panels
Your solar panel should flicker or shine slightly when it is being powered on during sunlight hours. If all of your panels remain dark after being powered on, then they will need to be replaced very soon because they have likely reached their lifespan limit and can no longer produce energy efficiently. You may think that replacing these types of panels would cost too much money at first glance, but take into account all of the money you are saving by having them work properly in addition to how expensive it will become if one breaks since the others may follow in quick succession.
Signs of MalfunctioningÂ
If your solar panels are producing energy, but it is quickly being drained by other parts of the system, then you need to inspect all wires and connections because something could be loose or disconnected. Short-circuiting can occur when there are multiple points where electricity is leaving your panels rather than being transferred to different parts of the system for processing. This causes a lower voltage which leads to improper monitoring methods where even more power is lost in the process.
Dead Battery
You should always have a battery connected near the electrical panel of your house if you want to use any extra electricity produced when the daytime skies are overcast, or at night while the sun is not shining. If you notice that this battery remains dead even after the sun has set and your system has been producing various amounts of energy throughout the day, then it may be time to have a professional come out to inspect everything from top to bottom.
