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More and more people each and every day now realize that we must look to alternative energy sources for the future. The sun and the wind are the two most abundant and accessible. Because of that, DIY Solar Power has become incredibly popular over the past few years. It used to be that homeowners had to fork out thousands and thousands of dollars to manufacturers for solar power.

The cost is still exorbitant but the wonderful thing now is that homeowners can make and install their very own solar panels. And it can be done for a fraction of the cost. Although it may sound complex, making solar panels really is rather simple. The project can be done utilizing materials and tools that can be bought at any home improvement store.

Anyone that commits the time and effort can do it regardless of their skill sets. If you are interested in DIY solar power there is a growing community that you can tap into for help. Going green by using alternative energy sources has both hobbyists and homeowners feeling good about themselves.

It can save save thousands upon thousands on electricity bills. The resale value of the home is also enhanced. The improvement in tech knowledge makes building solar power systems possible for just about anyone. Mountings, batteries and solar cells are what it’s made of. It all begins by building solar cells.

The cells convert the sun’s rays into electricity. The panel is informed by wiring the cells together. It is the cells working in tandem that creates a functioning panel. The process produces a photovoltaic solar panel. Photovoltaic is a fancy way of saying that the sun’s rays is converted into electricity. After that it must be installed on the home.

The electricity that is generated then either gets used, stored or sold to the electric company. Perhaps saying it can be sold as a bit of a misnomer. The electrical grid then sends the excess energy that the homeowner doesn’t need to the utility company.

The homeowner gets credits that are used to offset the cost of his or her electric bill. When enough credits are earned to eliminate the entire cost of the bill, it is known as going off the grid. Sounds pretty appealing doesn’t it? That’s because it is. In addition to saving money, DIY Solar Power is also environmentally friendly.

Tags: DIY, energy, Home, house, solar power

Homeowners and businesses are turning to solar power to reduce their energy bills. Purchasing a DIY solar power kit is perhaps the fastest way to implement this kind of renewable energy to your system. However, there are five important things with which you should be familiar before you make such a purchase.

Dimension of the Solar Panels

The DIY solar power kit should list the panels’ precise measurements, which will help you determine if you have the proper roof space for the solar module. Further, ensure that you know the solar panels’ weight, which is necessary information if you have roof tiles as they will factor in determining if your roof can support the solar panels. You will be able to more easily determine if your roof is stable enough structurally to handle the added load if you know the weight and dimension of the panels.

Total Power Generation

You should calculate the amount of power you use in your home before you install any DIY solar power kit. Then decide on the number of appliances you’ll be connecting to your solar power system. Choose an appropriate DIY solar power kit once you’ve come up with this figure. Kits of a variety of sizes are available; further, some kits can be interconnected if one alone is not sufficient.

Durability

Solar power panels are constantly exposed to harsh outdoor elements like rain, hail, sun and snow. Due to this exposure, the frame should be constructed of aluminum or another durable material, while the solar cells should be covered with tempered glass.

Long-Term Warranty

It can take years before you see a return on investment, or ROI, from the installation of a DIY solar power kit. It is important to consider the length of a product’s warranty before buying one. Most experts recommend getting a 20- to 25-year warranty on new solar panels.

Installation and Maintenance

Select a DIY solar power kit that has easy installation. Kits that contain all the necessary components to start your own solar power system are on the market. Additionally, you should also consider one that will require only minimal maintenance over the years in service. Solar panels that require an annual scrubbing to keep them working at their maximum potential are your best bet.

Anna Vera Williams helps others understand how to utilize solar power to live cleaner and more eco-friendly lives.

This article was originally published on Anna’s blog, at Five Things to Consider When Purchasing a DIY Solar Power Kit.

Tags: alternative energy, DIY, DIY Solar Power, Do-it-Yourself, Eco-friendly, energy, Energy Efficiency, Gadgets, green, Home Improvement, Renewable Energy, Solar, solar power

Did you know that there are 10 various parts that are required to make a complete solar powered system for your home? However, it doesn’t necessarily follow that you will have all the items built into your system. You can start off simple and add to it as your requirements change.

Don’t feel to intimidate by the options or complexity of the different systems it is really very simple. For example, if your home gets electricity from the national grid, it doesn’t mean you have to hook your system up to it if you don’t want to.

PV Solar Panels

Solar cells are placed in direct sunlight, and they transform daylight into electricity. They produce DC electric power in contrast to AC. Go crazy and build loads of solar panels because you can connect an unlimited amount together. Follow this link find out more about how to build a solar panel.

The panels are linked together inline. One follows the next one, a bit like a string of fairy lights in contrast to being connected together on an adhoc basis. With this design, it is very easy to add more panels as and when you build them.

DC (Direct Current) Disconnect

You want you solar panels connected to a Direct Current (DC) disconnect. You do not want to undertake any maintenance on your system while there is electricity flowing through it. The DC disconnect switches of the power generated by your solar panels.

Battery Charge Controller

A charge controller is very important to have if you are using batteries to store electricity. If you have a charge controller, this will protect your batteries from becoming over charged. Over charging will reduce the life of your batteries.

Battery

Read up on the different types of batteries and get familiar with them. The type you need is deep cycle. These batteries are often used in forklift vehicles. Do not use car batteries.

To get the best out of your batteries and to extend their working life, keep them at an ambient temperature. Do not expose them to the elements; keep them in a garage or some sheltered building. A battery box is also a good investment, they keep your batteries at a good temperature and also protect them from accidental damage.

Solar System Meter

A system meter is very useful for telling you how much electricity you are using and how much power is left in your batteries. You don’t want to work blind, they don’t cost very much are really worth their weight in gold.

Main Supply Direct Current (DC) Disconnect

You only need this if you have a battery backup as it turns of the electricity from them. You design the system so that it sits between your batteries and the AC DC inverter. This turns off the power from your batteries, which then allows you to undertake any preventative maintenance.

AC DC Inverter

Batteries and solar panels output a direct current. The problem is, many if not all your electrical gadgets in the home use an alternating current. This is the job of the inverter to convert direct current to an alternating current.

Diesel Generator

There are various types of electric generators to choose from. If your home is off-grid then it is definitely worth considering adding one of these to your system. The electrical generator can provide a backup to your solar powered system should it be down for maintenance or if the batteries are low.

Alternating Current Breaker Panel

The AC breaker panel is where you feed the electricity you produced back to the national grid. Although all houses have them, only the electric company is allowed to wire them up. You have to get the electric company to come along and wire it up for you.

It makes sense really, if you get this bit wrong it can be very costly, and you don’t want to end up with the blame for anything.

Electric Meter

As with the breaker panel, you will also have a KWH meter. This is how you record how much electric is consumed within your home. You can also see how much you are sending back to the grid.

Video on Different Aspects Of Building Your Own Solar Panel

Learning to build a solar panel is the first step. The second step is to design a system that will work in your home. Visit build a solar panel and learn all you need to know about building the right system for your house.

Tags: DIY, Home, Home Improvement, solar energy, solar power

Homeowners and businesses are turning to solar power to reduce their energy bills. Purchasing a DIY solar power kit is one of the simplest ways to add this type of renewable energy to your system. But before you make such a purchase, you should be familiar with these five important aspects.

Dimension of the Solar Panels

The DIY solar power kit must indicate the exact measurements of the solar panels, because this will let you know if you have enough roof space for the solar module. You will also need to know the solar panels’ weight, since they will determine whether your roof can support the solar panels if you have roof tiles in place. The dimension and weight are needed to determine if your roof is structurally stable for the added load.

Total Power Generation

Calculate how much power you consume in your home before installing a DIY solar power kit. Additionally, determine how many appliances you want to connect to the solar power system. Choose an appropriate DIY solar power kit once you’ve come up with this figure. There are a variety of kit sizes available on the market; additionally, certain kits are designed for interconnectivity if one is not sufficient.

Durability

Due to their outdoor installation, solar panels suffer constant exposure to harsh elements like sun, snow, rain, and hail. Due to this exposure, the frame should be constructed of aluminum or another durable material, while the solar cells should be covered with tempered glass.

Long-Term Warranty

Be aware that it can take years to see a return on investment for a DIY solar power kit. It is important to consider the length of a product’s warranty before buying one. Most experts recommend getting a 20- to 25-year warranty on new solar panels.

Installation and Maintenance

Select a DIY solar power kit that has easy installation. You can purchase kits that come with all the components you’ll need to start your own solar power system. Additionally, you should also consider one that will require only minimal maintenance over the years in service. Solar panels that require an annual scrubbing to keep them working at their maximum potential are your best bet.

Anna Vera Williams helps others understand how to utilize solar power to live cleaner and more economical lives.

This article was originally published on Anna’s blog, at 5 Things to Consider When Buying a DIY Solar Power Kit.

Tags: alternative energy, DIY, DIY Solar Power, Do-it-Yourself, Eco-friendly, energy, Energy Efficiency, Gadgets, green, Home Improvement, Renewable Energy, Solar, solar power