| There are several different companies to have to | | | | your home and to/from the utility grid. |
| understand what is needed to run my house on solar | | | | Off grid or standalone systems are typically found in |
| electric power. There are three different systems to | | | | rural areas, they can be used anywhere. The |
| choose from a grid intertied system, grid intertied that | | | | components required for an off grid system include |
| contains a battery backup and a standalone system. | | | | the photovoltaic array, charge controller, array DC |
| Each one will have slightly different needs and | | | | disconnect, battery bank, Main DC disconnect, system |
| materials though the main part of the system, the solar | | | | meter, inverter, AC breaker panel, backup generator |
| connection and conversion will be the same. | | | | and a connection to your home. |
| The main parts of a grid intertied system include the | | | | Each component has an important function. The |
| photovoltaic array, array DC disconnect followed by | | | | photovoltaic panels are where the sunlight is |
| an AC breaker panel then connected to an inverter | | | | converters into an electric current. The semiconductor |
| monitored by a Kilowatt hour meter and finally | | | | material is what makes this occur using the |
| connected to your home and to/from the utility grid. | | | | photovoltaic effect. You will typically need to mount |
| The grid intertied with battery backup will have a | | | | this array on a rack or your roof so that it is away |
| photovoltaic array, charge controller, array DC | | | | from any shade and cannot be affected by daily life, |
| disconnect, system meter, battery bank, inverter, Main | | | | such as children playing. |
| DC disconnect, breaker panel, meter and connects to | | | | |