SOLAR PV FAQs
What is Solar PV?
PV stands for Photo (light) Voltaic (Electric). Solar PV panels convert light in to electricity. Note the word light, not sunlight. They continue to produce electricity on cloudy days. It’s just that their output will be higher, the brighter the light is. This is not new technology – the use of light to produce electricity dates back to the 19th Century.
how does an inverter work?
Inverters change the DC current from the panels to AC current needed for your home and the grid. It’s essential the correct type of inverter is used and that they’re located in the right place. Many installers always put them in the loft, but this can be detrimental to your system. Renuco are meticulous about inverter choice and placement.
How do I know if I'm using the power from the PV panel system?
Your inverter monitors grid voltage and ensures that it is putting the power from your inverter into your system at a slightly higher voltage than the grid. Voltage is best thought of as pressure, the force behind the electric. If the inverter produces a higher voltage when you switch an electrical appliance on it will naturally use the power from the panels first.
What happens when there's not enough light?
You will simply draw from the grid in the normal way or can utilise energy stored in a Solar Battery if you have one. Remember, it doesn’t have to be sunny to generate electricity.
What happens if my PV Solar Panels are producing more than I’m using?
The excess energy will be sold back to the grid or can be stored in a Solar Storage Battery if you have one.
Do I need an EPC?
Since the end of the Feed in Tariff, there has been no need for any property with a PV installation to have an EPC. Solar PV owners can now be paid for their exported electric by their energy supplier without the need for an EPC.
How are solar panels attached to the roof?
On homes, for standard installations, the brackets used fix to the rafters of your roof which ensures the fabric is free from loadings. However, new developments in solar technology now mean you can build your roof entirely out of solar material or solar tiles that look like part of your roof.
