Can You Have Solar Panels in Cloudy Weather

Virginia currently stands at 11th in all national solar rankings in the U.S. This means getting solar panels installed in your home is becoming more and more of a viable option. 

With that being said, consumers are often worried about getting electricity to their homes on cloudy days. After all, won't cloudy weather prevent my solar panels from working?

That's what we're here to look at today. Read on to find out whether solar panels work in cloudy or dark weather. 

How Solar Panels Work

To understand how solar panels work in cloudy weather, you need to know how they produce electricity at all. Panels convert the sun's energy into power through direct currents, which get sent to the system's inverter. 

Once in the inverter, it's converted to alternating current or AC power. This is the power you use to turn on your lights, appliances, and most other parts of your home. 

Any power that's not used by your home is sent to either your utility lines or to a backup battery that's attached to your panels. Now that we understand how solar panels work let's look at whether they work in cloudy weather. 

Do Panels Work In Cloudy Weather?

The short answer to this question is, yes but not as effective. 

Depending on how thick the cloud coverings are, expect your panels to work to produce about 10 to 25% of their normal output. As you might expect, solar panels work much better when there's consistent sunshine. 

That might be offputting for residents who live in areas with a lot of cloudy weather or live in overcast conditions. However, it's important to keep in mind that many parts of the U.S. don't experience excessive sunlight but still use solar. 

One of the reasons behind that is how solar panels work under specific climates.

For example, if it's too hot, solar panels aren't as effective even under direct sunlight. Nevertheless, cities like San Francisco are domestic leaders in solar energy because their cooler climate and high energy cost offset the lack of sun. 

As such, it's important to know that cloudy weather doesn't mean solar panels are completely ineffective. 

Do They Work At Night?

Tangentially related to the question about solar panels and cloudy weather is the question of whether they work at night. The answer is no, but that doesn't mean you'll be without power altogether. 

Most solar homes are connected to their local utility companies to supply any excess power generated from their panels. Similarly, homes can pull energy from that surplus to get electricity at night. 

Solar panels sometimes come with batteries that power your home at night as well. These batteries are powered by excess solar power generated during the day. 

Rest assured, your solar-powered home won't be without electricity just because there's no sunlight. If you're looking to decide between the different types of panels, hit up Blue Raven for the best services. 

Leverage Solar Even During Cloudy Weather

Just because there's no direct sunlight doesn't mean your solar panels are useless. Use this article to help you understand how your solar panels will work under cloudy weather. 

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