Photovoltaic Shingles

Here's a new idea, how about combining the functionality of solar panels with the appearance of shingles?If your reading this, you are probably already aware of the amazing potential for solar panels to replace electricity from the power company. The advantages are just to numerous to ignore. Unfortunately, to some people the appearance of the standard solar panel, although not unpleasant, is not as pleasing as a traditional shingle roof.

So for those people looking for the best of both worlds, there are solutions.

• New photovoltaic shingles enable home or commercial building roofs to become sources of electricity as well as protection from the elements.

• Although photovoltaic shingles don't look exactly like asphalt shingles, they are close enough to not be noticeable. The photovoltaic shingles are the same size as regular shingles and are installed by nailing them over 30 pound felt, just like regular shingles.

• Each photovoltaic shingle comes with lead wires attached to its underside. The leads are usually 12 inches long. When the shingle is installed the lead wire is pulled through the roof deck.

• Once the shingles are installed, the sun helps to bond the shingles together forming a weather resistant seal.

• A homeowner can increase or decrease the number of PV shingles he uses on his roof based on the amount of power he wants.

• Once the photovoltaic shingles are installed on the roof the leads from the various shingles can be extended and installed to a combiner box.

• From the combiner box a lead is then run to the power conditioning equipment. The power conditioning equipment which is composed of the charge controller, meters, disconnect switches, fuses, inverter and batteries is then ready to power the building.

The result is a fully integrated shingle roof that will provide free electricity for years to come.