The principle distinction between photo voltaic shingles and photo voltaic panels is the way in which they’re mounted. Photo voltaic panels are mounted on a roof (or the bottom), whereas photo voltaic shingles do double responsibility as rooftop shingles. Photo voltaic shingles generate electrical energy the identical approach photo voltaic panels do.
How photo voltaic shingles work, what they’re fabricated from and the way they’re put in
Photo voltaic shingles work the identical approach photo voltaic panels do, however photo voltaic shingles appear like and performance as conventional roof shingles. This implies they serve a twin goal: to generate electrical energy and to guard your private home from the weather.
Photo voltaic shingles may be fabricated from silicon (the oldest and one of the crucial well-liked choices) or copper indium gallium (CIGS).
Right here’s how photo voltaic shingles (and photo voltaic panels) generate electrical energy:
You possibly can have solely photo voltaic shingles for a roof, or you possibly can set up some photo voltaic shingles along with your present roof shingles. Usually, if the photo voltaic shingles don’t have to take up your total roof area, the installer integrates the brand new photo voltaic shingles with the remainder of your present roof construction. As soon as the shingles are mounted, they’re related to an inverter, and the inverter is related to the house’s electrical panel, so you possibly can get pleasure from usable AC electrical energy out of your photo voltaic shingles. The set up course of normally takes a number of days.
Photo voltaic shingles vs. photo voltaic panels: Key variations
Though they generate electrical energy in the identical method, there are some necessary variations between photo voltaic shingles and photo voltaic panels.
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Value: Photo voltaic shingles are usually considerably costlier than photo voltaic panels.
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Look: Photo voltaic shingles supply a sleeker look than photo voltaic panels. In contrast to photo voltaic panels, that are mounted on racks, photo voltaic shingles sit flush with the house’s roofline and may be indistinguishable from common shingles from a distance.
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Effectivity: Photo voltaic panels sometimes are extra environment friendly than photo voltaic shingles. That is partly as a result of photo voltaic shingles sit flush towards the mounting floor, which doesn’t enable for cooling airflow beneath them.
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Availability: As an older, tried-and-true product, photo voltaic panels are extra extensively out there than photo voltaic shingles.
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Set up: Putting in photo voltaic shingles tends to take longer than putting in photo voltaic panels (until you’re changing your total roof or working with new building). Photo voltaic shingles don’t require drilling into the roof to connect a rack; they’re put in with roofing nails, which reduces the danger of leaks or roof injury in the course of the set up course of.
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Roof concerns: Your roof must be in good situation to assist photo voltaic panels. Photo voltaic shingles, however, can double as a roof substitute for an outdated roof in poor situation. Moreover, not like photo voltaic panels, which may be tilted to catch most daylight, photo voltaic shingles lie flush along with your roof. This implies photo voltaic shingles aren’t appropriate for flat roofs or roofs that don’t face the solar.
Methods to determine between photo voltaic shingles and photo voltaic panels
Photo voltaic shingles could also be your most suitable option if:
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Aesthetics and curb enchantment are a prime concern.
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You’re coping with an HOA that has strict tips about look and would possibly problem the set up of photo voltaic panels.
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You’re changing your roof on the similar time or working with new building.
Photo voltaic panels could also be your most suitable option if:
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Your present roof is in good situation
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You have got a flat roof.
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You have got a roof that isn’t on the optimum angle or orientation for shingles (some panels may be tilted to maximise the seize of daylight).
Are photo voltaic shingles and photo voltaic panels eligible for the federal tax credit score?
Each photo voltaic shingles and photo voltaic panels may be eligible for a federal tax credit score. With photo voltaic shingles, nonetheless, remember that the prices of precise roofing parts equivalent to deckings or rafters that solely serve a structural perform and are usually not associated to photo voltaic vitality don’t qualify for the credit score.
Are you able to stroll on photo voltaic shingles like you possibly can on a daily roof?
Though photo voltaic shingles are normally sturdy sufficient to carry the burden of an grownup and contractors do stroll on them whereas carrying a harness, these shingles may be very slippery and unsafe to stroll on.
Which lasts longer, photo voltaic panels or photo voltaic shingles?
Each photo voltaic panels and photo voltaic shingles have equally lengthy lifespans of 20 to 30 years.
