The 10 Best Solar Panel Kits for Homes in 2024

The changing climate from the extensive use of fossil fuels and the growing energy demand is giving an option to everyone to be a part of the hopeful and sustainable future of our species and our Earth. Choosing solar panel kits for your home or business and installing them on the roof of your home or ground is the most profitable option for you and our planet. 

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What Are The Best Solar Panel Kits?

With the rise and adaptation of solar technology, DIY solar panel kits are available in a wide variety. Here are the 10 best solar panels kits, They are classified into two sections:

• Complete off-grid solar panel kits for homes and small businesses.
• Solar panel Kits for RVs, Boats, Batteries, and Gadgets.

1. SunPower Equinox System (SunPower Went Bankrupt)

This system can be easily customized for anyone. Depending on the load demand and budget of the consumer, the system by SunPower has the ability to be very fruitful if we consider “value for money”. High power generation as compared to other available solar systems in lesser space and a 25-year warranty on almost everything is commendable. This system deserves a 5/5 rating but the unavailability of costing and assumption of it being on a bit higher side is for sure a 4.5/5. 

Design: The proprietary solar system from SunPower is more of a customized offering. It depends on the space available and the type of load you are connecting to the system. The company claims 55% more energy than conventional solar panels at the same place installed for the same time scale. 

The proprietary Maxeon solar cell technology and the solar panels like the X-series manufactured in-house have an efficiency of 21% and more. The copper foundation of the solar cells and hence the solar panel make them more durable and long-lasting. The direct current from each solar panel is converted to the alternating current near the panel by a microinverter like Enphase IQ 7X. From the micro-inverter, either it is supplied to the connected load to the grid, or to the energy storage option available from SunPower as SunVault. The battery system in this system is allowed to power essential loads of the house of business in case of a power outage. 

Convenient Feature: Most or all the components are of the same company making it more reliable and aesthetically correct. The solar panels, microinverters, mounting frames, and energy storage with the help of a monitoring system make it an ideal system for homes or businesses. The system generates more power in less space, less use of hardware, easy connection to energy storage, and a lifetime warranty with ease of monitoring are very convenient features. 

Equipment specifications for customized installations

2. 5000 Watt (5kW) DIY Solar Install Kit with Micro-inverters [Rooftop]

Efficient technology and design make this solar panel kit for the ones who really want to get full use of the sun’s free resources. This solar kit will not only give financial savings in the long run but also provide energy independence. Also, you will contribute to the fight against climate change. 

This solar panel kit is available in different sizes or wattages. Depending on your monthly usage, you can select the one that adapts for you. We have classified these depending on expected power output, the number of solar panels, the area required for panels, and the expected price range. 

Equipment Specifications for 5kW solar panel kit:

• Solar panel- Tier 1 60 cell Mono-crystalline solar panel. 17 in number
• Inverter– Enphase micro-inverter, 17 in number
• Panels mounting- IronRidge racking structure. 
• Monitoring system

Other components required are to be bought from your nearest Home Depot for which a list will be provided. 

Design: The Phono Solar, 310W, 60 cells, mono-crystalline, all-black solar panel has around 19% efficiency in standard conditions, which is considered good. For a 5kW system, 17 solar panels are connected which requires 400 square feet of roof space. The micro-inverters are attached along each solar panel to convert direct current to alternating current for further supply. For a system facing south in the USA or Canada, this system can produce 320-850 units per month if 5 hours of sun is available each day.   

The electricity supply from the solar panel kit is then supplied to a junction box from where it is supplied to loads at home or if in excess it is supplied to the grid from the point of common coupling.  

Convenient features: The micro-inverter is one of the advanced technologies that solve some acute problems of a string inverter. This technology in a solar panel kit on your rooftop makes it safest for generating direct current electricity and instantly converting it to alternating current electricity.

Also, each individual micro-inverter on each solar panel makes it a separate entity, being only responsible for its own current and voltage characteristics. In the case of a string inverter whole system operates at the lowest voltage and current as per the shaded or lowest power output solar panel.

The solar panel kit can be expanded easily if it is necessary, required, or wanted. Again one single inverter does not decide the capable size of the solar system as per its capacity. But a micro-inverter on a solar panel can do this expansion with ease.

Wattage	No. of panels	Area required	Average Power  Output/month	Price
2kW	7	About 160 sq. ft	175-375 kWh	$4,646
3kW	10	Up to 300 sq. ft	225-500 kWh	$6,067
4kW	14	Almost 300 sq. ft	300-750 kWh	$7,777
5kW	17	Up to 400 sq. ft	350-850 kWh	$9,139
6kW	20	Up to 450 sq. ft	400-1000 kWh	$10,440
7kW	23	About 500 sq. ft	450-1200 kWh	$11,766
10kW	33	About 670 sq. ft	800 – 1800 kWh	$16,200
15kW	49	Up to 900 sq. ft	1000- 2500 kWh	$23,730
20kW	65	About 1333 sq. ft	1500- 3000kWh	$30,851

3. 5000 Watt (5kW) DIY Solar Install Kit with Solar Edge Inverter or Power conditioning unit [Rooftop]

This solar kit is efficient and can provide electricity supply to homes or small businesses. The power optimization makes it an advanced system as compared to systems having a direct connection of solar panel array and string inverter, thus improving efficiency and performance.

The string inverter is the most mature and reliable technology that does not comply with the life of the whole system like a micro-inverter and also diminishes the possibility of expanding the system. On the other hand, a possible battery connection makes it an ideal choice for homes or businesses in need of power backup. Also if you want to use energy generated during the day at night, having a battery is a great option. 

This solar panel kit is available in different sizes or wattages. Depending on your monthly usage, you can select the one that adapts for you. We have classified these depending on expected power output, the number of solar panels, the area required for panels, and the expected price range.

Equipment Specifications for 5kW solar panel kit:

• Solar panel: Tier 1 60 cell Mono-crystalline solar panel. 17 in number
• Power Optimizer: SolarEdge Power Optimizer with MPPT technology. 17 in number
• Inverter: SolarEdge Inverter
• Panels mounting- IronRidge racking structure. 
• Monitoring system

Other components required are to be bought from your nearest Home Depot for which a list will be provided. 

Design: The 310-watt PhonoSolar 60-cell mono-crystalline solar panels which appear all black in color are efficient in solar energy conversion to electrical energy. In a 5kW solar panel kit, 17 of these are connected to form an array. Each solar panel is connected to a power optimizer which refines the DC current and sends it to the battery or inverter. The inverter converts DC to AC and is supplied to the load or connected grid. 

For a 5kW solar kit facing south in the USA or Canada, getting 5 hours of sun each day for a month can generate 350-850 kWh, taking 400 sq ft. of your roof space. 

Convenient feature: To each solar panel or module a power optimizer is connected which refines and regulates the direct current generated by the panel. This is done by the MPPT or maximum power point tracking technology which optimizes the current and voltage from each panel to its optimum level. Like the micro-inverter, the power optimizer treats each solar panel as a separate entity, and any shade or redundancy in any one solar panel does not affect the output of the whole system. 

The current optimized by the power optimizer is DC to DC which is then supplied to the string inverter. The string inverter or centralized inverter converts DC to AC or alternating current which is supplied to the connected load or the grid via the control panel or the junction box. 

The addition of a battery is also possible in this kit if required. For the same system, Tesla’s Powerwall can also be connected and is compatible.  Having a battery is a nice option if you want to go totally off the grid and use only solar energy as your power source.

Wattage	No. of panels	Area required	Average Power  Output/month	Price
4kW	14	Almost 300 sq. ft	300-750 kWh	$7,486
5kW	17	Up to 400 sq. ft	350-850 kWh	$8,605
6kW	20	Up to 450 sq. ft	400-1000 kWh	$10,005
7kW	23	About 500 sq. ft	450-1200 kWh	$11,088
8kW	26	About 600 sq ft	500-1400 kWh	$12,604
9kW	30	Over 600 sq ft	800-1500 kWh	$13,723
10kW	33	About 670 sq. ft	1000 – 1500 kWh	$15,133
15kW	49	Up to 1200 sq. ft	1100- 2500 kWh	$22,575
20kW	65	About 1333 sq. ft	2000- 3000 kWh	$29,240
30kW	97	Over 1800 sq. ft	3000- 4000 kWh	$43,348

4. 5000 Watt (5kW) DIY Solar Panel Kit with String Inverter [Rooftop]

This solar panel kit for home or business use can satisfy their energy needs, depending on the size of the system and connected load. The simplicity in the design of the whole system makes it a cheaper option but also less efficient. If solar energy resources is available in good quantity and you need your system to pay back early, this is a good option. 

String inverter technology is more than 40 years old now but still is not as efficient as new technologies like micro-inverter and power optimizers. Also expanding the system is not easily possible until you change your inverter. The size of the solar array generating electricity needs to satisfy the size of the string inverter and any addition or removal of the solar panel has to be synchronized with the string inverter. 

Energy storage is also possible in this kit but a charge controller is required to manage energy storage by batteries. Connection to the electricity grid also enhances the viability of this solar panel kit with the added advantage of selling electricity to the grid and gaining additional monetary benefits. 

This solar panel kit is available in different sizes or wattages. Depending on your monthly usage, you can select the one that adapts for you. We have classified these depending on expected power output, the number of solar panels, the area required for panels, and the expected price range.

Equipment Specifications for 5kW solar panel kit:

• Solar panel: Tier 1 60 cell Mono-crystalline solar panel. 17 in number
• Inverter: SMA Sunny Boy grid-tied string inverter
• Panels mounting- IronRidge racking structure. 
• Monitoring system

Other components required are to be bought from your nearest Home Depot for which a list will be provided. 

Design: The PhonoSolar 60-cell monocrystalline solar panels, 17 in number for the 5kW system are connected to the Sunny Boy string inverter. Direct current or DC from solar panels connected to each other is supplied to the string inverter and DC power is converted to AC power. Through a junction box or control panel, this electricity is supplied to loads at home or to the electricity grid if generation is in excess of being used at home. 

A 5kW solar panel kit facing south in the USA or Canada, getting 5 hours of direct sun each day can produce 350 – 850 kWh in a month. 

Convenient features: The simplicity of the whole design of this system is its benefit. The ease and speed of installation and no use of costly components like micro-inverters or power optimizers reduce the price of the whole system. The string inverter with integrated MPPT technology refinement of current and voltage from the whole system. This makes it work in a much more efficient and cheap manner. 

Wattage  (kW)	No. of panels	Area approx required	Average Power  Output per month	Price range
3kW	10	Almost 250 sq. ft	200-500 kWh	$5,183
4kW	13	Up to 300 sq. ft	300-750 kWh	$6,299
5kW	17	Up to 400 sq. ft	350-850kWh	$7,228
6kW	20	About 450 sq. ft	400-1000 kWh	$8,124
7kW	23	About 500 sq ft	450-1200 kWh	$8,930
8kW	26	Over 600 sq ft	500-1400 kWh	$10,235
9kW	30	About 650 sq. ft	550 – 1500 kWh	$11,205
10kW	33	Over 700 sq. ft	1000-1500kWh	$12,178
15kW	49	About 1600 sq. ft	1400- 3000 kWh	$17,804
20kW	65	Over 2000 sq. ft	2000- 3000 kWh	$22,863

5. (6000W) Solar Panel Ground Mount Installation Kit

If you have plenty of unused space near your home or business, this is the best option to go for. A bigger installation will give you the advantage of selling electricity to the grid and generating revenue. Being cheap and efficient this solar kit can give a good return on investment and make you more money and not only save it.

This solar panel kit is available in different sizes or wattages. Depending on your monthly usage, you can select the one that adapts for you. We have classified these depending on expected power output, the number of solar panels, the area required for panels, and the expected price range.

Equipment Specifications for 6kW solar panel kit:

• Solar panel: Tier 1, 144 cells mono-crystalline solar panel, 15 in number
• Inverter:  SMA Sunny Boy string inverter
• Panels mounting- IronRidge ground mounts racking structure. 
• Monitoring system

Other components required are to be bought from your nearest Home Depot for which a list will be provided. 

Design: The ground mount solar system is an ideal choice if there is plenty of unused ground space near your home or business location. Provided it receives direct sunlight from the south for the northern hemisphere and vice versa. 

The Phono Solar 400 Watt monocrystalline solar panel is one of the best solar panels on the market. The manufacturers claim an efficiency of around 19.9%, which is very impressive. These panels generate direct current and supply it to the string inverter. The stable and secure SMA Sunny Boy inverter then converts it to alternating current and supplies it to the load or the grid. 

Convenient feature: No changes in the roof structure of your home or business are required for this solar panel kit. If you have enough space, electricity can be generated to the maximum amount you want to generate. The efficient panels and inverter once installed will generate electricity and supply for their lifetime. 

The simple and easy design of this solar panel kit makes it an ideal choice for people with unused space and low investment with an efficient generation profile making it quick to pay back its investment.

Wattage  (kW)	No. of panels	Area approx required	Average Power  Output per month	Price range
3kW	8	Almost 300 sq. ft	300-750 kWh	$4,852
4kW	10	Over 300 sq. ft	300-750 kWh	$6,049
5kW	13	Up to 400 sq. ft	350-850kWh	$7,228
6kW	15	About 460 sq. ft	400-1000 kWh	$8,123
7kW	18	About 500 sq ft	450-1200 kWh	$9,503
8kW	20	Up to 600 sq ft	500-1400 kWh	$10,696
9kW	23	Over 600 sq. ft	800- 1400 kWh	$11,785
10kW	25	Over 650 sq. ft	1000-1467kWh	$13,157
15kW	38	Over  900 sq. ft	1500- 2000 kWh	$20,322
20kW	50	About 1333 sq. ft	2000- 3000 kWh	$27,644
30kW	75	Over 1800 sq. ft	2400-4200 kWh	$41,695
40kW	100	Over 2400 sq. ft	3200-5600 kWh	$52,670

6. HQST 600 Watt 12 Volt Mono-crystalline Solar Panel Kit

A very well-designed solar panel kit, till the power is out from the charge controller. A good battery bank with an inverter to power AC loads can make this kit a very useful component of every household. It is a cheap and good option to explore solar power and make satisfying use of it.

This kit is available with basically two types of solar panel choices, mono-crystalline, and poly-crystalline, with cable tray and without it. All the variants have the same technical specifications. It is just that mono-crystalline panels are costlier than poly-crystalline solar panels and so the differentiating price. 

Equipment specification

• Solar panel- 100 Watt x 6 mono-crystalline solar panel (35.6 x 25.9 x 1.2 inch in dimensions) 
• Charge Controller- 40 Ampere 12/24V with Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) technology
• Cables and connectors: 20 feet of 12 AWG (American Wire Gauge) cable to connect solar panels in an array and array to the controller. A pair of Y branch connectors. 
• Junction box: IP65
• Mounting of panels: 6 sets of Z brackets
• Monitoring system: LCD display 

The design and purpose of this solar kit are to charge a portable battery.

Design: It is a small and compact design to carry your energy generator along with you. In this 6 Mono-crystalline solar panels with 100W capacity of each supply direct current (DC) with a potential of 12V and strength of 8A. They do so when exposed to direct sunlight. This DC is supplied from a solar panel junction box and their array through 12 AWG cables to a solar charge controller. The MPPT solar charge controller refines the input of current with controlled input to a battery (you need to buy one). The solar generation by the solar panels and input to the charge controller can be monitored by an inclusive LCD display.

Power output: If 5 hours of direct sun is available to this solar kit each day, it should generate around 2-2.5 kWh of energy which will be more than 200Ah of battery storage. 

Convenient feature: For any beginner to start experiencing solar power generation, this is a great fit. The small size of the whole system makes it portable and widely usable. An efficient mono-crystalline panel with an efficiency of at least 19% is the best fit for portable power generation. Do you need to run a small water pump, fan, or charge mobile devices, and laptops? It’ll serve them all. 

7. ECO-WORTHY 400W 24V Complete Solar Panel Kit with Battery and Inverter

This solar panel kit can be used for minimal power consumption. Efficient solar panels in this kit make it suitable for locations with high insolation levels. The availability of all the components of a solar system in one kit at this price is really good. 

Other variants of the same solar kit are available with a Power Width Modulator (PWM) but lack an inverter and battery for the same. It is also priced at half of what is discussed above.  

Equipment specification

• Solar panel: 24Volt, 100 Watt Mono-crystalline solar panel, 4 in No. 
• Charge Controller: 60A charge controller
• Cables and connectors: 1 pair of 16.4ft 12AWG Solar Cable, 1pc 6.56ft 13AWG Tray Cable and 1 pair of 14inch 5AWG Battery Cable
• Inverter: 24V-110V 1500W Pure Sine Wave Inverter
• Battery: 100 Ah capacity, 2 in No. 
• Mounting of panels: 4 sets of Z mounting brackets
• Monitoring system: Embedded in charge controller

Design: This solar panel kit is small in size and is equipped with a complete set of equipment to generate solar energy. Mono-crystalline panels connected in an array to give an output of 400W at 24V potential are connected to the charge controller. The charge controller manages the current and supplies it to the battery, which is connected to an inverter that converts DC to AC. 

Solar panels, mounting, connectors, cables, charge controller, battery, and inverter make it an ideal system at this scale. 

Power output: With 4 hours of full sunshine the panels can generate 1.6kWh of electricity but if we consider losses, 1.2-1.3 kWh energy should be assumed. This amounts to 100Ah battery capacity and depending on usage, a number of batteries can be considered.

Convenient feature: The most convenient feature of this solar panel kit is the design with all the components required in the solar system. From generation to storage and also the consumption of electricity makes it a good choice for beginners. 

8. Renogy 200 Watt 12 Volt Mono-crystalline Solar Starter

This starter kit at its price is good for any beginner who wants to explore solar energy. A small battery and inverter would have completed it for actual use. At present use in an RV or boat with a battery is possible. Otherwise, a small battery and inverter are required to complete it. 

Another variant of the same kit is available with PWM technology but efficiency from this kit can be extracted with MPPT only. 

Equipment specification

• Solar panel: A mono-crystalline solar panel with 21% efficiency
• Charge Controller: Renogy Rover 20A Li MPPT charge controller
• Cables and connectors: Renogy 20ft 10AWG Solar Panel Connectors Adaptor Kit and Renogy 8ft 10AWG Tray Cables.
• Mounting of panels: Mounting Z brackets
• Monitoring system: Display in charge controller

Design: This is a very simple design and easy to install for any beginner. In this, a 200-watt monocrystalline solar panel gives 12V and 16A of DC current to the Renogy Rover charge controller. The MPPT in charge controller maintains maximum output from the solar panel. The charge controller also manages battery charging with optimum power input to the battery. 

Power output: For 5 hours of full sunshine on the panel, this kit can give about 800 Wh of DC electricity. 

Convenient feature: The efficient solar panel with an MPPT charge controller makes this an efficient solar system. Most of the components required to connect the solar kit are given along. 

9. BougeRV 200W 12V Mono-crystalline solar charger

With this price tag, this is what you can get. If invested in this solar kit a good power generator can be a good option to use in everyday life.

Equipment specification

• Solar panel: 180-watt monocrystalline solar panel
• Charge Controller: MPPT charge controller
• Cables and connectors: 20ft. 10AWG solar extension cable
• Monitoring system: LCD display

Design: A very small and efficient design with minimal parts makes it a good choice for small-scale applications. This 180-watt mono-crystalline solar panel generates a current at a potential of 12V and 15A. This current is supplied to the MPPT charge controller which has an LCD display attached to monitor the electricity generation. 

Power output: For 5 hours of full sunshine, this kit should generate 700-800 Wh. 

Convenient feature: The efficiency and sturdiness of the panel and MPPT charge controller refine the current being generated and supplied ahead. The expandable option of this kit makes it a very good choice. 

10. TP-solar Solar Panel Kit 100 Watt 12 Volt Mono-crystalline Off-Grid System for Homes, RV, and Boat

The compact design of this kit is something to look for and at this price, this is a fine deal. Other components need to be connected to make full use of this kit.

Equipment specification

• Solar panel: 100 watts, 12 Volt Mono-crystalline solar panel
• Charge Controller: PWM or Power Width Modulator
• Cables and connectors: 1 pair 16ft, red and black cable
• Mounting of panels: 4 Z mounting brackets
• Monitoring system: LCD display

Design: The mono-crystalline panel of 100-watt capacity generates electricity at 12V and 8A. This current is supplied to the PWM charge controller. From there DC is supplied to the battery and inverter etc. 

Power output: For 5 hours of full sunshine in a day, this solar kit can generate around 350-400 Wh.

Convenient feature: The compact design and easy-to-install and connect system is its convenient feature. Also, this solar kit is expandable and any possibility of expanding the solar system can be explored.

9 Things to consider before choosing a solar panel kit

Choosing a solar panel kit for a home or small business can be a bit confusing if there is little or no knowledge about the same. Before purchasing our chosen options of solar kits, it will be good to understand what is required to consider before choosing a solar panel kit for home and small businesses:

Potential Of Solar Resources at Location

The potential of solar resources striking a particular surface on Earth is defined by insolation. It is the solar energy per unit area for a particular time. Understanding the potential of solar energy for a particular location is essential for designing and installation of solar energy systems. As a general rule of thumb, locations near the Earth’s equator have high insolation levels compared to locations further north or south of the equator.

A device known as a pyranometer is generally used by professional solar installers to get detailed solar insolation levels of sight. One other way to get an idea about the potential of solar radiation in your location Global Solar Atlas can be used which can also be explored to get an idea about solar energy output from your site. 

Identify Installation Area

After confirming the solar data for your location, the area, where solar panels are to be installed, should be finalized. For global locations in the northern hemisphere, the panels should face in the south direction, and for locations in the southern hemisphere; panels should face in the north direction. Solar panels can be installed on slanting roofs, flat roofs, or ground. 

Solar panels should be totally avoided from the shaded area as it affects the output of the solar system. Also, the accessibility to cleaning the panels is an added advantage. Solar panel installation areas should be carefully selected as these once installed should stay there for their lifetime. 

Another thing to be considered about the installation of panels is their slant. The solar panels are installed in a slanting manner as this slant makes them directly face the sun and get maximum solar radiation. Another rule of thumb to keep this slant is to know the latitude of your location and keep the solar panel at or about the angle the same as the latitude.

For example let us say California has a latitude of 36^o27’, the solar panel in California if installed at an angle of 36^o from the ground will directly face the sun.

Define Your Consumption Or Load 

What amount of electricity do you consume per day, per month, or per year is a question to make yourself more aware of your energy-consuming habits. It is a fact that energy conservation is also energy generation. To install a solar panel system or any energy-generating system for your home or business should start by defining energy consumption and if possible bringing it to the least. 

Or how much electricity do you want to consume from your solar system? Or what specific devices do you want to power your solar system? These questions should be answered before installing a solar system. Being aware of your electricity consumption or electricity supply, if available in excess makes you more energy conscious. This will not only profit you economically but also make you climate-conscious leading by example.  

So understanding your consumption or load to be supplied by solar panel kit is essential before choosing one too. 

Electricity Storage Or Battery Required Or Not

Having an off-solar grid system for your home or business is like getting out of the electricity transmission line which everyone is part of. This requires energy storage technology like batteries and also very efficient consumption of energy. 

If power cuts are not a major problem in your area which is too seldom in developed countries, batteries or energy storage can be opted out. Instead, an on-grid solar system (without batteries) is more beneficial as electricity can be supplied back to the grid and extra money can be earned or saved. 

Batteries can be used if a backup is required in case of usual power cuts or if the energy produced during the day is to be used at night. Adding a battery to a solar panel system comes with additional costs and should be thoroughly thought out before opting for it.  

Type Of Solar Panel Required

There are many types of solar panels being invented and researched. The type of solar panel means the type of semiconducting material used to make a solar cell. A solar panel is comprised of a number of solar cells. 

Mono-crystalline, poly-crystalline, amorphous, and thin-film are the major types of solar panels being commercially used. Of these mono-crystalline and poly or multi-crystalline solar panels are widely used. Mono-crystalline solar panels are made up of single silicon crystal doped silicon cells and are most efficient but costly.

Similarly, poly-crystalline solar panels are made up of more than one doped silicon crystal, these are cheaper and less efficient than mono. Doped silicon here means the silicon cells are added with impurities like phosphorous which makes them generate electricity when photons of sunlight fall on them. 

Amorphous and thin-film solar panels are light in weight, cheaper, and require more space to generate electricity as compared to mono and poly-crystalline solar cells. Depending on your space, budget, and expected payback period, solar panels should be chosen.

Type Of Solar Inverter Required

Solar panels generate direct current or DC and it is not used in our homes or businesses. DC can charge up batteries directly or equipment requiring DC to operate. To convert DC to alternating current or AC, inverters are used. 

There are two types of inverters in the market string inverters and micro-inverter. A string inverter is connected to an array of solar panels and converts DC to AC which is supplied ahead. A micro-inverter is attached to each solar panel which converts DC to AC. 

The life of the string inverter is less compared to the micro-inverter but is also cheaper than the latter. The inverter is the second most essential component of the solar system after solar panels and should be carefully chosen. The efficiency and life of the solar system also depend on the inverter which also plays a crucial role when the solar system is tied to the grid. 

Efficiency Of Solar Panel System

The amount of solar radiation falling on solar panels is not fully transmitted to the load connected to them. The efficiency of solar panels, inverters, batteries, wiring, etc all play their roles in delivering power out of the solar system. 

Some solar panel kits claim 15% efficiency and others claim 20% or more, which all depends on the type of solar panel, inverter, and wiring used. Also, the variation in sunlight during the time of day, months, and seasons vary the output of the solar system. Clouds, dust, and dander play their role too in varying the efficiency of the solar system. 

Also, with time efficiency of these components decrease and they will not give the same output continuously for their lifetime.  

Warranty available or not

Solar panel kit supplier giving warranty assurance on panels is a must when going for such installation. Solar panel manufacturers claim 25 years is the working life of solar panels. String inverters can go for 10 years and micro-inverters can go for 20 years. It depends on the type of technology used and the efficacy of the manufacturer on the tested and proven life of components. 

Payback period

In how much time the amount invested in the solar panel kit will be returned by the generation of electricity from the same? This calculation depends on the solar radiation available, the type of solar panel, and other components used. Usually, if you are able to cover the upfront cost of a solar system in 5-6 years, it is the way to go. Also if it takes 10 years, still it is beneficial. 

We have to consider the fact that the solar panel system or kit installed today will generate electricity at the same rate for the next 25 years or so. But the electricity supplied from the grid by your power supplier constantly increases from one year to another. 

It is just that your location should be not so solar energy deficient that it takes 25 years or more to pay back for your installation. 

It Is Your Turn

Solar energy is widely available in most parts of the world. According to NOAA, 173,000 terawatts of solar energy strike Earth continuously and it is 10,000 times more than the total global energy use. This availability of solar resources makes it an ideal candidate to be the prime source of energy supply for human consumption. 

Solar photovoltaic technology also termed solar PV has matured in the past decades. From the initial use of solar panels powering satellites orbiting the Earth, to the present use in charging mobile devices with integrated battery technology, this technology has penetrated society. Continuous research and development have increased the efficiency of solar photovoltaic technology and have also brought the prices low enough to compete with conventional electricity.  

Any best solar panel kit is to be chosen by anyone first depending on the amount of money that can be invested to produce your own electricity. Another factor is the amount of space and load available at home or small business which is on the basis of what a selection can be made. 

We at Earthava strive to answer all queries regarding sustainability and the environment and hope to help you live a sustainable life today and in the future.