DIY Home Solar Panel System

So you want to build a DIY home solar panel system. Perfect time to get started with the increasing costs of electricity & Global warming. But before you go in head first let's have a look at what must be considered first. Having decided what you want your solar project to do for you, the next most important consideration is the location of the panels, as the panels must be in the sun, year-round.

If you live In the Northern Hemisphere the panels should face south and if you live south of the equator they should face true north. The main reason for this is to maximize on solar input and optimize on input from the winter sun. It can get more complex than this, but that is the general idea.

The above considerations come into play when you choose the location of your DIY home solar panel system. If your roof has a south and/or north facing pitch then that's a good start, as long as your roof is shade-free. Tilt angle is important, particularly if you live in high latitudes. As a general rule, if you have a roof pitch of 20- 50 degrees, then the roof is probably your best panel location.

We are however jumping ahead. The main thing to think about is what you actually want to achieve with your solar panels. If you just want a solar panel to run a few lights or operate a small water pump, then mount the panel on a pole or a portable rack. If it is for bigger house systems (four or more panels) then the roof is probably the ideal location.

If your roof is not capable of holding a larger or multi-panel array, then you must find a location on your property where you can mount a ground rack; again a place that has no shade - (Including shade from trees). I personally prefer a ground rack mounted on concrete footings. The panel array is easier to clean and check, and to expand should you want to.

The question of how many panels one needs in a DIY home solar panel system is of course related to what one wants to do and this involves a more comprehensive discussion than this article allows for. Thus the 'number of panels' topic is addressed proper in Article 4, where the various needs are looked at and system size examples given.

Let's have a cursory look at what panels are generally available and what they can do for us. Single solar panels (technically called 'solar modules') are available in power ratings from as little as one watt up to 200 watts and above. Whilst the former may cost just a few dollars, the 200 watt giant is likely to cost you over $1,000! Solar panels for home use almost always have charging voltages of 16-21 volts to charge 12 volt battery banks, and whilst a 5 watt panel will yield.40 of an amp of charge, a 200 watt giant will yield around 10 amps. This article is addressing the independent off-grid home owner and so 24 volt grid-connect panels are not discussed here.

Like any other product there is good, not so good and poor quality panels available and, beware the price does not always tell the true story. One does have to careful, since the bulk of your investment will be tied up in the panels; so choose well! Top of our list for strength, quality, build and good consistent output are Kyocera panels; and with a cell efficiency approaching 16% they have a lot going for them!

Solar panels can be easily self-installed and wired up following the instructions supplied. An electrician is rarely necessary, except possibly when the system is to be wired through an inverter to feed the household AC circuit. Unless an electrician is certified by the utility company he can not wire your system into the grid. But as said above this is another topic for a later article.

Now, time and time again, I have seen and demonstrated that DIY home solar panel installations, especially smaller installations are 'doable' and satisfying - and give a great boost to the economic viability of your system.

Is it cost effective to install a system? Without doubt, 'yes' If there is no grid; and with little doubt, if the sun shines brightly most of the year and you consider saved costs. Not to forget the independence it creates also

But do always go for quality components, or you will surely compromise output and therefore the economic advantages you gained in going down the DIY home solar panel road!





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Build Solar Cell - The Initial Step to Build Your Own Solar Panel

Having plans on creating your very own solar panels just to give it a shot? You are currently off the grid and desiring for something even greater? Arranging for a productive project would greatly depends on precisely how accurate you are in your ultimate goal, how much effort you plan to make sure you allocate the work and the anticipation of your work environment. It is easy to find out how to build a self-made solar panel within the comfort of your own residence, doing it in your backyard or in your garage.

When you want to build a solar-panel you should begin fixing your own electrical power at house. It becomes an excellent way to keep yourself well-informed and save money, therefore you should study to build a good solar panel right now!!! Constructing it from individual solar cells is a quite simple process that's less costly than purchasing major ones in most suppliers. If you can't go hunting for renovated panels and are at ease that they've been renovated properly, connecting the cells into a flexible panel is the best way to go. Constructing a 12V solar panel is pretty easy as long as you have ideas on what are the right things to do. There are a few major steps engaged.

You must build your foundation of knowledge on how solar panels function, the possible benefits that you might have and any other informative tips that could be a great help. You don't have to worry of how difficult it would be for you to build it for your home at all. There's really nothing to worry about since it won't be difficult to build in the first place. Creating it on your own could be far cheaper than you can imagine.

To build solar cell, it would be the initial step in assembling your solar panels. Solar cells will most certainly be then wired in unison which will form into photovoltaic solar panels. Generating solar cells on your own is a great way to spend less and save more. Generally, commercial solar panels are usually sold very expensively that would costs thousands of dollars, but you can save thousands of dollars through building your own solar panel!

Building homemade panels will cost you a much lesser price comparable to an average household's monthly electricity bill that would be around $200. Your handmade panels can be created with parts readily available within any near hardware store in your place. Producing solar cells is definitely the first step you should do in building these panels.

The new status symbol would be the green energy. Solar energy costs nothing, it's clean and boundless and all of it will become yours when you start building your own solar energy system. Green living has a lot of benefits that could help in any environmental cause. Not only will it help the environmental surroundings but it will also help you save a lot of money.

Having your own solar panel at home, you can produce enough electricity that instead your meter will spin reversely, now that would mean the electric company will be the one to pay you for electricity instead of you paying to them! Robert thought thoroughly about which electrical appliances are the most necessary to use for his new home.

Over the following years, the productivity of the moderately low-valued CIGS thin-film solar modules will increase from about 11% to about 15% or more, as stated by ZSW researchers. Now, the question would be: Will companies realize to capitalize on that particular efficiency gain? The expense of living is rapidly increasing and there isn't really a much better time start saving your money than right now so you should begin to build solar cell and start producing your own electricity.





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Solar Panel Installation And Photovoltaic Systems

Solar panel installation and photovoltaic systems have become the new buzzwords for electricity in your home. Solar photovoltaic systems can be used to generate electricity in your home through solar energy. This is an eco-friendly option as it reduces the toxic emissions into the atmosphere and makes use of the sun's energy to generate electricity.

How Do Solar PV Panels Work?

Solar panels can be attached to your roof or walls. The cells on these systems are made from layers of semiconducting materials. When sunlight falls on these cells it creates an electric field across the layers. If the sunshine is strong, more electricity is produced.

Benefits Of Solar Energy

Solar energy is green energy and has no harmful carbon dioxide emissions or pollutants. Sunlight is free so once you have paid for solar pv panels, your cost of electricity is reduced which means less expenses. Normal electricity is much more expensive and costs are rising each year.

Professional Installation Of Solar Panels

Professional installers of domestic and commercial solar panels have certifications and experience and provide services for it's installation and photovoltaic systems, for home or office, all over UK.

They will answer all your queries and clear any doubts you have about working of the system. You can save on tax and earn on your investment through Feed in Tariff and save on electricity bills with the solar power system. You are eligible to apply for Feed in Tariff which is index linked and tax free for domestic properties. The systems have a 5 year product warranty and 25 years 80% performance warranty.

Gains Through Installation

If your system produces more electricity, someone else could make use of it and you could reap the benefits. Excess electricity can be stored for later use in batteries or fed into a large grid powered by a central generation plant.

Important Points

Before you decide on solar energy methods and call the domestic solar panel installers you need to discuss your plans with local authorities to find out the rules and regulations in your residential locality. There is however a drive to encourage use of solar energy by local planners by the National planning guidance authorities.

If you want to convert solar powered electricity into alternating electricity (AC) the solar PV system should have a connected inverter. The solar panel installers will help you to do the required installation work, to achieve this.

Commercial solar panel installers can offer solar PV systems for your business as well. It can prove very economical for your business and a profitable venture in some years through Feed in Tariff and by paying for the system.

The Feed in Tariff is a scheme to encourage investment in renewable electricity which produces a lower carbon footprint and they will be paid for electricity generated.

Placement of Solar Panels

They can be installed on any home or commercial building and can be fixed on the ground or roof, on flat or pitched roofs, in urban or rural areas. The panels should have exposure to sunlight.

Everyone is eligible for Solar panel installation and photovoltaic systems in home or commercial uses. It is advisable to do a site survey before installation, read a consumer guide and get all your information from reputable sources.





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Buying Solar Panels - Our Reasons For Getting Solar At 70

Yesterday the guy came and fitted seven solar panels to the roof of our home. We weighed the pros and cons of buying solar panels for over a month and finally made the commitment. There were a few good reasons behind our judgment to go solar- some commercial and some for the planet.

Firstly we have it on their authority that the panels will supply up to 60% or our electrical needs and when we are not at home or when all the household appliances are sitting unused (excepting the fridge) our new solar panels will actually put electricity back into the grid and we will get credits for this reducing our overall bill each month. Of course the more panels you fit the greater the input and benefits and there are some households who have up to 20 panels which will cover all their electrical needs day in and day out.

We also had our care of the planet in mind however being perfectly honest there had to be a buck in it for us to make the change yet even so our concern over the carbon emission issues which threatens the planet with climate change was fairly high in our minds. My wife and I are in our 70's so we won't see the ultimate damage that may come to our grandchildren and so with that sort of concern we also made our commitment to buying solar panels for our old homestead.

We did our research on the solar panels before making the plunge and discovered there are panels and there are panels. To put it more plainly some panels do not have the same efficiency as others and if you are considering buying solar panels be aware that the cheaper panel is not necessarily the best way to go. We had two companies offering to do our fit out and the price was considerably different however we chose the higher cost in buying solar panels because in the long run it was clear it would be better and cheaper.

The deciding factor was the model chosen would produce electricity at near 90% of its efficiency even in shady conditions and the other models, which were cheaper, were down to 20% efficiency on the shady winter days.

It was important to my wife more than myself that the panels looked good. As a mere male the design look on the rooftop didn't concern me greatly. I was more interested in how well they would work. Of course your position on the rooftop needs to be on the best sun catching location and the northerly exposure was essential. We found in discussion with our company fitting the panels that they could make them aesthetically pleasing and would fit in with the house design.

There is also the option when buying solar panels to go the extra expense and have a solar tracker fitted, which means the panels, will position to the best sun exposure throughout the day. However for us this was not a consideration as we are blessed with constant sunlight throughout most of the year but for those in the more wintry climates with lesser sun exposure it's worth considering the sun solar tracker and the extra expense may well be worth the outlay.

We also checked out the guarantees that came with our solar panels and while there will be some small decline in efficiency over time the solar panels we have had fitted they have a guarantee of twelve years to still be working at about 80% efficiency at the year twelve.

Of course there will be new developments over the next twelve years and even now there is modeling for a paper thin cheap roof covering that will deliver the whole electrical needs of the family and there is also talk about a solar paint that you can simply paint on the roof at a tiny cost compared with buying solar panels today. These new ideas are not yet commercially available but they will be in a few years. However for my wife and I we will be in our late 80s by then, if we survive that long, and so buying solar panels now and not the technology of tomorrow was our main concern.





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Solar Panel Efficiency

Solar panels are made up of solar cells. The electricity produced from one solar cell is minimal, so a number are linked to form solar panels - which should create a significant amount of power. Silicon cells make up the most typically used solar panels (also called Photo Voltaic or PV modules) which produce a as much as 50 Watts of electricity in bright sunlight. To generate even more energy, solar panels can be interconnected.

By connecting to the grid, people who create solar energy can be paid by the utilities for any extra electricity they produce. Net metering (which is allowed in 30 states) tracks a solar power system's electricity production and allows producers to sell excess electricity back to the utilities. The most frequently used option is a single, reversible meter. As electricity is produced by the solar power system, on-site demand is fulfilled first. Then, rather than being battery-stored, the extra electricity is sent back into the grid, and turns the electric meter backwards. The utility company then credits the homeowner at the end of each metering period.

The use of solar panels will decrease your carbon emissions your carbon footprint since solar energy doesn't release harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) and is considered "green". Each home solar power system could save 2650 pounds of CO2 per year (30 tons over its lifetime). "The next industrial revolution will be based on these clean green technologies," - Tony Juniper, director, Friends of the Earth.

Photovoltaic cells generate electricity from sunlight, but there are other techniques for making solar power. There are also solar-thermal panels which churn out hot water rather than electricity. With solar-thermal panels there's no need for electricity. Both panels look alike; however, where photovoltaic panels absorb light particles into solar cells, solar thermal panels absorb heat through a sheet of black glass. Water trickles by way of the panels, and is heated as it does so, before flowing through into the water system of the home, and out by way of the faucets.

A solar panel is a flat rectangular structure, varying in size. Solar panels are made from individual solar collectors that are covered with a protective sheet of glass. Each palm-sized cell is usually octagon-shaped with a bluish-black color. In the same way the cells in a battery are designed to produce electricity, so solar cells are developed for the same purpose. But where battery cells use chemicals, solar cells use the sun's rays. Photovoltaic is another name given to these cells - "photo" from "photos", the Greek word for "of light", and "voltaic" - named for Italian physicist, Alessandro Volta.

Having been inspired by the effectiveness of solar panels for his own residence, A-list actor, Edward Norton came up with a program which provides solar panels to low-income Los Angeles families. Each time a superstar buys their solar panels, the BP Solar Neighbors program grants a free solar system to one of these families. Robin Williams, along with Owen Wilson and Tom Hanks, have already gotten involved in the project, and are among many others. It's encouraging to note that oil giant BP's solar division is actually growing by an extraordinary 30% per year.







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Discover the Real Facts About Solar Panel Efficiency

Defining it as basically as possible, solar panel efficiency simply means the amount of energy we get out of a panel after leaving it out in the sun. There a number of ways in which this can be measured. This process of measurement becomes very important because the solar panel efficiency determines its usage, popularity and success. So if you are planning to install a solar panel in your house, check out the facts about solar panel efficiency and you will have a better idea of what to expect from it.

Before the energy efficiency of the panel is measured, the entire energy consumption needs of the house must be measured. Once that is done, the proper solar power panel efficiency can be comprehended. Researchers have discovered that of the entire solar energy hitting the solar power panels, only 20% is transformed into electrical energy. When this energy is used up by the appliances, the efficiency further falls and at times it is seen to be even as low as 5%. This is a problem faced by many people who have installed solar panels at homes. However, with research and review being done constantly, this problem is being tackled.

The above mentioned data has, of course, been derived from laboratory results. It is therefore important to remember that the results can vary as conditions in the lab and at home are often very different. Solar panel efficiency can be more at a lab or at home, depending on the amount of energy consumed, the conditions under which they are used and so on.

The solar power panel efficiency also depends on the manufacturing company of the panels. Some companies produce better quality panels and they have better efficiency and vice-versa. So while buying the solar cell panel, you have to be very careful and select a panel that will give you maximum efficiency. Do some market research, ask your friends who have already installed solar power panels in their homes and you will get a better idea. Go online and try to look for user testimonials as they prove to be very useful.

So if you want to asses the correct solar cell panel efficiency, keep the above mentioned tips in mind. You will be able to find the best solar panels with the highest efficiency. Solar energy is the future and if you are planning to shift to it, you surely are making the right decision!




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Step by Step Plans - Building Solar Panels For Home Use

Solar Energy

Predicted to be going strong for many years from now and a permanent solution to soaring energy bills and fossil fuel supplies.

First step is to learn how to build a solar panel and the steps to generate your own electricity to operate the home appliances. Solar panels for homes should face the sun in order to capture the maximum amount of sunlight each day. In the northern hemisphere, the panels should face south. If the roof of the structure is unsuitable for the installation, you can simply attach your solar panels to poles that have been installed outside in a location which attracts the sun.

Learning how to build your own solar panels, as long as you have the basic diy skills, is actually quite simple and easy by following the step by step instructions how to.

Tools required to build solar panels are basic home handy man and parts are readily available from your local junkyard or home improvement hardware store.

TOOLS.

1.Saw for cutting timber
2. Electric Drill
3. Soldering iron
4. Pliers or wire cutters. Screwdriver set
5. Volt Meter
6. Electrical tape, are just a few to list.

PARTS.

1. Sheets of Plywood.
2. sheets of Plexiglass.
3. electrical cable.
4. Solar Cells.
5. Tabbing Wire.
6. soldering Flux.

Determine how much power you need from each of the solar panels you are going to build. To charge an 18 volt battery, for instance, you would need a panel with 36 solar cells producing .5 volts each.

The most common shape of solar panels for homes is rectangular, one of the advantages of deciding to build your own solar panel is you can build the power panel in any shape to fit onto the roof or post. The manuals and solar packages available on the internet displays great videos explaining the voltage testing, tabbing and wiring procedures to build your own solar panel:

STEPS AROUND THE HOME TO REDUCE YOUR POWER.

- Did you know that taking a few simple steps to reduce your carbon footprint will not only help the planet but will also save you money?
- Power on dishwasher when it is full.
- Keep your doors closed when air conditioners or heaters are being used
- 24 degrees Celsius is a comfortable temperature to set your air conditioner. Defrost your fridge regularly. High energy efficiency rating appliances
- Use a clothes line to dry your clothes rather than a tumble dryer.
- Turn all appliances off at the wall - standby power will increase your electricity account and greenhouse emissions.

Solar manuals offer some fantastic home care energy saving solutions. How to make solar panels, build solar generators, generate free solar power electricity, build wind power generators and power efficient wind mills. Comprehensive guides that makes everything so clear that anyone can start generating their own electricity.





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