While I am considering putting solar on my roof, I have come across several different questions on how I should approach this. Right now, my plan is not extremely set in stone because I am having an energy audit done on my house in the next couple of months so I can make a better game plan on what I should do (like improve my insulation first etc).
For context, I live in a ranch style house in East-Central Alabama and the front of my house is facing in a SW direction and nearly all the front of my house has zero shading and most of the back of my house has little shading. I have an asphalt shingle roof that I replaced almost 4 years ago (I should have done a metal roof but it was my first time and I listened to other people for advice). I also currently do not have a carport and one of my options for installing solar was to build a solar carport to avoid doing anything to my existing roof.
How many appliances in the average house can already run on DC without changing anything? I have heard that existing lights can do this. My house is all LED too. I have also heard that more appliances can run on DC than you think – namely things like the fridge, oven/range, dryer, and heat pump unit (I have a heat pump in my home). I ask because this affects what I do for an inverter. Not saying I will run out and just buy a bunch of specific DC appliances to do this, but it shapes what I do in the future to replace them if/when they fail.
My second question is about racks and rail systems. If I decide to just install on my roof, I will need to figure out what to do with the rack and rail systems and I am unclear about how this works or where to start with looking for what system to use. I am also unsure how the installation process goes and whether or not it will make my roof leak – really don’t want that on what is essentially a new roof. I have found a product that claims to have and adhesive that will perform fine. If anyone here is familiar with this product or similar product, please let me know if it is legitimate. I can easily see how a glue would fail. https://solarstack.com/ -- edit, nevermind on the glue. I have an asphalt shingle roof and its not compatible with this so my question is basically answered on this part. lol
For context, I live in a ranch style house in East-Central Alabama and the front of my house is facing in a SW direction and nearly all the front of my house has zero shading and most of the back of my house has little shading. I have an asphalt shingle roof that I replaced almost 4 years ago (I should have done a metal roof but it was my first time and I listened to other people for advice). I also currently do not have a carport and one of my options for installing solar was to build a solar carport to avoid doing anything to my existing roof.
How many appliances in the average house can already run on DC without changing anything? I have heard that existing lights can do this. My house is all LED too. I have also heard that more appliances can run on DC than you think – namely things like the fridge, oven/range, dryer, and heat pump unit (I have a heat pump in my home). I ask because this affects what I do for an inverter. Not saying I will run out and just buy a bunch of specific DC appliances to do this, but it shapes what I do in the future to replace them if/when they fail.
My second question is about racks and rail systems. If I decide to just install on my roof, I will need to figure out what to do with the rack and rail systems and I am unclear about how this works or where to start with looking for what system to use. I am also unsure how the installation process goes and whether or not it will make my roof leak – really don’t want that on what is essentially a new roof. I have found a product that claims to have and adhesive that will perform fine. If anyone here is familiar with this product or similar product, please let me know if it is legitimate. I can easily see how a glue would fail. https://solarstack.com/ -- edit, nevermind on the glue. I have an asphalt shingle roof and its not compatible with this so my question is basically answered on this part. lol
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