Best solar panel pros near Clark, WY

You shouldn’t hook up a solar panel directly to a battery. That can damage the solar battery and your appliances over time. Instead, install a charge controller between your solar panel and solar battery. Charge controllers regulate voltage, prevent overcharging, and minimize the amount of electrical current to protect your battery from voltage spikes.

Insurance companies aren’t against solar panels, but they may have concerns about the risks and costs of insuring solar. The type of policy, where you live, and the insurance company itself matter. Extreme weather can damage solar panels, and faulty installation or electrical malfunctions pose a fire risk—this, in turn, can increase insurance company liability and payouts. However, you’re likely to keep coverage as long as you have a pro install the solar system, keep it maintained, can pass a solar panel inspection, and update your homeowners policy to include solar.

You can install solar panels on a flat or pitched roof, but keep in mind that they will need to rest at a 30- to 50-degree tilt for optimal sun absorption. It costs more to install solar panels on a flat roof because you will need to install a framing system and likely hire a structural engineer. If your roof has a pitch of more than 40 degrees, it may not be a good candidate for solar panels.

While you can install solar panels by yourself, it can be a complicated process full of lots of manual labor, risky roof work, and knowledge of electrical wiring. Most solar panel installation projects should be reserved for a trained professional—especially if you plan on connecting your panels to the electrical grid rather than for off-grid use, which doesn’t require utility services.