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Showing posts with label DIY Solar Panels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DIY Solar Panels. Show all posts

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Building Your Own DIY Solar Panels


With the increasing demand for alternative energy sources, more and more homeowners are considering using solar panels at home. That, and the immense lure of saving on power bills prompts people to consider turning to solar energy for everyday needs. But what exactly is involved in manufacturing your own solar system? Are there any difficulties or is this a simple matter? Here are some factors to consider when learning how to build a solar panel.

Pay attention to the planning and preparation stages first. Take this time to take into consideration the time and space it would take to build each panel. Prepare a workplace and set a time period for your project. Take note of all the tools you will be needing. An ideal workplace should have enough power outlets to give you access to power you need in soldering the units together and good ventilation to whisk away the fumes.

Start small. If this is your first time going about building your own solar panels, consider doing a project for one or two at first. Take this first DIY solar panels project of yours and use it as a chance to learn. Experience is still the best teacher so only by doing will you get better at putting up your own solar panels.

Once you're really decided on the DIY course, take note of where you'll be buying your solar cells. There are many vendors over the internet you can turn to so getting your hands on those cells should be easy. If you want to a bit of practice first though, opt for solar cells from broken panels. These will require more work to put together but they are cheaper and still functional so they are great for first-time builders to experiment on.

Don't forget your panels will also need protection so look for tempered glass or plexiglass. Plexiglass that are UV-resistant will extend the life of your solar panels as discoloration is reduced. Protection from UV rays also helps keep solar panels efficient in absorbing energy from the sun so they keep working longer.

For your base, plywood is a good option but you can choose between using either wood or metal. Whatever you choose, you still need UV resistant paint to seal the base to keep dirt out of the panels.

Using DIY solar panels is a great way to do your part for the environment. With materials that are very easy to procure over the internet, there should be no reason why you can't turn to solar energy for your needs.
How To Get Started

The best way is to get a good instruction manual and some videos that will guide you step by step through the whole procedure. Here you will also get the best advice on what to buy and where to buy the required components at the best possible price.

Useful information alternative energy sources:
http://www.scienceanalysis.com/

Learn how to Building solar panels:
http://www.scienceanalysis.com/build-solar-panel.html


Learn how to DIY solar panel:
http://www.prlog.org/10295698-diy-solar-panel-complete-analysis-on-home-solar-power-systems.html

Monday, August 30, 2010

DIY Solar and Wind Solutions

For those of us that want to save our hard earn money on electricity and convert renewable resources, it is a great new to hear that purchasing and installing home solar panels and home wind turbines have become more and more of a feasible option without costing us a fortune.

Home solar panels for instance have come a long way over the years, from large panels to much thinner layers of film that are much more effective than their predecessors. Solar energy is even being implemented for small technology like cell phone chargers.

Buying a solar power system for your home can costs thousands and thousand of dollars but do-it-yourselfers are now building their own for much less than what it normally costs. This has been a major problem for homeowners whereby the savings for employing solar powered energy would not recoup the initial costs quickly enough. It's one thing to be green but being green should certainly also save you money.

There are two main types of solar water heater systems. The "Passive Solar Water Heater" system involves mounting the tank above the panels. Though this is advantageous by using gravity to produce water flow where needed some people prefer the "Split Solar" system. This system allows for the tank to be in the same location as your current tank. Even though a small pump is needed to get the water where it needs to go, the tank is better insulated meaning the water stays heated longer.

Solar panels and even a complete solar power system can now be built as a DIY project! With the right tools, materials and instructions even the newbie DIYer can build an entire DIY solar power system and save thousands on energy costs without spending thousands for a retail system and installation.

Useful information home solar panels:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Home-Solar-Panels-to-Heat-Your-Home&id=4390577

Useful information home wind turbines:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Home-Wind-Turbines---The-Green-Choice-For-Electricity&id=3418512

Learn how to DIY solar power system:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Build-Your-Own-DIY-Solar-Power-System-to-Save-Money-and-Help-the-Environment&id=4400548

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Home Solar Panels Are Environmentally Friendly Systems

At present, carbon dioxide is one of the most talked about atmospheric pollutants. Even though carbon dioxide is a natural part of the atmosphere, in recent years, we as humans have began to overwhelm the earth's eco system to the point where carbon dioxide has begun to reach toxic levels. We introduce carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in many ways, but one of the primary ways is via burning woods or fossil fuels for heating. Home solar power systems do not emit carbon dioxide and when we replace traditional energy sources such as wood or fossil fuels with solar panels, we decrease the amount of carbon dioxide that we introduce into the atmosphere.

The upfront purchasing and installation cost for DIY solar power systems on the typical home is currently more than the cost of equivalent traditional energy appliances such as radiators, hot water heaters, and so on. Things are changing however as recent advances in solar panel technology not only make them cheaper to produce but also increase their kilowatt output efficiency. This means that even though the initial upfront investment costs may be higher for solar panels, the long term payback in energy saving will be more dramatic and occur at a quicker rate than ever before. If you want to free yourself from the spiraling costs of oil and gas, now may well be the perfect time to take a new look at the solar technologies available in your city and state.

Home solar panels, in general, have less moving parts than traditional energy appliances so there's less to go wrong. Typically, once a year you'll have to do a visual inspection, but for the most part, assuming that you've purchased quality panels, once the solar panels are in place, there's not much you have to do to maintain them - estimates range to less than 20 hours a year.

It's been a long road getting here, but solar power is finally coming into its own. And not a moment too soon, because we can no longer afford the energy sources of the last century.

Useful information Home solar power systems:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Home-Solar-Power-Systems---Experience-the-Benefits-and-Satisfaction-of-Building-One-Yourself&id=4397880

Learn how to DIY solar power systems:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Build-Your-Own-DIY-Solar-Power-System-to-Save-Money-and-Help-the-Environment&id=4400548

Useful information Home solar panels:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Home-Solar-Panels-to-Heat-Your-Home&id=4390577

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Building Your Own DIY Solar Panels

You have a few choices in building solar panels. You can build it yourself or purchase a prefabricated one. Making a DIY solar panel is easier than you would think. Once you have the right materials; solar cells, tabbing wire, and flux pen, you are on your way to building a small scale panel in no time. Most people build their DIY solar panel in less than a day. It also makes for a very fun weekend family project.

Solar panels are made up of numerous silicon solar cells. They generate electricity once photons from sunlight hit the silicon cells bouncing electrons within the cells across the panel. This creates a current which is drawn through copper tabbing wire.

In order to learn how to build a solar panel you will need to take a few initial steps to assess the situation.

1. Purpose - What are you going to use the solar panels for? If you are using the panels to power lighting for a toolshed or RV, you will need less electricity than if you wanted to power your entire household. For this, you will need to determine the wattage for your purposes. You can use a kill-a-watt voltmeter to measure appliances in your house.

2. Grid Tie or Offgrid - If you plan on connecting the panel to your house, you will need to decide whether you need to connect it to your existing electrical grid. You will need an inverter to convert DC current to AC current that is usable within the household. If you decide to go offgrid, you will need a battery to store the electricity. For a single panel, you can survive with a standard 12V battery.

3. Financial considerations - Look into government and state rebates and tax incentives. The first place to look is your local utility's website. Ask people in your neighborhood who have installed solar on their rooftops and ask them what measures they took.

Solar panel installations have gone up about 50% each year since 2004. The technology is solid and the paybacks in cost savings are substantial. Do your part and build your own solar panel for your home today.

Learn how to Building solar panels:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Building-Solar-Panels-From-the-Comfort-of-Home&id=3717430


http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Build-Your-Own-Solar-Panel-to-Save-Electricity-in-Your-Home&id=2435153


http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Build-a-Solar-Panel?&id=1433709

Learn how to DIY solar panel:
http://ezinearticles.com/?DIY-Solar-Panel-Made-Simple&id=4387054

Useful information generate electricity:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Generate-Electricity-Using-a-Permanent-Magnet-Generator&id=3616302

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

DIY Solar Panels - Build Your Own Solar Panel At Home

In the world today, every individual should do their part to clean up the environment. This starts with implementing energy efficiency measures such as weatherization. If you do your part to cut down on energy usage, we will not have to produce as much energy. It ends with implementing your own renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. DIY solar panels make it incredibly easy to get a system up and running in as little as a single weekend.

There are a few things to keep in mind when learning how to build a solar panel:

1. Do you have the correct materials? Most DIY solar installation kits will contain high quality photovoltaic cells, tabbing wire, and flux pens. You will also need an inverter to tie the electricity back to your grid. If you decide to work off-grid, you need to purchase a battery to store the electricity. It is also advisable to make a box to protect the solar cells from extreme weather. Solar cells are very fragile.

2. What are the zoning laws in your area? Does you local utility allow you to tie the electricity back to your energy grid? There are certain zoning laws in different areas that may prohibit you from connecting your DIY solar panel to the existing electricity grid.

3. What financial incentives are available? The federal government and state are making it a point to move the nation to more renewable electricity. They putting their words into action by making available tax incentives and rebates. If you live in a sunbelt state such as California, there are many rebates available to homeowners that subsidize up to 30% of you initial costs. Group buying efforts are also in place, whereby entire city blocks are grouping to buy solar panels at a discounted bulk price.

Renewable energy such as solar and wind are here to stay. Do your part by educating yourself and those around you to the benefits of renewable energy. It will be an integral part of weaning our nation off of dependence on foreign oil and the resulting national security problem involved with it.

Learn how to DIY solar panel:
http://www.prlog.org/10711523-diy-solar-panels-learn-how-to-generate-electricity-at-the-comfort-of-home.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-It-Yourself---Building-Your-Own-DIY-Solar-Panel&id=4088790

Learn how to Building solar panels:
http://www.diyhomebuildingkits.com/index.php?p=articles/solar-systems/instructions-on-how-to-build-a-solar-panel

Friday, May 28, 2010

Installing the Solar Array

Firstly, it is a good idea to clean the glass on the front of the panels first, using a water and dirt repellent glass polish or wax. These glass polishes ensure that rain and dirt do not stick to the glass, thereby reducing the performance of your home solar power systems and are available from any DIY store and many supermarkets and car parts and accessories stores.

Assembly and Connections

Some roof mounted solar mounting kits are designed to be fitted to your roof before fitting the solar panels. Others are designed to have the solar panels mounted to the fixing kits before being mounted to the roof.

With a pole mounted system, you typically erect your pole first and then fit the DIY solar panels once the pole is in position.

A ground based mounting system is the easiest to install as there is no heavy lifting to be done.
As a general rule of thumb, you tend to mount and wire the solar panels at the same time. If you are stepping up the voltage of your system by wiring the panels in series, wire up the required number of panels in series first (i.e. sets of two panels fro 24v, sets of four for 48v).

Once you have wired up a set of panels in series, test them using your multi-meter set to a voltage setting to check that you have the expected voltage (20v plus for 12v system, 40v plus for a 24v system and 80v plus for a 48v system).

Take care when taking these measurements as 40v plus can give a nasty shock in the wrong circumstances.

Once each series is wired up correctly, make up the parallel connections and then test the entire array using your multi-meter, set to voltage setting.

If you have panels of different capacities, treat the different sets of panels as separate arrays. Don’t wire panels of different capacities together, either in series or parallel. Instead, connect the arrays together at the controller.

Once you have completed testing, make the array safe so that no-one can get an electrical shock by accident from the system. To do this, connect the positive and negative cables from the solar array together to short-circuit the array. This will not damage the array and could prevent a nasty shock.

Useful information home solar power systems:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Home-Solar-Power-Systems-Uses&id=3547988

Useful information solar panels:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Building-Solar-Panels-From-the-Comfort-of-Home&id=3717430

Learn how to DIY solar panel:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-It-Yourself---Building-Your-Own-DIY-Solar-Panel&id=4088790

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Safety When Building DIY Solar Panels

There are a few safety notices we ought to go through when building DIY solar panels. Some of these may not be relevant to you, but read through them all first just to make sure.

Remember, you are working with electricity, dangerous chemicals and heavy but fragile objects. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Your First Aid Kit

You will need a good first aid kit on hand, including some items that you won’t normally have to hand. Most specifically, you will need an eye-wash and a wash kit or gel that can be applied to skin in case of contact with battery acid.

Chemical Clean Up kit

You will be working with lead acid batteries which contain chemicals that are hazardous to health. You will require the following:
  • A chemical clean up kit suitable for cleaning up batteries fluids (sulphuric acid) in the case of a spill.
  • You will also need a supply of strong polythene plastic bags
  • A good supply of rags/disposable wipes to mop up any battery spillages.
Chemical clean up kits and chemical first aid kits are available from most battery wholesalers. They only cost a few pounds. You probably wont need them, but if nothing else they buy you peace of mind.

Considering the general public

If you are working in an area where the general public has access, you should use barriers or fencing, and signage to cordon off the area. Clear diversion signage should explain an alternative route.
  • In this scenario, I would recommend employing a professional team of builders to carry out the installation work on your behalf. They will already understand the implications of working in a public area and the relevant Health and Safety regulations.
Working at height

You are very likely to be working at height and quite possibly crawling around on slanted rooftops.

Make sure you are using suitable climbing equipment (ladders crawler boards, safety harnesses, scaffolding). You can hire anything that you haven’t got at reasonable prices.

If you have any concerns about working at heights, or it you are working beyond your area of competence at any time, remember there is no shame in hiring a professional. A professional builder can fit a solar array to a roof in 2-3 hours – typically less than half the time it takes an amateur DIY enthusiast.

Handling

Batteries, large inverters and solar arrays can be heavy. Solar panels themselves may not be heavy in their own right, but when several of them are mounted on a frame and then lifted they are heavy, bulky and fragile.

Moving and installing much of this equipment is a two person job as a minimum. More people can be useful when lifting a solar array into position.

Learn how to DIY solar panel:
http://www.prlog.org/10295698-diy-solar-panel-complete-analysis-on-home-solar-power-systems.html

Useful information lead acid batteries:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/benefits_lead_acid.html

Useful information solar panels:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Learn-How-to-Build-a-Solar-Panel-to-Save-Electricity-in-Your-Home&id=2727558

Friday, March 5, 2010

Build Your Own Solar Power System to Save Money

Solar power system is more efficient then other power sources. By using solar power for your home power supply, you will save up to 85% on your monthly electricity bill. Sun energy is captured through solar panels and converted into electricity which can be used to power your entire home. This is for sure also a great way to save money.

We need electricity for so many things in our homes; heating, air condition, refrigerators, ovens, computers... and when you use solar power systems, you remarkably reduce your demands for electricity. This of course has a huge impact on lowering your monthly electrical bills. The more things there are in your home that need power to operate, the more it makes sense to use solar power systems as a power source for your home.

Solar panels do not have a negative effect on the Planet. This is probably the most important reason why you should consider building solar panels for your home. They do not put off any pollutants such as carbon dioxide, so you don't affect the Earth's atmosphere in a negative way. Instead, you will be doing your part to help save the Earth.

Solar panels can be put pretty much anywhere. They can be placed on a lot of places, and when you place them on your roof, you do not see them or even know they are there. If for any reason they can not be placed on the roof you can place them anywhere as long as there is enough sun and no obstacles in the way.

These are not the only reasons for using solar power for your home electricity supply. If you do a little research you will discover even more reasons. Did you know that you will get payed if you generate electricity with solar panels in your home?

Discover how you can build your own DIY solar panels, save a lot of money, help to save the planet and in the end get paid for it!

Useful information Solar power system:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Build-Your-Own-Solar-Power-System-to-Save-Money-and-Help-the-Environment&id=3831922

Learn How To building solar panels:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Building-Solar-Panels-From-the-Comfort-of-Home&id=3717430

Useful information generate electricity:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Learn-How-to-Generate-Electricity-With-a-Permanent-Magnet-Generator&id=3663465

Learn How To DIY solar panels:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Make-Easy-DIY-Solar-Panels-to-Generate-Your-Own-Electricity-and-Save-on-Your-Monthly-Electric-Bills&id=3832245

Monday, September 7, 2009

DIY Solar Panel

DIY solar panel isn’t only useful for generating free electricity for your home, but also reasonably affordable too.

Here are the benefits which you can enjoy by switching to this source of renewable energy.

Save power bills:

It was recently estimated that the average American household spends roughly $200 each month on their power bills alone. This may not seem like much but that quickly works out to be roughly $2500 each year which could undoubtedly be better spent elsewhere if you are using DIY solar panels to knock out that bill altogether.

Increase house value:

You may not know this, but having a DIY solar panel is worth significantly more than the same house without them when it comes time to sell. This is because other homeowners are looking to save money just as you are and these tools work to save you money for life. So remember that when it comes time to sell.

Tax breaks:

The government is very generous to those who embrace DIY solar panels to power their homes. This is because these homeowners are helping to alleviate the greater energy crisis but they are also cutting down on the amount of finite energy which we consume which saves the country money overall. The IRS rewards these people specifically in the form of tax incentives, so keep that in mind.

In the past, home solar power systems cost upwards of $3000 or more to have professionally built and installed. As a result, this technology was largely reserved for the well off.

Nowadays, however, a number of DIY energy guides exist which detail how to exactly put together your own DIY solar panel regardless who you are and on a budget using cheap, everyday materials. One of the great things about learning how to make a solar panel is that you can create as much energy as you like by creating as many panels as you like.

Every bit of energy which you produce, but do not consume in a given month, the government reimburses or subsidizes the power company to buy it all back from you for helping to save them money overall. Many companies bring in a very attractive second income this way and many homeowners do as well.

If you are interested to learn how to make DIY solar panels, visit:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com

You may also want to get your solar installation guide here:
http://www.earthenergyguide.com

Learn how to DIY solar panel:
http://www.prlog.org/10295698-diy-solar-panel-complete-analysis-on-home-solar-power-systems.html

Useful information renewable energy:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/renewable_energy.html

Useful information tax incentives:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/tax-incentive.html

Useful information home solar power systems:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/solar-panel-systems.html

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Generate Electricity With DIY Solar Panels

Learn how you can build your own DIY solar panels. The advantages in using these systems made from a DIY solar panel are obvious: free renewable energy, which cannot be depleted.

The construction utilizes simple materials such as metals and aluminum foils, therefore, the investment cost is actually very minimum. In general, home solar power systems convert the sun's energy into electrical energy. This entire process is based on the photovoltaic cell. In short, when in contact with sun rays, this cell produces electric power. These cells are grouped in matrixes and then they will compose the solar panels.

With a DIY solar panel, you can cut your electrical bills by over 80% or even a possible zero! People are looking for alternative ways to save their money on electrical bills and solar energy is definitely an ideal choice for them.

It is not difficult to learn how to build a solar panel as you think, you can build it even if you don't have experience. You need some materials like:

• Solar Cells
• Wire crimping tool
• Wire cutters
• A sheet of plywood
• Copper wires
• Screwdriver
• Cobalt steel jobbers' twist drill bit, heavy duty, wire gauge size 26, 3" L, 1c" L flute
• Machine screw size high-speed steel hand tap taper, 10-24, H3 pitch diameter, 4 flute
• 7/32 drill bit
• Plastic sheet cutter
• Reamer
• Pliers
• Hacksaw
• Solder, 60/40 or silver
• Soldering iron, or soldering station
• Sheets of glass
• Drill
• DIY installation guide

You can get these materials in your local hardware stores for cheap and affordable prices. Some materials such as solar cells can be found on eBay. If you are planning to buy a ready-made solar panel then it may cost you around $1600 but if you do some work and build it yourself at home then it may cost you around $200. You’ll need a perfect DIY installation guide which can also be available on internet. These guides help you by providing step by step instructions with useful illustrations and some guides do come along with instructional videos. You can build it even if you don't have mechanical skills too.

Thousands of people around the world are starting to build their own DIY solar panels in order to save money on electricity. So don't waste your money on other alternatives as you can utilize this renewable energy for cheap prices. Cut your electrical bills to a possible zero today!

Source From: DIY Solar Panel - Learn How To Generate Electricity With Solar Energy

If you are interested to learn more on how to build a DIY solar panel, visit:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com

You may also want to get your DIY installation guide here:
http://www.earthenergyguide.com

Useful information home solar power systems:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/solar-panel-systems.html

Learn How To Build a Solar Panel:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/build_solar_panel.html

Learn How To DIY Solar Panel - Learn How To Generate Electricity With Solar Energy:
http://www.prlog.org/10298029-diy-solar-panel-learn-how-to-generate-electricity-with-solar-energy.html

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

How To Build DIY Solar Panels

Have you been harboring thoughts of building your own DIY solar panels to generate electricity for your home?

Well, if you have some ideas in this area, you would like to consider building your own DIY solar panels.

Many people are not confident about the idea of building their own DIY solar panels for being such a technical and mechanical procedure. This is true to some extent, but it’s not compulsory to possess a technical background in order to have one DIY solar panel done. It is very possible to purchase a guide to assist you in the building process. Plus, if you are on a budget, this method is far more inexpensive in terms of cost then purchasing a professionally made solar panel from a company.

Purchasing a professionally made solar system can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. However, the DIY installation method costs you no more than $200. Since it’s so inexpensive to build your DIY solar panel, the money you invest into this little project will pay for itself in a matter of months. If you purchased a professionally made solar panel, it possibly will take you years to pay off the investment due to the fact that it costs so much to purchase in the first place.

If you are serious about learning how to build a solar panel, then it makes good sense to walk around your house and identify the perfect place for you to place your panels. Perhaps an ideal place to install your solar panel is the roof of your house as it is great for harvesting sunlight. Another great place is on the field of your backyard where there is sufficient sunlight.

Once you have decided on a location for your solar system, the next thing you need to get is a DIY installation guide to assist you through the process. A good DIY installation guide will cost no more than $50 and they provide you with complete instructions. Some of these guides even include video, which makes it even easier to understand the process on building your DIY solar panel.

If you are interested to learn how to Build DIY solar panels, visit:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com

You may also want to get your DIY installation guide here:
http://www.earthenergyguide.com

Useful information solar panel:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/solar-panel-systems.html

Learn how to build a solar panel:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/build_solar_panel.html

Friday, July 17, 2009

DIY Solar Panel - Make Your Own DIY Solar Panels

DIY solar panel is now the most popular energy saving system that has caught the attention of millions of those whom are interested to learn how to generate free supply of electricity or even power their home appliances without paying the electric companies.

The ideal way to reduce your electrical bills is to learn how to build a solar panel. You can be free from the grip of the power company - in fact you can build a system that you can even lease out to your neighbors and even the power company itself. All you need to do it get hold of the right guide and you will be set to go.

An advantage of using DIY solar panels is that if you generate more energy than you use, you can in point of fact get paid by the utility companies for the production of your extra energy, as they will happily buy the extra energy from you! In addition, it helps the community to prevent dim-outs that will become more regular when the utility companies try to meet the rising demand.

You'd be surprised to know that proper do it yourself solar panel guides written by professionals are not at all very expensive. DIY solar panel guides will cost you less than $50 but are nonetheless of first-rate quality. The superlative ones will even include advice in the form of videos, which is an added bonus that will make your task even easier.

As soon as you first get underway your project, you should start by building a small and simple DIY solar panel. A hundred watt panel is perfect for beginners looking to pick up some experience building solar panels. When you become more familiar with the process, you can start building better and more powerful solar energy panels to provide a sufficient amount energy used for all your home electricity needs. Eventually, you will even be able to take your house off the regular power grid entirely!

If you are interested to learn how to build your own DIY solar panel, visit:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com

You may want to get your DIY solar panel installation guide here:
http://www.earthenergyguide.com

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Building Solar Panels To Make Electricity

Building solar panels are not expensive and neither are they difficult to build. Home buyers and realtors view home solar power systems or solar hot water heaters as a significant value-added improvement - similar to adding a deck or remodeling your kitchen. Plus unlike a deck or kitchen remodel, you also gain one-up on your power bills.

Solar panels often get an additional financial boost as well: many jurisdictions and utilities across the USA offer attractive financial incentives to drive down the upfront capital costs associated with a solar panel.

Here are some foolproof ways to estimate the cost of a solar panel and to figure out if a solar panel makes sense for you.

Calculate your home's electricity needs:

To get started, it's good to have a sense of how much electricity you use. You'll have a better point for comparison if you find out how many kilowatt hours (kWh) you use per day, per month, per year. Your utility bill should include that information.

Of course, the utility bill will also display your costs and many utilities include a graph that displays how your monthly energy use/cost varies throughout the year. That helps you estimate where your highest energy use is and at what time of year.

Size your system:

In general, solar panels sized between 1 to 5 kilowatts are usually sufficient to meet the electricity needs of most homes. One advantage of grid-tied systems is that you can use solar panels to supplement or offset some of your electricity needs; therefore you can size your system to match your budget and always add to the system later if needed.

Also as a side note, here's a rule of thumb to remember to help you estimate the physical space your solar system might need: one square foot yields 10 watts. So in bright sunlight, a square foot of a conventional photovoltaic panel will produce 10 watts of power. A 1000 watt system, for example, may need 100 - 200 square feet of area, depending on the type of solar module used.

Run the numbers:

Although the cost for solar panels will depend on the size of the system you intend to install, your electricity rate, the amount of kilowatt hours you expect to generate, and the state/local rebates/tax credits that may be available, the formulas for calculating the returns are pretty much the same

For those who appreciate having the formulas, use the ones listed below to do a quick ballpark estimate of how much solar panels might cost you.

Retail Price for Solar Panels

+ Building Permits

- $2,000 Federal Tax Credit

- State or Local Tax Credit or Rebate

- Utility Rebate or Other Incentive

= Net Investment

Kilowatts of electricity generated from solar energy per year

x Kilowatt hours used per year

= Annual Kilowatt energy from the PV system

Annual Kilowatt energy from the PV system

x Current Residential Electricity Rate

= Annual $ Saved

Yearly Excess Solar Energy Produced

x $$ credit applied per watt

= Annual Value from Net Metering

You may want to work with a solar power contractor to size and price the right system for you. As it is true with any major purchase, don't hesitate to ask for several bids from different contractors.

Many solar power providers will provide you with a comprehensive estimate. Helpful information to know includes:

• Total cost to make the system operational (labor cost for design and installation and equipment costs)
• Equipment (Make and Model)
• Warranty info
• Permit costs, if needed
• Tax, where applicable
• Federal tax credits
• State or local jurisdiction tax credits or rebates
• Utility rebates
• Expected Renewable Energy Certificates or Net metering credits
• Expected operation and maintenance costs
• Projected savings

Visit us If you are interested to learn more about:
Building solar panels: http://www.greenearth4energy.com/build_solar_panel.html
Solar Panel Installation Guide: http://www.earthenergyguide.com

Building solar hot water heaters: http://www.greenearth4energy.com/build_water_heater.html
Solar Water Heater Installation Guide: http://www.greenearth4energy.com/diy_hot_water

Useful information home solar power systems:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/solar-panel-systems.html

Monday, June 22, 2009

Solar Power Systems and Home Wind Turbines - Environmentally Friendly Generators


According to statistics, the amount of greenhouse gases has been increasing drastically. Consequently, we are taking away some of our resources we can't replace everyday. A couple of environmentally friendly ways to create energy is with the use of home wind turbines and home solar power systems. That way, you will not be participating in any greenhouse activities. In other words, you will be protecting the environment.

When using such environmentally friendly systems, you can take pride in the fact that your family is reducing the pollution being released to the environment. If more people are taking this approach, you can just imagine the overall benefit to the world. Take the initiative to do this yourself and encourage others to follow as well.

You will find that the use of both home wind turbines and solar power systems just makes sense. In addition to protecting the environment from damage, they will save you money on electrical expenses as well. Many of us will be extremely delighted to see money being saved every month which accumulates into a huge sum as a whole. This becomes even more of a concern due to the present economic depression in the world.

If you are on a limited budget, solar panel systems may be more of an ideal investment. If we are ever going to win the war with global warming, then this needs to be done on a much larger scale around the world. Installing solar panel systems on your own isn't a difficult task. You can do so with an installation kit that provides you with all of the materials you’ll need to accomplish it.

Home wind turbines are very affordable systems as well. You’ll need an open space so that they can receive the required amount of wind power. You may want to learn some wind power calculations from earth for energy before getting started. Remember, home wind turbines do not have any negative implications on the environment at all. On top of that, they’ll save you over 80% of your electrical expenses. How’s that for a long term investment?

If you are interested to learn more about how to:
Build a solar panel, visit: http://www.greenearth4energy.com/build_solar_panel.html
Build a wind turbine, visit: http://www.greenearth4energy.com/build_wind_turbine_.html

Useful information home wind turbines:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/home_wind_turbines.html

Useful information home solar power systems:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/solar-panel-systems.html

Useful information Environmentally Friendly Generators - Wind Turbines and Solar Panels:
http://www.prlog.org/10264158-environmentally-friendly-generators-wind-turbines-and-solar-panels.html

Monday, May 25, 2009

Requirements To Build DIY solar panels

Before you start building your DIY solar panels, there are a couple of things you’ll need to prepare in order to get started. Get ready to learn how to build a solar panel!

The materials to prepare includes the following:

1. Solar Modules

Solar modules are the main components that actually turn the sun's energy into usable electricity. The best place to purchase these is online, from websites such as eBay. Buy in bulk so that you will have enough to build solar panels again in the future.

2. Sheet Plywood

This will form the base of your system. To build a solar panel correctly you will need the strongest grade you can find. Do not use chipboard for this as it is way too flimsy. It is worth investing extra in the quality of the materials in order to get a better, more durable end product.

3. Copper Wire

The Copper wire is used to wire up the system and allow the electricity to flow into your home. Purchase this in bulk.

4. General Tools

Drills, screwdrivers, woodwork glue etc are all necessary. You probably already have these accessories around your home.

5. Clear PVC Sheeting

Solar cells are fairly delicate, that's why you need to use PVC sheeting to provide protection when the weather turns nasty. Check your local business directory for suppliers who can help you cut your preferred size for you.

The most difficult part of building DIY solar panels is actually the assembling process, and then installing it in your home. To get this done correctly, you’ll require a set of instructions that will show you the precise measurements you need to use. They will also provide you with proper assembly and installation diagrams that cannot be found anywhere else. It is well worth paying for the diagrams and clear explanations that you will receive, as without a set of solar panel instructional manual, you risk jeopardizing your entire construction and installation project.

Learn how to build a solar panel:

http://www.greenearth4energy.com/ 

Useful information on solar panel instructional manual:

http://www.earthenergyguide.com/


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