9 Solar Panel Installation Mistakes Indian Homeowners Make

Executive Summary 

• Save ₹50,000-₹2 lakhs by avoiding the most common solar installation mistakes that Indian homeowners make for their solar rooftop project. 

• Get step-by-step prevention strategies from the solar experts who have studied thousands of residential solar installations across India 
• Access our free solar calculator to evaluate your roof’s potential to generate free electricity for the next 25 years

If you have decided or in the planning phase to install solar rooftop panels at your home, you, already, have made a smart choice that can save your family thousands on electricity bills.  

However, many Indian homeowners unknowingly make costly mistakes during solar panel installation that reduce solar system performance by 30-40% and extend payback periods by an additional 2-3 years. 

After studying thousands of residential solar systems across India, we’ve identified the top 10 mistakes that can turn your solar investment into a financial burden.  

More importantly, we’ll show you exactly how to avoid them. 

 

The Most Expensive Solar Installation Mistakes

1. Skipping Professional Site Assessment

The Mistake: Many homeowners approve solar layouts without proper site surveys, shadow analysis, or roof inspection. 

The Cost: If a solar system is installed in a partially shaded area, you can lose from 15-30% of the potential electricity generation, which can significantly extend your payback period. 

The Solution: You must insist on a comprehensive site assessment that includes shading analysis of your roof, roof structural evaluation, and irradiance mapping before finalising the solar system design. 

 

2. Wrong Panel Orientation and Tilt

The Mistake: Installation of solar panels facing east, west, or laying them flat instead of optimising their orientation for Indian latitudes. 

The Cost: Poor solar module orientation can reduce the generation of electricity by 10-25% which has a direct impact on your savings. 

The Solution: For most locations in India, solar panels should face true south with a tilt angle matching your latitude (typically 15-30 degrees for maximum energy generation efficiency). 

 

3. Choosing Low-Quality Solar Panels to Save Money

The Mistake: Selecting non-certified solar panels or low-cost, low-quality inverters to reduce upfront solar project cost. 

The Cost: Poor-quality solar panels fail early and do not give consistent output throughout its life span of 25 years. You may be forced to replace the solar panels after 5-10 years for poor electricity generation. And replacement has a cost. 

The Solution: Invest in certified solar panels, which are ALMM-approved, IS-certified, MNRE-approved, Tier-1 solar panels manufactured by a reputed solar module manufacturer like Jakson Solar. Also, look out for warranties and strong service support before selecting a panel brand. 

 

Sizing and Design Errors That Hurt Performance

4. Installing Solar Rooftop Project on Structurally Weak Roofs

The Mistake: If you are mounting solar panels on old, damaged, or structurally insufficient rooftops without proper evaluation, it may result in the collapse of the solar system in the future. 

The Cost: Roof repairs require solar panel removal and re-installation of the system, which is an additional expenditure ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹50,000 depending on the size of the project. 

The Solution: Get your roof assessment by a structural engineer, especially for roofs that are 15 years or older OR the roofs that are showing signs of damage before installation. 

 

5. Poor Layout Planning

The Mistake: A homeowner may insist on installing solar panels edge-to-edge to save space – without leaving space for cleaning, maintenance, or safety access. 

The Cost: In India, where the climate is dusty in most of cities, solar panels tend to accumulate dirt, and if they are not cleaned regularly, it may lose 15-20% energy generation efficiency within a few months. 

The Solution: One must design the layouts with adequate walkways with cleaning access while maximising roof space for panel density. 

 

Installation and Safety Mistakes

6. Hiring Inexperienced / Unlicensed Solar Installers 

The Mistake: Many Indians choose solar installers based solely on the price without verifying certifications or prior experience. 

The Cost: Solar companies do not give a warranty for such solar installations, which is also a major safety concern. Moreover, you may be disqualified from getting the Government subsidies.

The Solution: One must choose only MNRE-empanelled installers who can provide proper certifications and installation warranties. 

Case: There is a case posted on Reddit by one of the users who lost all his money due to vendor negligence.

7. Ignoring Electrical Safety Standards

The Mistake: Indian homeowners are lured to use undersized cables, skipping surge protection guidelines and compromising on inadequate earthing systems. 

The Cost: Electrical faults can damage solar inverters and solar panels, cause a fire, and insurance claims are denied in such cases. 

The Solution: One must ensure that all electrical work meets IS standards with proper earthing, surge protection devices are properly installed & checked, and appropriately rated electrical components are used in the installation. 

 

Regulatory and Financial Oversights

8. Neglecting Paperwork & Approvals

The Mistake: Mostly, the solar installation is started without DISCOM approvals, net-metering applications and subsidy documentation 

The Cost: It results in delays in grid connection, which means you pay full electricity tariffs while your solar system generates power every day. 

The Solution: One must complete all regulatory approvals before installation begins. Most reputable installers handle this process for you. 

 

9. No Planning for Future Expansion

The Mistake: Most homeowners do not consider that they may need to expand their solar project and add more kilowatts to their existing system. It means installing additional solar panels & Inverters for future load requirements. 

The Cost: Future modifications require system redesigns and additional infrastructure, which is an additional cost a homeowner has to bear. 

The Solution: One can plan for 30-50% expansion capacity in your initial solar system design, even if it is not immediately utilised. 

 

 

Your Next Steps to Solar Success

A smart Indian homeowner can easily save a lot of money by properly designing, optimising and taking corrective actions right at the beginning of his solar investment. 

Ready to go solar the right way?