With Solar, I Will NEVER Be Without Power…Right?!!?
Carbon Dan here from Carbon Recall, your neighborhood solar experts. We have spoken with a lot of people about solar panels for their home, and have found that we run into certain myths or misconceptions about the industry all the time!
Whether these myths are driven by an eager marketing industry, or just common knowledge that everybody seems to have unofficially shared...like blowing in the cartridge of an NES game did MORE damage than good..but be honest, we ALL did it!
Anyhow, back on point. For those who have already ventured down the path in considering solar, you may already know this, but just in case here is a refresher.
Today, we will start with one of the biggest myths in this industry…will my solar panels function during a power outage? Not a chance, and here's why. (Ok, well maybe a chance, but only with a battery)
I will dive into the ‘why’ momentarily, but the ‘Too Long; Didn't Read’ (TL;DR) version is simply this: For safety reasons, the technology prevents solar panels from back feeding into the utility grid during a power outage.
This tends to stump a lot of readers, especially those familiar with powering their homes using a generator during a power outage.
Yes, there is a manual shut off switch that you can trigger during a power outage in order to use a generator in order to avoid this issue.
The problem though is not with the shut off switch, it's with the inverters. The inverters act as the gateway between your solar panels and the electric panel in your house. In the event of a neighborhood power outage, those inverters will stop working, so no power is even reaching your breaker box.
The best way to get around this is with a battery backup system, which can do 2 really amazing things.
Batteries can provide power to the inverters, allowing the panels to work
Batteries can recharge themselves each day, assuming you have enough sunlight
There is 1 more big reason to consider a battery besides just grid independence, and that comes in the form of savings by avoiding TOU (Time of Use) rates. TOU Rates, means that the electric companies will often charge you less for the electricity during the day, when the house is empty, and more for the electricity in the evening, when everybody is home…and coincidentally when the sun is down.
Without a battery, you will fall victim to those higher rates even with solar panels, because you will need to rely on the grid in the evening, during storms, and of course the painful power outage. But with a battery, you can charge your system during the day, and use the battery in the evening.
So yeah, if you are considering solar, go the whole way and get a battery, it will more than pay for itself in the long run.
Anyhow, now you know, and knowing is power.
Got another myth you would like to have addressed, leave it in the comments and we will try to get to it.
Looking for more reading on becoming grid independent, then check out our series on ‘Achieving a Net0 Home’, and yes, it is absolutely possible!!
Until next time energy heroes!
Ready to see what a system for your home would cost? Get in touch with us today for a free, no obligation, quote…unless you are trying to lease your system…again, please don’t do that.
Carbon Recall York
803-306-NET0 (6380)
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