Whenever you grow interested in installing solar systems in your home, you will find that there are two main categories that you can choose from: grid connected or off-grid systems.
Grid Connected Systems
A grid connected system is one that is wired into the main power grid. Therefore, you will be dealing with a variety of benefits and downfalls. One of the biggest advantages here is that you will be able to take advantage of various financial incentive programs to help with the installation of such panels.
Off-Grid Systems
Solar systems that are off-grid are appealing to those who want to be completely independent of the main power grid. There are many reasons people want to do this. First of all, it makes financial sense whenever you live in a remote location that would charge you a lot of money to be on the grid. Secondly, there is the desire to be completely independent of the main power grid. Thirdly, there is the desire to drastically reduce your carbon footprint and culpability for global warming and climate change.
Of course, it is important to understand that off-grid solar power systems will initially cost you more money because you will need to purchase more panels and several high-capacity, deep-cycle batteries to store your excess power in. These things are needed for whenever solar energy is not available, like on a cloudy day or later on in the evenings.
Unfortunately, there are some downfalls involved with using off-grid solar power. One of the biggest downfalls is that you are completely dependent upon the system (there isn’t any other energy source available for you to tap into if you use too much power throughout the day). For this reason you should make sure you consult with an electrician before you decide to go off-grid. He will be able to help you figure out which system will best suit your needs. He can also help you to determine whether you will need to ration your power sometimes if you do decide to go off-grid.
Summary
Regardless of what you choose to do, a solar power system will be a great investment for your home. You will be able to save a huge amount of money while also helping the environment at the same time. So you should start doing some research to see what type of a solar power system will be right for you.