An Introduction To Residential Solar Shingles Arrays
Today, there is a cost effective and space saving alternative to solar panels. Surprisingly enough, residential solar shingles will generate electricity, as well as keep your roof from leaking. You may even find that you do not need to install them on your entire roof in order to save money.
Basically, solar shingle arrays are every bit as flexible as regular shingles. They can be nailed to the roof, and are about the same size as conventional shingles. That said, in order to make use of the electricity from them, holes will have to be drilled in the roof in order to allow wires through. As may be expected, it might be to your benefit to hire a professional roofer for to install these devices.
Even though you will be using sharp nails to attach solar shingles to your roof, it will not harm them. In addition, you will also find that it is perfectly normal for thermal energy from the sun to cause them to melt. Surprisingly enough, the silicon and other materials will still be able to generate electricity.
Once the shingles are installed, you may be curious to find out how much energy they are generating. For the most part, metering these arrays is not much different than for any other device. You may even find that you want to install special lights that will help you with visually tracking energy production.
You may also want to purchase a concentrator or inverters to help boost electric production from the shingles. Among other things, these can help with providing both AC and DC current. You may also find that certain devices will help amplify the incoming current in order to boost the amperage.
There is no question that solar shingles are a vast improvement over solar panels. In particular, they will not take up any extra room in your yard. Even if you live in an apartment building, you may find that your landlord will be more amenable to installing these devices. As may be expected, solar shingles are also a good bit cheaper than a full solar panels. You may even find that it is worth your while to install a few shingles at a time, until you have enough of them to suit your needs.
Chances are, you may not be able to afford the extra expense of solar panels. In addition, you may find that there is simply not enough room in your yard to install them. That said, solar shingles can provide a number of benefits. Aside from generating electrical current, they will also act just like regular shingles. Therefore, even if you have some leaks in your roof, installing these shingles will help you address two issues at the same time. Without a question, if you are going to have repairs done on your roof, this will be the perfect time to begin working with solar energy. Even if you only save a few dollars by installing one or two, you are sure to appreciate this savings, and look to install more of them. |
