| Everyone is familiar by now with the pictures we see | | | | This system absolutely requires the services of a |
| of roofs holding many solar panels. But do you know | | | | licensed electrician. Any time at all that you are dealing |
| what else you will require to turn the power from | | | | with the connection or disconnection of any system - |
| those panels into useful alternating current electricity? | | | | regardless of how small it may be - to the public |
| Fortunately, the answer is mercifully short, and the | | | | power grid, you are required to have it done with both |
| costs are not so high that most of us can afford these | | | | the correct permit and by a qualified electrician. |
| extra items. | | | | You will need to buy a disconnect switch, which looks |
| All together now, from the top down! The electricity | | | | just like a normal breaker box, except that it is a DC |
| that your solar panels provide will be in the form of | | | | breaker made just for this purpose. When any work is |
| direct current, known as DC. Before it can be used in | | | | being done on your system, you can disconnect it |
| your house you will need to convert it to alternating | | | | from the grid by turning this switch off. This switch |
| current, known as AC. There are a number of items in | | | | should be purchased in a size large enough to cover |
| the way depending on what sort of system you will | | | | any of your future anticipated increases in solar panel |
| install. | | | | additions. |
| The simplest system is one in which your electricity is | | | | You will require an inverter to turn the DC power into |
| essentially fed directly back into the electrical grid. This | | | | AC. The size of this inverter will depend, once again, |
| is known as a grid intertie system. In the event that | | | | on how many solar panels you anticipate adding to |
| your panels are producing more electricity than you | | | | your system. Inverters are available from very small to |
| are consuming at any given moment, your electric | | | | several kilowatts. They are available to produce 120 |
| meter can actually run backwards. | | | | VAC and some of them can be "stacked" to make |
| While this can happen, you should be aware that more | | | | 240 VAC if you choose. The bigger the inverter and |
| often than not, your meter will continue to run forwards | | | | the higher quality power it produces is what will drive |
| as it normally does. However, any power at all from | | | | the cost. |
| your panels will slow down the meter. The more | | | | You don't need to over buy here, but neither should |
| panels you use, the more your meter will slow down. | | | | you skimp. |