Chapter 4-Types of Solar panel systems

System1.GRID TIED

Components:Solar panels,Inverter,Net Meter,Circuit Breaker

Grid tied systems work by connecting your solar energy to the electricity grid.You generate solar power and sell the excess power back to the grid.

The advantages of this system is that it is cost effective and you can sell your power when you aren't using it.The disavantages are that you cannot store your solar power.So if there is a power cut,you will only have power if it is sunny outside and your solar panels are making power.

System 2.OFF GRID POWER SYSTEMS.Components:Solar panels,inverter,circuit breaker,batteries,charge controller,backup power

Off grid systems mean you are not connected to the grid-you live in a remote area.These systems are more expensive as you will need storage for your power in the form of batteries.Off grid systems  also require a backup power source.You wiil need backup power if you have many rainy days in a row that use up your stored battery power.
Backup power can also be useful for unexpected heavy power usage-for instance if you have many people to stay at one time.

System 3.GRID TIED WITH BATTERIES

Components:Solar panels,Inverter,circuit breaker,batteries,charge controller,Backup power,Net metering.
The grid tired with batteries system is when you are connected to the grid and you have batteries to store your solar energy.

This is a system where you get the advantage of selling excess power to the grid.Yo also have emergency backup power for when the grid goes down.

If you live off the grid-solar panels are usually a better investment than power cabling to connect to the grid.As a rule thumb-if you live more than 1 mile away from the grid,the cost of connection will be about the same as the cost of a solar system.

Deciding the best type of system for your home

A solar system gives you "free power",unlike the grid,where you are paying for power by the watt.If you live on the grid there is one thing to consider-do you get frequent power cuts?If you do get frequent power cuts,then a grid tired system with batteries will provide emergency backup power for when the grid is down.

Otherwise,a grid tired system will give you the benefits of solar energy and bill savings,without the added expense of batteries.Batteries add approximately 20-30% onto the cost of a grid tied system.