Solar-panels generate electricity, but not many are aware of the various steps and components involved to get energy from the solar panels on your roof down to your plug sockets.
DC Power From the Panels
Each solar panel generates Direct Current (DC) power which is collected up by cables running down through the roof space, along the exterior of a building or within the wall. The cables are normally bundled together and clipped to the surface of the wall. Each panel is normally wired up in a series to ensure the total voltage is within acceptable limits.
What the Inverter Does
Inverters convert DC power from solar panels into usable AC electricity, which is what homes run on. Most inverters are installed in a loft, garage or utility room and need to be somewhere with reasonable ventilation in close proximity to the consumer unit that the power is fed into. The inverter will also monitor the amount of electricity being produced by your solar panels and will automatically switch off in the unlikely event of a fault on the grid.
Connecting to the Consumer Unit
The AC cable coming from the inverter runs to the house consumer unit (also known as a fuse box). This cable is dedicated for the solar and needs to be sized correctly. A new circuit is created with a suitable sized cable and a new circuit breaker fitted to protect the installation. For more on this, take a look at redbridgeandsons.co.uk/solar-pv-panels/solar-panel-installation-bristol/.
The Generation Meter
A generation meter is connected to record how much electricity is generated by your solar panels. This needs to be an approved meter and will also need to be registered. The reading from the meter will be used to calculate how much you have generated and to pay you under an export tariff scheme. Solar Panel Installation Bristol is worth getting right.
Notifying the Network Operator
The relevant Distribution Network Operator (DNO) must be notified by your installer prior to commissioning your new grid connected solar installation. which is supervised by Ofgem.
By understanding the basic steps that your solar panels go through from roof to plug socket, you will be able to ask the right questions when your installation takes place.
