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Contractor or DIY? Things to think about

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Various types of panels

 



PV panels, which cost anywhere between $2.40 per watt to over $5 per watt,

are the single biggest expense of a PV system. Their placement and mounting

affect your system performance more than any other facet of the job.

Different types of panels are finding their way onto the market. The configu-

rations of these different types of panels (how they’re combined physically)

govern how much space they take:

 ✓ Rectangular: The most common type of panel is a rectangular, alumi-

num framed complex of individual solar cells (see Chapter 4 for more

details).

 ✓ Triangular: Triangular configurations can match the contour of your

roof and offer a pleasing, symmetrical appearance from street level.

Expect to pay more for these.

 ✓ Integrated: These can be mounted directly over tiled roofs and they

match the undulating surface, making them great for Spanish-style

roof. Expect to pay a lot more for these. You can also “integrate” panels

directly into your existing roof, matching the roofs tile shape and size.

These are expensive, but offer a very pleasing appearance.

 ✓ Flexible: These panels come like a big roll of tape and can be installed

on flat roofs very easily. This type of panel is not as efficient, so it takes

up more roof space per watt. But the price per watt is lower, so there’s a

tradeoff.

Solar panels are either bluish black or solid black; (color doesn’t matter in

terms of performance) and the aluminum frames are either anodized clear or

black (black is the more popular option these days).

Many customers are concerned with a panel’s efficiency, which is the ratio

of power output to square footage ( the latter is often referred to as foot-

print). The fact is, efficient panels usually cost more per watt, and if you have

enough roof space you don’t need to maximize panel efficiency. If you’re

pinched for roof space, you may need to invest the extra money for efficient

panels.

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