Installing solar panels comes with many benefits for the environment and your wallet. Yet, it also comes with many doubts and questions. For example, you might be wondering how heavy are solar panels and whether your roof will be able to handle that weight. Or maybe you want to know how much roof space you’ll need to install a solar array that covers your electrical needs.
If you have these and other questions, keep on reading to find the answers.
How Heavy Are Solar Panels?
When answering the question, how heavy are solar panels, you need to consider the manufacturer; however, most panels have an estimated weight based on their size and wattage.
Usually, a 100-Watt solar panel measures about 47 x 21.3 x 1.4 inches and weighs around 4.3 lbs to 16.5 lbs (1,95 kg to 7 kg).
A 200-Watt panel generally has a length of 64 inches, a width of 39 inches, and a depth of 1,96 inches. This solar panel weighs around 41 lbs (19 kg).
Finally, a 300-watt solar panel usually has a length of 77 inches, a width of 39 inches, and a depth of 1,96 inches. The weight is around 50 lbs (23 kg).
How much do solar panels weigh in pounds and kilograms?
The weight of solar panels used in residential and commercial installations ranges between 33-50 pounds or 15-23 kilograms.
Can My Roof Handle the Weight of Solar Panels?
Another question that pops into homeowners’ minds is: can my roof handle the weight of solar panels?
The answer is yes. Most solar systems weigh around 3-4 pounds per square foot, which your roof is capable of handling.
For example, on average U.S solar arrays produce an average of 6kW. So, if you install a 6kW system comprising 20 average solar panels, the whole system will measure 352 square feet and weigh about 800 pounds. This means that the weight of the solar installation is about 2.3 pounds per square foot (800 pounds ÷ 352 square feet).
Will installation put holes in my roof?
Installing solar panels won’t hurt your roof since these are mounted on a purpose-built aluminum rail system that is fastened about every four feet by penetrations into roof rafters.
Standing seam metal roofs don’t need penetration as the attachments are made directly to the standing seams. However, on asphalt roofs, each mount is sealed with a 50-year Tripolymer sealant to prevent leaks.
How Much Do Solar Shingles Weigh?
Also known as building-integrated photovoltaics, solar shingles are solar panels designed to look like traditional roof tiles. Thanks to their design, these thin photovoltaic (PV) sheets can replace or lay on top of your current shingle. Despite their different look, solar shingles act just like solar panels by capturing and converting energy from sunlight.
Compared to traditional solar panels, the weight and size of solar shingles are actually smaller. The shingles weigh approximately 13 pounds per square foot and are usually less than one inch thick. Size-wise, they are similar to traditional roofing shingles, measuring about 12 inches wide and 86 inches long.
What Are Solar Panel Standard Sizes?
The size of solar panels varies from one brand to another, but in general, a solar panel weighs 40 pounds and is 65 inches (5.4 feet) long by 39 inches (3.25 feet) wide.
All solar panels are made up of solar photovoltaic cells, and each one of these is 6 inches long and 6 inches wide. Knowing the number of cells is important since there’s a direct correlation between the number of solar cells per panel and the length of the panel.
Standard panels for rooftop installations are made of 60 photovoltaic cells, whereas the rooftop installations designed for commercial facilities are made up of 72 photovoltaic cells.
Since they have more cells, the 72-cell commercial solar panels are usually 13 inches longer than the residential modules. On average, a 72-cell panel weighs over 50 pounds and has a rough dimension of 6.6 feet by 3.25 feet.
How Long Will A Solar Installation Take?
If you include the technical and bureaucratic parts of the job, installing solar panels takes around 90 days.
But, setting aside paperwork, how long the solar installation process takes for your home depends on five factors:
- Your solar installation company
- Size and type of solar panel system
- Property characteristics
- The utility company and interconnection
On average, most solar companies can install a rooftop residential solar panel installation in one to three days since a typical residential solar power job takes about 40 hours of installation time on the roof and about 10 hours inside the house. However, the installation process can last as long as a week to a couple of months if your home needs many solar panels or if you’re installing a large commercial solar panel system.
How Much Roof Space Will I Need?
To know how much roof space you’ll need, you have to take into account two variables: the size of solar panels and the number of solar panels you need. As mentioned before, most solar modules are 5.4 feet long by 3.25 feet wide, which means 17.5 square feet. To find out how much roof space your solar system will need, you have to multiply the number of panels you need by 17.55 square feet.
Suppose you have to install a solar panel system that generates an average of 6 Kilowatts. To reach this output, you’ll need around twenty 250-275 watts solar panels. So, 20 panels by 17.5 square feet translate into 352 square feet, which is the space you will have to keep.
We hope this quick Q&A article has helped you clear up most of the questions you had on solar panels from the start.
This information should give you a better understanding of the standard sizes of solar panels, how heavy are solar panels on average, and whether your roof can handle that weight. Also, this article should help you calculate how much space you will need in your roof to install a solar array that powers your appliances and the average time it will take to be installed.
Have you ever wondered about the safety of solar panels? We have you covered with this handy article all about solar safety and other FAQs that you may have on your mind.