Solar panel installation – finding the right solar installer for you
Which solar installer is the best for your needs? Looking for the best solar panel company? Read in depth guide on finding solar installers.
Which solar installer is the best for your needs? Looking for the best solar panel company? Read in depth guide on finding solar installers.
Solar batteries are an important part of any solar energy system, allowing the energy from the sun to be stored and used later.
Going off the grid is a commitment that requires complete solar power systems for your home or business, which is why the altE Off Grid Solar System Sizing Calculator was designed. From sizing your battery bank and calculating the number of watts of solar power you need, this calculator will help make sure you don’t ne
For most DC-coupled off-grid solar systems, it comes down to 4 main components. Learn about off-grid system components with altE DIY resources.
Learn how to design a DIY off-grid solar power system with this video series covering the loads list, battery bank, PV array, controller & inverter.
This kWh calculator answers the question 'How much solar power do I need?' by helping to calculate your home electricity usage in kWh.
This Off-Grid Solar System Sizing Calculator helps you size the battery bank, Watts of solar power, and charge controller you need for an off-grid solar system.
Get a free off grid solar power system quote with this interactive tool and we'll help you plan, design & shop for an off-grid solar system.
Learn the basics of electricity: voltage, amperage, wattage, resistance, AC vs DC electricity, and how solar panel cells work.
There's a lot to consider when planning a DIY renewable energy system, but special consideration should be given to these 5 concepts.
This introduction to solar electricity (photovoltaics) includes how solar panels work and how to understand their voltage/current specs.
Voltage-schmoltage! Read more about the four main voltages used in RE systems.
Learn about the types of solar electric systems: PV direct, grid-tied, off-grid, grid-tied with battery backup, and hybrid systems.
Video series on solar power system components: solar panels, batteries, charge controllers, inverters, racking & overcurrent protection.
Whether you plan to DIY or hire an installer, you'll benefit from understanding the components for your solar panel (photovoltaic) system.
2-part video series on the fundamentals of understanding and measuring rates and quantities of electrical energy for DIY solar projects.
2-part video series on solar panel basics: voltage, current, power, Standard Test Conditions, connecting modules & mono vs poly solar cells.
Solar PV panels (or photovoltaic modules) are the most popular renewable energy technology for homeowners. Learn the basics of solar PV panels.
Common solar electric panel technologies include single-crystal silicon (monocrystalline) and multi-crystal silicon (polycrystalline).
Why are there so many voltages listed on solar panels? What is open circuit voltage, voltage at max power for solar panel output?
Learn how factors like Standard Test Conditions (STC) and Maximum Power Point (MPP) affect the electrical characteristics of solar panels.
Learn how to buy solar panels by comparing the features and specs you care about with this solar panel buying guide
Learn the basics of inverters in solar and renewable energy systems with this overview (including some history) of inverter basics.
The role of an inverter in a solar electric system is to convert the solar panels' DC electricity into 120/240V AC power for your home.
Inverter waveforms can be listed as sine wave, pure/modified sine wave, square wave...But what do these different inverter waveforms mean?
With all the types on the market (string, battery-based, hybrid, RV/marine), it can be hard to select the right inverter for your needs.
A step-by-step guide to installing an off-grid inverter and integrating it with an auxiliary AC power source.
An introduction to deep cycle batteries: Types, how they're different from car batteries, and why they're used in renewable energy systems.
Learning how to size a deep-cycle battery bank correctly is one of the most important parts of DIY solar or renewable energy system design.
It’s possible to expand a deep cycle battery bank that's in use. Learn what to know before expanding a battery bank with new lead acid/lithium batteries.
What is connecting batteries is series vs. connecting batteries in parallel? Learn how wiring batteries in series vs. parallel affects voltage.
Tips for measuring state of charge in FLA, AGM & Li batteries (voltage isn't the best way of measuring state of charge in solar batteries).
This two-part video series explains how to charge a deep cycle battery properly for use in a battery-based solar or renewable energy system.
A charge controller is a charge regulator to keep batteries from overcharging. Learn about how a solar charge controller works with altE.
Learn how to store solar batteries safely in cold weather. Storing deep-cycle lithium, flooded lead acid, and sealed lead acid batteries is covered.
Compare PWM and MPPT charge controllers with these pros and cons lists of each controller type, plus a supplemental video comparison.
When sizing PWM solar charge controllers in renewable energy systems, you must know the solar panel current and voltage and battery voltage.
When sizing MPPT charge controllers in renewable energy systems, understanding battery voltage, input voltage and output current is key.
Learn how a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charge controller can increase your solar panels' battery charging power by 30% or more.
These tables show the allowable ampacity (maximum current the cable can carry) for wires in conduit, raceway, cable or directly buried.
Information on wire sizing and a universal AWG/mm2 wire sizing chart to help in designing a 12V, 24V, or 48V DC renewable energy system.
Solar energy can be generated in any location, so the question is: How well will solar work in your location? The answer comes down to insolation.
This DIY solar resource helps DIY solar installers to size cables, breakers, and fuses for a battery-based 12V, 24V or 48V solar inverter.
To size a solar panel array you will need your electrical consumption in Watt-hours and an understanding of the available local insolation.
Learn about the average cost of solar panels for a 2000 square foot house, or a home of any other size to help you plan your home solar panel system.
The Solar South Calculator is an easy tool that allows you to quickly determine what direction solar south really is for your location.
Magnetic declination, the angle difference between magnetic south and solar south, must be taken into account when orienting solar panels.
For the best power output you should locate a solar array facing true south at a tilt angle equal to your latitude with respect to the horizontal position.
Information on racking solar panels using Wiley Electronics' washer-based WEEB (Washer, Electrical Equipment Bond) grounding products.
Pros and cons of each type of PV mounting structure to help in selecting the best solar module mounting structure for your DIY system.
Mounting solar panels comes with many considerations. Learn how to mount solar panels with the altE guide to solar panel mounting.
Planning to install a DIY solar electric system? This checklist of tools for a DIY solar power system installation can help your project.
Learn how to wire a solar system to NEC standards in this detailed DIY solar power wiring video tutorial covering both off-grid and grid-tied systems.
DIY solar video on connecting a solar panel system’s wiring to house wiring in an off grid solar system. Follow along with our wiring diagram!
Video series testing wiring mismatched solar panels in parallel vs. wiring in series to maximize solar PV output with an MPPT charge controller.
Diagrams, examples, and schematics for wiring solar panels in series and parallel and schematics for wiring batteries in series and parallel.
While DC appliances are usually more efficient than their AC counterparts, they're typically more expensive and harder to find.
A loads list is an essential calculation for off-grid renewable energy systems. It determines the electricity needs the system must meet.
Yes, but appliances operating at 240V are expensive to run on solar PV. Refrigerators are typically the largest cost-effective solar loads.
Solar and wind renewable energy systems in RVs and boats work just as well as on homes - in some ways better. But there are important differences.
Use this database of power ratings for common appliances to estimate the Watt-hours your renewable energy system needs to supply.
Before investing in a backup power system for your home, it’s important to consider how often you’ll need backup power and what you need to power with it.
Interested in solar but need help deciding which kind of solar electric system is right for you? Start here for helpful info & resources.
This beginner's guide to solar and wind renewable energy systems covers assessing power needs, planning costs, net metering, and more.
Selecting what types of alternative energy to power your home with is more about what's available and economic than about what you want.
There are far more efficient ways of using the sun's energy to directly heat air and water than with solar electric panels (photovoltaics).
A collection of handbooks on energy efficient building best practices for buildings in hot, humid, dry, mixed, and marine climates.
A glossary of alternative energy and renewable energy terms, definitions, and synonyms for use as a resource in a DIY renewable energy projects.
Solar maps helpful for planning a solar panel installation in the USA, including a solar insolation/irradiance map and a solar PV potential map.
A table of the high, low, and average solar insolation measurements for many large cities in the United States.
Solar insolation/irradiance and PV potential maps helpful for planning a solar panel installation in the Caribbean, Mexico & Central America.
Solar maps helpful for planning a solar panel installation in South America, including a solar insolation/irradiance map and a solar PV potential map.
Solar maps helpful for planning a solar installation anywhere in the world, including a solar insolation/irradiance map and a solar PV potential map.
Watch 8 recorded webinar sessions from the altE 2021 Virtual Solar Installer Conference. Sessions from OutBack, Schneider, KiloVault & more.
Watch 24 recorded webinar sessions from our 11th annual Virtual Solar Conference. Sessions from OutBack, IronRidge, SimpliPhi & more.