Frequently Asked Questions

Installing solar panels is a complex process that requires a team of qualified professionals. This answer is a quick summary of the process, check out our blog to find out more. Before starting there are many variables that impact how the installation will work, such as the type, size, and height of premise.

Other than at solar farms, most solar panels are installed on the roof (ideally south facing and with a pitch of 30 to 40 degrees) of a building. Therefore, scaffolding is required to get the team, equipment, and the panels onto the roof. We work in tandem with Direct Scaffolding to get this done quickly and easily. After the scaffolding is set up, the next step is to install solar panel mounts (angled between 18 and 36 degrees based on the sun exposure). With the mounts in place, it is time to place the solar panels (each weighing around 20 kilograms) on the mounts and then secure all nuts and bolts. When solar panels are mounted and fitted, it is time to wire them into the household electricity supply (ensuring the power is first off). When they are wired in properly, the solar inverter is connected to the system, usually in a garage, utility room or other less used indoor space (they can also be installed outside but must be kept out of the afternoon sun to avoid breakages). We only use top of the range Solar Edge inverters, to maximise solar yield and minimise downtime, because other brands mostly only work on the sunniest days, which we do not always have in England.

Next, we connect the solar inverter to a solar battery, for power storage, and the consumer unit (along with a monitor) so that you can check your solar systems performance. This is often installed next to other similar devices such as heating controls or smart meters. Finally, we switch on the electricity and do a comprehensive test on the system to ensure it is working. If needed, we then optimise the setup slightly to maximise the results, adjusting panels and so forth if our initial calculations regarding tilt, sun exposure and so on were slightly off. After this point, the solar panels are installed, but we offer several add on services including pest proofing and gutter clearing, that can be completed for a small extra cost. Most customers take advantage of these “while you’re up there” services and get us back after a couple of years to do a high-tech panel clean to ensure maximum efficiency. If there are ever any problems, we are available 7 days a week to answer any questions and schedule repairs, if for example a tree falls on a panel and breaks it. Some customers then take advantage of discounts with other Direct companies, such as Air Conditioning or Pest Control, tap here for the full list.

It is highly recommended to not attempt to use this as a guide to fit your own solar panels, and we do not advocate doing that. Fitting your own solar panels can result in damage to yourself, your home, your electricity supply, the panel system itself and due to the complex nature of the setup, can be a futile effort as the panels may not work as you would expect when a professional team fits your solar panels. If you are interested in fitting solar panels to your home or business, get in touch using the contact form below or by calling 0800 088 6392, and our team will do it for you for the best price, guaranteed. Find out more about our solar panel installation service on the solar panel installation service page.

Check out this video from The Science Asylum to find out how solar panels work, in short by converting sunlight into electricity, and while it is much more complicated than that, this video aims to explain the process in an easy to understand and fun way. A written explanation is on the way, but due to the complex process and abundance of videos that accurately explain the process, we recommend watching this video and some of the related videos on YouTube.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKxrkht7CpY

The cost of a solar array (collection of solar panels that you would see on a roof) varies depending on the location of installation, number of panels and a variety of other factors. The short answer is to think in terms of thousands of pounds rather than hundreds. However, this is an investment that will eventually return more in savings than it costs in installation, it is simply a matter of time. When you choose Direct Solar Care, we promise you the best price, so if you have an existing quote with another company, but would rather get our higher quality panels, inverters, customer service and array of discounted services at our partner companies (such as Direct Air Conditioning), just let us know and we will beat their price.

Not all solar panels are created equal, with many of the first solar panels only being a fraction of the efficiency of the latest panels. We are committed to providing high quality at low cost, so we only use top of the range JA solar panels, which are the best on the market. They have been leading the market since 2005 and are used by the worlds most revered solar farms as well as the finest homes and businesses. Find out more by tapping here. 

Check out this video from The Science Asylum to find out how solar panels work, in short by converting sunlight into electricity, and while it is much more complicated than that, this video aims to explain the process in an easy to understand and fun way. A written explanation is on the way, but due to the complex process and abundance of videos that accurately explain the process, we recommend watching this video and some of the related videos on YouTube.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKxrkht7CpY

They really are. Solar panels are an investment that lower your energy bills even on cloudy days, which are likely in the UK. No matter what, eventually you will save more than you spend when you install solar panels in the UK. When you take into account the fact that installing solar panels raises your homes value, sometimes by more than they cost to install, they are definitely worth it!

The main materials are silicon solar cells, glass, metal frame (usually aluminium), bus wiring, 12b copper wires with plastic casing.

Turn sunlight into electricity that powers electrical devices for homes or businesses. More info coming soon.

Due to the complicated nature of solar panels and the many parts that are combined to create them, they are typically made in factories or laboratories. More info coming soon.

Solar panels cost thousands of pounds to have installed, but are an investment that return (by lowering energy bills or even having the grid pay you for your energy_ the amount spent on having panels installed over time. So while they are expensive initially, not having solar panels is more expensive long term.

They allow you to save money while saving the world by saving the environment. They also allow you to live off-grid and not be reliant on energy companies. More info coming soon.

The exact value varies from system to system based on sun exposure, number of panels and so on. But, on average, you can expect to save at least £270 per year / £2700 per decade. This, coupled with raising your homes value on the competitive housing market, and saving the environment, makes getting solar panels a logical decision.

Solar panels are well known to raise home value and make homes more attractive to potential buyers. More info coming soon.

Solar cells were invented in 1883 by Charles Fritts, but are only just becoming popular as the costs have lowered and the amount of energy produced has increased.

In 1954 Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson, working at Bell Labs, created the first version of modern solar cells, based on silicon rather than gold, similar to ones still used today.

By converting sunlight into electricity, instead of converting large chunks of the planet into electricity, we are avoiding first the destruction of the environment to constantly rip up more for fuel. Secondly, as solar panels take the sunlight and turn it into energy, there are no emissions like toxic fumes, which is what coal or oil powerplants create. Those fumes are harmful to plants, wildlife and people whilst in the air, but also then contaminate the water that all life needs to survive. The solar panels still need to be created, just like coal burning furnaces need to be created, which causes some damage to the environment, but it is by far the lesser of two evils. Protecting the environment by switching to solar is important now because mankind has had more of a negative impact on the environment in the last 100 years than in the last 5000 years combined, because of the introduction of mass production, cars, planes, heavy use of electricity and more. It is only a matter of time before a catastrophe, and in recent years we have been seeing some horrific natural disasters that link directly to damaging the environment, such as rampant wildfires, floods and animals going extinct.

More info coming soon.

Yes, they are much better than fossil fuel alternatives. See above answer.

Solar panels have a long life and will usually outlast the amount of time spent living in a home. If you really want to dispose of solar panels, you’ll be happy to hear hear that most solar panels are incredibly valuable even when broken. Recycling solar panels is done by specialists, and they are used to make new solar panels. However, if your solar panels are broken, get us to take a look and conduct any needed repairs before thinking about recycling them. Some companies will claim to recycle your panel, but instead fix one small thing on them and sell them on for a huge profit. We have your back though, with the cheapest maintenance and repair service in the solar industry, so there’s no need to worry about recycling your panels.

In regard to solar batteries attached to your house for the purpose of storing solar energy that you do not need at the moment it is made.

The energy that is produced by the panels goes through a DC to AC inverter that makes the charge useful for day to day applications. The AC current then travels through a system of wires to your solar battery, wherein a carefully constructed mechanism traps the current until it is needed later. The most basic battery involves a large amount of copper wire that tricks the electricity into thinking it is still travelling to your TV, but just goes round in circles instead. Modern innovations have expanded on the idea and made it far more complex, but the basic idea is still the same.

See the answer to “how do solar panels work?” or “how do solar panels work (for kids).

No. We haven’t had this happen to any of our installations.

Because solar panels are made of non flammable materials such as silicon, glass and metal, setting fire to them would require a lot more than the intense sunlight they are built to handle.

Therefore, the only obvious reason for them catching fire is someone intentionally destroying them by doing something like covering them in petrol and throwing a match.

It is still advised to get regular check ups, like you would for your health or your car, just to ensure your system is running at peak capability. But in our long experience, we have not heard of a single system catching fire.

This is one of the stranger questions we have been asked, but is a perfectly valid concern for those who know nothing about solar panels.

The classic. If only we could get a huge lamp and hook it up to our solar array, then it would power itself. Unfortunately, for now, solar panels are not that effective at harnessing light. Solar cells can operate using artificial light, but produce little energy compared to sunlight. Think of the difference in heat coming from a standard light bulb vs standing in the sunlight. For smaller devices like watches, artificial light can be enough, but to power your collection of televisions and phones, you need the original and best: sunlight.

This video should explain how solar panels work in a way that even kids can understand.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDddM4q1JK4

Solar panels do work through glass, but not nearly as well as directly in the sun. That is why you rarely see solar panels hidden away behind glass. However, if you would like us to install solar panels behind glass, your wish is our command!

Solar panels themselves do not heat homes. The panels turn the suns heat and light into raw power which is transformed into electrical energy, which can then be used to heat homes. In the UK, we heat our homes primarily in winter, but there is also less sunlight in winter. Therefore, while solar panels can be used for heating, they are usally used to power other electrical devices such as lights, refrigerators, televisions and so on. Plus, in many homes the heat comes from boiling water rather than electrical heating. The power from solar panels can contribute to the proper functioning of a boiler system, however many of these systems rely on gas power. In short, they do help to heat your home and lessen the cost of heating, but are more worthwhile to lower or remove the cost out of devices such as mobile phones.

Solar panels transform sunlight into energy, so at night, when there is no sunlight, they cannot perform that function. However, they do work to insulate your homes roof at night, think of it as extra cladding or a hat on a person.

Information and mobile solar panel fitting service coming soon.

At noon, when the sun is at its highest, on the summer equinox (day with most sunlight), on a cloud free day.

Also, cleaning the solar panels will further increase the efficiency.

Day to day, solar panels are most efficient when the sun is highest in the sky. The time that happens which depends on what day of the year it is.

Firstly, while most solar panels are blue, you can also find black ones. They are normally blue because the way that blue solar panels are made, compared to black ones, produces almost the same amount of energy for almost half the cost. Black panels are usually only used in extreme environments such as military applications. The popular blue panels are that colour because of the silicone they are made of turning that colour during the manufacturing process. They are also incredibly reflective, so the blue hue is intensified by reflecting blue sky into your eyes, like a mirror. 

For maximum sun exposure. More info coming soon.

Solar panels are already much cheaper than they were when they were first invented. They lower in price whenever a new major breakthrough in manufacturing solar panels happens. However, due to the long life and sustainable nature of solar panels, there is almost no second hand market. So unlike cars, you are not going to see a particular model of solar panel get cheaper each year.

In fact, if there is a sudden scarcity of materials, solar panels could become more expensive, so it is a good idea to get them installed sooner rather than later.

Solar panels will definitely lower your electricity bills. Plus, with the governments new feed in tariff, you can get paid for any excess electricity you generate but do not use, if you choose. Solar panels are in investment that eventually cover the cost of installation by lowering your energy bills. How long this will take varies depending on how many panels you have, where they are located, and so on.

Yes solar panels should still work during winter days, although they produce the most electricity on long sunny days. 

We only ever install top of the range solar panels that work when it is a bit cloudy. Some lower quality solar panels stop the whole array of panels producing electricity if there is shade on even one part of one panel, which is common in winter. We would never fit these kinds of cheap panels. Quality is more important to us and our customers than saving a little bit of money short term, or cutting corners. If you decide to get solar panels installed by another company, make sure you are getting the quality you expect, some companies will quote a high price for cheap panels that are ineffective in winter. Choose Direct Solar Care to get the best for less!

Yes solar panels should still work on cloudy days, although they produce the most electricity on sunny days. 

We only ever install top of the range solar panels that work when it is a bit cloudy. Some lower quality solar panels stop the whole array of panels producing electricity if there is shade on even one part of one panel. We would never fit these kinds of cheap panels. Quality is more important to us and our customers than saving a little bit of money short term, or cutting corners. If you decide to get solar panels installed by another company, make sure you are getting the quality you expect, some companies will quote a high price for cheap panels. Choose Direct Solar Care to get the best for less!

In short: yes, but the panels will not produce as much electricity as if they had been installed facing between south west and south east.

The most efficient side to install solar panels in the south. But any direction will still produce electricity. We often fit panels on the East or West side of buildings and customers still get a decent return on investment.