Solar panels can be a cost-effective investment for many homeowners, especially in regions that receive high direct sunlight.

Although the average residential solar panel installation typically includes between 15 and 20 panels, determining the exact number needed to efficiently and reliably power a home involves a few calculations.

Using the method outlined below, solar panel companies can determine how many solar panels are enough to power a household and must be installed on that home’s roof.

Step 1. Calculate Monthly Electricity Usage

The first step in designing an effective and reliable solar panel installation is understanding how much power that system needs to produce each month.

Using their current power bills as a reference, homeowners need only to look at the amount of kilowatt-hours (kWh) their home uses each month to do so.

Solar panel companies recommend using a few energy bills that show all-time high usage over the past year or two to ensure the designing of a system that is powerful enough to cover those needs.

Step 2. Determine Monthly Peak Sunlight Hours

Next, solar panel installers must assess how much sunlight a home receives based on its geographical position and other physical features.

According to geographical sunlight maps, certain states receive more peak sunlight hours than others based on their latitudinal and longitudinal positions in relation to the equator, which receives the most sunlight year-round.

Fortunately, homeowners in Florida can expect to benefit from 131 to 170 estimated monthly hours of peak sunlight to power an appropriately sized solar system.

Step 3. Calculate Solar Panel System Size Requirement

With the above information in hand, solar panel companies can calculate the system size needed to accommodate a home based on its energy requirements and how much sun there is to supply it.

The number of kilowatts the system must reliably produce can be determined by dividing kWh of energy consumption by the number of peak sunlight hours available.

To estimate on the high side and ensure a solar panel installation always provides enough energy, choose the highest consumption estimate with the lowest peak sunlight hour estimate.

Step 4. Determine Number of Solar Panels Needed

The final calculation for determining the number of solar panels required to run a household involves dividing the total power requirement by the wattage of the solar panels.

This number will dictate the number of panels required to generate enough energy to run the household safely.

Using different wattage solar panels to make this calculation, homeowners can opt for fewer higher-wattage solar panels or more lower-wattage panels depending on the roof size.

A smaller home with higher energy demands will require an installation using fewer, higher-wattage panels while those with larger roofs can get away with lower-wattage panels if more are installed.

An Expert Installer Can Determine The Right Solar Panel Needs!

An energy-efficient solar panel installation can be of great benefit to residents of Florida whose homes receive a high amount of peak sunlight.

Yet to efficiently harness all of that energy with the right number and type of solar panels, energy demand and production capabilities must all be assessed.

An experienced solar panel company can sit with Florida homeowners to calculate their power needs and then design a cost-effective system to power their homes with free energy!