Can You Install Solar Panels Yourself? What You Should Know

One of the drawbacks of setting up a solar system is the cost. Aside from the panels, inverters, and battery, it can also be expensive to have professionals come in and bolt the panels up for you. 

However, this also presents an opportunity for savings. If you can install the panels yourself, you could cut out many costs to have a solar system installed. Can you install solar panels yourself?

Generally, you can install solar panels yourself, although it may be challenging to perform them. You must perform calculations, determine location and angles, bolt the parts up, and connect the systems. However, with the right guidance, tools, and patience, you should be able to do it yourself.

This article explores if you can install solar panels yourself and the general process of doing so.

Can You Install Solar Panels Yourself?

You can install solar panels yourself. The key is to have the right tools, knowledge, and patience, as the work can be challenging and require you to perform many calculations and adjustments. 

You are not alone if you ever plan to set up your solar panels. This is because professional installers charge a fee for their services, which can increase the total bill significantly. 

Installing your own solar panels may require you to have some knowledge of electricity. You also may need the ability to perform some calculations to determine the right wattage panel angles. 

You will also spend a lot of time shopping for solar panel systems and connecting them. This means you will need some skills in performing electric wiring.

You will also require some power tools and equipment to bolt and secure the panels, inverters, and battery pack where they need to be. 

The key to installing your own panels is to be patient and accept that you will make mistakes along the way. The process will be challenging, especially if you are doing it for the first time.

It may help if you have someone who can guide you, such as the person who sells you the solar panels system.

How To Install Solar Panels Yourself?

Installing your solar panels usually involves several steps, such as determining the setup, shopping for the items, preparing the installation surface, and doing the installation work. After that, you test and then perform regular maintenance on the setup.

The general process of installing solar panels yourself usually involves some research and shopping. Then you purchase the system and work on installing them. 

The steps below are generic descriptions of the process, which means your experience may be different during the actual work.

Determining The Setup You Need

The first stage is to do some research and then calculate the setup you will need to power your home. 

Calculate the total wattage your home devices and appliances require before settling on a total wattage-per-hour calculation. 

You then use the wattage per hour to decide the total number of panels required. The panels will inform you of the types and amount of inverters you need and also the battery required to store electricity generated.

If you want to see some examples, check out how we calculate the amount of solar energy required to power an Xbox and 42-inch TV setup.

Shopping For The Items

When you have arrived at your numbers. You can now start shopping. You can either shop for the items piece by piece or go to solar system makers or resellers and see what they can cobble up for you. 

The earlier approach allows you to fully customize your setup, giving you full control of things down to the thickness of the wire you want. You may end up paying more since you may not get much bulk discount from your sellers.

If you go to solar energy system makers or resellers, they could see the specification you need and then try to propose a setup for you. 

This means you save yourself the headache of choosing everything in your system. Your setup is also built by professionals, which is another layer of guarantee for you. 

Prepare the Roof

Now that you have everything with you, the next stage is to prepare your house for installation. In many cases, you need to ensure your rooftop is ready to receive the panels. 

You may be required to clean your roof surface and replace tiles if needed. If nearby trees may shade your house roof, you may also need to trim down the trees to ensure your panels get maximum sunlight.

If you are going to install solar panels on a metal roof, be aware of the risks.

Bolt-On & Wire The System

Now that all is ready, you may start the actual installation work. The process usually involves you creating a bracket frame on the roof and then you bolt the panels to it. You then adjust the angle of the panels to ensure the best performance.

You then install the inverters, storage battery, and monitoring system. Once you have everything set up, you will perform wiring work, connecting the panels to the inverters before connecting them to the monitoring system and battery. Finally, you connect the solar system to your home’s electrical system.

Test And Maintain

Finally, once you have connected everything, it is not time to test the system. Dedicate time to monitoring the system and seeing how they are performing. Check for the connections and verify that everything is working well. 

At this stage, you may also need to experiment with panel angling and monitor your battery storage levels to ensure you do not run out of electricity.

Final Thoughts

Installing solar panels is possible, although they are not a walk in the park. The key is to do your research, have patience, and be willing to do the physical work. 

It may also be great if you could have some expert guidance to ensure you are on the right path.