DIY Solar-Solar Panels. Believe It or Not You Can Do It Yourself!

It really sounds ludicrous that the average person with some basic carpentry skills and a solar power diagram can DIY! We all have good intentions and want to do our part to save the environment, reduce our “carbon footprint” and lower our utility bills. Building your own solar power systems is something you can tackle on your own with a little time and determination.

Isn’t it interesting that all of a sudden we think solar and wind power is so much in “vogue”? Our ancestors were probably a lot smarter than us in a lot of ways. They took the resources (i.e. the sun and wind) that they had available to them and made the best of them. We would be wise to think like they did in many cases. Fortunately, the message is getting out and public opinions and perceptions are changing. The average cost of solar installation by a contractor generally is between $25,000 and $30,000 depending on the size of your home and your needs. It just isn’t practical or cost effective (at least right now) even with government subsidies for most families to consider installing alternative home energy sytems.

Did you know that the average person usually realizes a cost savings of 70% to 92% of their electric bills after installing solar panels? Not a bad return on a DIY Green Energy kit for less than $200! Your savings will obviously vary on how many panels you decide to install. The location of the system on your roof has to be in an area that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight every day. If you get more than that it’s all gravy! Keep in mind that the sun isn’t going to shine every day. If you live in certain parts of the country that get lots of sunshine your investment will be much more valuable! You can even send power back into the electrical grid if you don’t use all of it!

All of the materials for your solar panels grid can generally be found at your local hardware store. You will need to have solar cells (order online), plexiglass, screws, lumber, caulking and a Jones Plug.

What are the advantages of solar power? – You shouldn’t have any maintenance costs for the panels once they are assembled.

Solar power is quiet – There is no hum from a motor or generators.

It’s Fun! – Your neighbors and family will marvel that you did this by yourself!

You can be self sustaining if a power outage occurs. Your home will increase in value as more and more consumers demand homes with solar power. I am extremely concerned about the environment (I’m not a “tree hugger” by the way). I do care about the future of our planet though and what my kids and grandchildren will be inheriting. It just stands to reason that we can’t keep pumping Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere without having adverse consequences (global warming). The debate will probably continue on that subject for quite some time.

DID YOU KNOW? You can build your own Solar Panels, saving thousands off the retail price. Almost anyone can do this, even if you have no solar experience. There is a step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how to build your own solar panel system for less than 200 dollars: Click Here -> Green DIY Energy

The Popularity of DIY Solar Energy Solutions

Many people would like to live off the grid with DIY energy solutions. But, can renewable energy be an economical solution? Is it feasible? Is it wise? The answer is yes to all of these questions. However, getting access to renewable energy on the commercial market is unrealistic for all but the most affluent households. This is why DIY energy solutions are becoming so popular.

It is a matter of fact that DIY solar energy is dramatically gaining favor across the world. DIY energy solutions to rising costs in electricity or ways to save the planet have driven individuals to learn more about solar energy. It doesn’t matter whether your motives are for self-interests or philanthropic, going off the grid is an increasingly practical dream with DIY Solar Energy kits. Building your own Solar Panels can be done below $200 with DIY instruction guides.

By using DIY energy solutions, the cost advantages become more and more evident. Homes with only one solar panel can save on electrical costs by 30% or more. Most people can cut their household electricity use in half at a very low cost, and with a very fast payback. However, many factors play a role in how much you can save like how many panels you set-up and where you live. Your goals often influence the degree to which you power your home through DIY energy solutions.

It is becoming more popular to reduce startup costs by utilizing DIY Solar Panel kits. Generally, the cost of setting up solar power systems is quickly recouped, and over time home solar power will pay for itself many times over. Adding to the attractiveness of DIY energy solutions is the friendly tax treatment that people who take advantage of it receive. The tax deductions and funding available may determine whether it is more cost effective to purchase ready made systems or do-it-yourself kits.

One little known advantage to producing solar energy for your home, is that during peak sunshine months, households can gain substantial savings by producing more renewable energy than needed and then sell the extra energy back to the utility company. Selling power back to your utility company can be easy. Essentially you use a DIY energy source such as solar or wind for energy during the day and it supplies energy back to a grid, causing your utility meter to run backwards. Then, when it is dark outside or windy, the meter starts to roll forward again. This helps to save hundreds or thousands of dollars each year in electrical bills.

You can go back on grid during low sunshine times of the year. This can be a cost efficient way to live. Consumers gain either way.But other than the savings that can be gained by using DIY energy solutions, there are other benefits that can be delivered by the DIY solar energy projects. For instance, solar energy for homes is also clean and renewable energy. Because a solar power system has no moving parts they are relatively maintenance free. The use of Solar Power offers a new level of energy independence.

Residential DIY energy solutions have now become a reality and with the current economic crisis set to worsen the idea of homemade solar power is not only an environmentally friendly measure but also a cost saving one. For less than $50 you can have a fully illustrated manual and video instruction that you need instantly sent to your computer allowing you to take action without delay. There is nothing like video to make instructions more understandable, especially when just starting out.

Countless DIY solar guides exist for the home enthusiast. The worthwhile ones will make it easier to complete your DIY solar energy project. You can’t go wrong with the small upfront investment of a quality guide. The right guide will save you a lot of time and money throughout the project.

DID YOU KNOW? You can build your own Solar Panels, saving thousands off the retail price. Almost anyone can do this, even if you have no solar experience. There is a step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how to build your own solar panel system for less than 200 dollars: Click Here -> Green DIY Energy

You Can Harness The Suns Energy To Create Your Own Electricity With DIY Solar

As rates for electricity rise world wide many have started to look for a way to cut their power bills. Some have found DIY Solar. Do it yourself solar is an easy way for just about anyone to create their own solar panels, which can in turn produce electricity that can power a home, a car, or even things like a pool heater. If you are new to this though, you may be wondering how it works.

Each day the sun burns in our sky sending light to us, giving life to pretty much everything that exists. However, beyond what your eye can see, sunlight is made up of tiny particles called photons. These photons contain energy and when they collide with semi conductive material, such as silicon most solar panels are, they cause the material to release electrons. When you capture these electrons and send them through a wire you have electricity.

When a solar panel is placed on your roof, or anywhere else, it will gather energy all day. The amount they gather will greatly depend on where they are placed, weather conditions, or several other factors. When the electricity is gathered it must go somewhere or it will be wasted. In order to preserve this electricity you must send it to a battery where it can be stored for later use. One other way you can deal with extra electricity is to sell it back to your local utility. The laws depend on your local are so make sure you ask questions. If you can then one big bonus is that at the end of the year you can claim a credit on your federal tax return for producing renewable energy. Which means not only could you get paid by the power company, but the government gives a tax discount for doing it!

DIY Solar electricity is one of the simplest ways to upgrade your home for energy efficiency. With the initial low cost and the huge return on investment, no home owner looking to save on their power bill can pass this up.

DID YOU KNOW? You can build your own Solar Panels, saving thousands off the retail price. Almost anyone can do this, even if you have no solar experience. There is a step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how to build your own solar panel system for less than 200 dollars: Click Here -> Green DIY Energy

How to Build Solar Panels

Building solar panels is a relatively simple matter because solar cells are modular. They are also quite small. Solar cells that are used in residential solar panels is about twice the size of a bar coaster or about four times the size of a playing card. You can fit your hands around one quite easily.

You begin building solar panels by connecting these cells in series and then connecting panels to one another. Then all that is left is to connect the solar panel array to batteries and an inverter to power your house.

Solar cells or photovoltaic cells, as we’ll call them here, convert solar energy into electric energy. Now, you knew that but in order to understand the way building solar panels works, you need to know how the electricity is made.

Photons of light strike the semiconductor material on the cell’s surface, usually silicon, and in so doing knock an electron loose. There are two types of silicon used to make a cell. They are both mixed with other elements which change their polarity. One type is negatively charged because it is mixed with phosphorous and the other is positively charged because it is mixed with boron. By putting together layers of silicon with different electrical charges, the incoming photons have an easier time of loosening up an electron and sending it looking for place to go.

The cells are engineered so that the electrons can only go in one direction and that direction is ‘out.’ So, each cell is designed to add their exiting electrons to the flow of electrons and with enough cells and enough solar energy, you have an electrical current you can work with.

See, building solar panels is not difficult but it is precise. The channels that absorb the electrons in each cell are lined up with every other channel in their particular group by means of a connecting tab, solder and flux. Once the cells are connected, a surface layer of glass, plastic or laminate (or a some combination) is layed over the top to protect them, all the moisture is removed (to avoid condensation which would interfere with the panel’s efficiency) and the panels are placed into position and connected.

From there, it is a simple matter of hooking up the solar array to your house’s electrical condition. In my mind, it goes without saying that you should hire a professional to do this. If you insist on doing it yourself, I believe you still need a certified electrician to examine it to insure your work is up to code. In the event of an adverse electrical event (fire), you would want your house to be up to code and in keeping with the provisions of your home owner’s insurance policy. will answer an questions you might have on how to put together your own solar panels for home use.

DID YOU KNOW? You can build your own Solar Panels, saving thousands off the retail price. Almost anyone can do this, even if you have no solar experience. There is a step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how to build your own solar panel system for less than 200 dollars: Click Here -> Green DIY Energy

Solar Energy – How Do We Educate the Children?

Children these days can discover so much about so many things especially on the web. We as parents, need to educate and enlighten them about solar energy, so the impact will stay with them for a life time. This resource will be our children’s future and it will be up to them to take care of it. Kids need to learn that solar energy is everywhere, the sunshine for instance which they can actually see and they can feel the warmth. Teach them how It can heat drinking water, heat houses, heat their schools, heat all the different companies out there, and how the sun can create power. It is so important to educate our children today as much as possible about solar energy functions and just how we are able to use it wisely,by doing so, we will ensure their future is protected.

They must first understand the dangerous impact of too much power usage these days and how it is being wasted, so they can comprehend why there ought to be better methods to create power. Due to the fact that the electrical power people use these days comes from non-renewable assets, we are setting ourselves up for a huge fall. When that source runs out we will have to depend on another source of energy. Scientist are working hard to make sure that when we do actually run out, we will be in a position to change over to another source without missing a beat.

However, we really do not want to wait until our energy source is completely depleted before switching to a different source. We need to be in a position to switch over to a different source in the near future so we are able to preserve the electricity we have left. Another issue with power production now days is the fact that it is dangerous to the atmosphere. It pollutes the air and can ultimately allow it to be impossible for us to utilize the sun as an organic source. We cannot afford to lose that essential alternative. So that we can save our environment, we must teach our children how to join together to save their precious solar energy.

We need to be able to find solar sources that are not expensive but can provide the solar power that we need to be able to generate energy using natural resources and man made solar sources. A standard home can benefit significantly if they were to switch to solar energy. It is not difficult to do. Also, in constructing a new home, it should be constructed to utilize energy as a method to naturally create electrical power and to heat the drinking water, as well as other features that could be controlled by utilizing solar energy. In the long run, we benefit by not having to pay for any source that is gradually taking away from our valuable natural sources. Our children will be rewarded for our careful planning but every one of us need to do our part.

Teaching the children the best way to save the energy is key. Children of all ages can learn to conserve energy but it is crucial that we begin doing this now. We need to educate them on how we must come up with a way to save solar power in the future so we all will continue to have an endless supply of heating, water, and other necessities. This must be a group effort in order for it to work, rather than by an individual homeowner, which is how we do it today. We need to thrive for one day being able to stop running power lines through fields, streets and yards and strive to have solar power boxes in our back yards instead.

DID YOU KNOW? You can build your own Solar Panels, saving thousands off the retail price. Almost anyone can do this, even if you have no solar experience. There is a step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how to build your own solar panel system for less than 200 dollars: Click Here -> Green DIY Energy

Main Components Used to Build a Solar Power System

Main Components Used to Build a Solar Power System

On an annual basis, the sun generates over 10,000 times the amount of energy that the entire world consumes. By effectively tapping this virtually inexhaustible energy source, energy needs of today can be met easily. Besides, with the steady increase in the energy prices and rising concerns about global warming, it has become necessary to consider some clean and efficient alternative sources of energy. Many people have started building solar power systems in their homes to utilize the benefits.

Following are the main components required to build solar power systems:

A) Solar Modules:
Solar modules are the most important devices required to build solar power systems. These modules are directly exposed to sunlight and convert solar energy into electrical energy. Solar modules are generally mounted on a steel frames and installed on the roof-tops of houses or offices.

B) Power Converter:
The power converter accumulates the current generated by the Solar Modules and converts the Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC). The electrical power we normally use in offices or houses is in the form of AC.

C) Electrical Service Panel:
From the power converter, the current flows directly towards the Electrical Service Panel. This is one of the main components required for building solar power system and is responsible for distributing the current throughout the office or house for use.

D) Utility Electric Meter:
Sometimes, the solar power system produces current in an excess amount. This excess current flows into the grid through a Utility Electric Meter. Due to this, the electric meter will move backwards and this builds a credit with the utility company in countervailing future usage. This process is Net Metering. It is looked after by State Level Electricity Policy.

E) Utility Grid:
The utility grid may be referred to as the state infrastructure, which connects houses and other commercial establishments to electricity generating assets. In an event of excess production of solar power, utility grid will automatically transfer the excess electricity.

Although building solar panels may require heavy investment in the beginning, they can be very beneficial in long run.

DID YOU KNOW? You can build your own Solar Panels, saving thousands off the retail price. Almost anyone can do this, even if you have no solar experience. There is a step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how to build your own solar panel system for less than 200 dollars: Click Here -> Green DIY Energy

DIY Solar Energy Kits

Considerations When Finding Best Solar Energy Kits

Solar energy kits are helpful for those who are eager to use clean and renewable solar power at home. A detailed kit will allow you to successfully convert solar power into usable electricity to power your appliances, pumps, heating systems, lighting and all other electrical systems.

It can even help you build solar power systems for RVs so that you can make solar power anywhere you want. It should definitely assist you to get the job done in the shortest time and, most importantly, at the lowest cost.

The solar energy kits you are going to purchase must be easy-to-follow. It should be simple for you to build the solar power system on your own in just a few days. You will find that there are lots of solar power programs found online and some of them will clearly walk you through the whole process, from building a solar cell to installing the solar power system.

It is very important for you to find solar energy kits that allow you to further develop the system for future improvement so that your homemade solar system will not be outdated.

Calculating How Much Power Your Home Consumes

You have to pay much more attention when looking for solar energy kits. It is more difficult than choosing a gorgeous HDTV. You need to carefully estimate the amount of power all your electric appliances and devices use. This step is often neglected by most people but this will ensure that the solar energy kit you are going to pay for will bring you the power you need.

It is very easy to do so as long as you are careful and patient enough. All you have to do is write down the hours of your daily use of each electrical item, like refrigerators, lighting, computers and radio. Then add all the hours for every single item. Once you got the data, you need to multiply the total amount of hours by the total power consumption. By doing so, you will have a clear picture of the amount of energy for your everyday use.

Some people are proposing that the larger solar energy kits are better. They claim that you should purchase the largest solar energy kit that you can afford because you can produce more electricity. It not only ensures that you will have sufficient energy, but also helps you earn money. The reason is that, by law, some states have to buy the extra electricity your solar power system produces.

It is fairly reasonable and attractive but the most important factor is that you have to find the solar energy kit that works for you. As the main reason for you to look for solar power for homes is that you want to save money, it is strongly recommended that you take a look of some solar energy programs on the Internet. Most of them make a claim that their guide will help you build the lowest-priced solar power system. They will tell you how the get every part at the lowest cost or even build the parts by yourself.

DID YOU KNOW? You can build your own Solar Panels, saving thousands off the retail price. Almost anyone can do this, even if you have no solar experience. There is a step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how to build your own solar panel system for less than 200 dollars: Click Here -> Green DIY Energy

Important Solar Energy Facts

Are you ready to finally look into going green? Want to know the solar energy facts that will help you make a decision about whether or not to proceed with a project to install solar energy panels on your house?

If you are going to install a system on your home, you should start with an understanding of how you will get energy from the sun and the benefits it offers.

First of all you have probably already used solar energy whether you know it or not. If you have ever used one of those little calculators that has the little black screen on the side but has no replaceable batteries, and works whenever light shines on it. That’s right that is a small example of the same solar panels that you would install on your home.

These solar collection cells are called photovoltaic cells. Photo means Light and Voltaic means Electrical. In essence Photovoltaic means “Electricity from light”. Photovoltaic Cells were originally created to use sunlight to power space vehicles but just like GPS, the technology has trickled down to become available to the general population.

When the sun’s ray strike solar energy panels, the material used to create them helps to concentrate the energy and absorb some of it. This energy consists in part of electrons. These electrons flow in the same directions creating an electrical field. This is enabled by the use of semiconductor material. This electrical field can be directed and used to power anything from small appliances to an entire house. It is a matter of scaling the amount of photovoltaic material (number and size of solar energy panels) to the amount of electricity that is to be generated.

A home solar energy system can be used to generate electricity or heat water. There will be a black lined insulated box that is installed on the roof with the system, which is also designed to help convert the sun’s energy into usable energy for heating your home. This box will either contain pipes through which water will pass, if it is to heat water only or semiconductor material if it is designed to create electricity that can be stored in batteries.

If the solar energy panels were used to heat water, the water that flowed through the pipes in the black box would be heated and directed into a holding tank where it would be used the same way a home with a hot water heater would feed it through to faucets in the home.

If they were used to create electricity, once created it would be directed and stored in batteries kept inside of the home. There is also a unit to control voltage and amperage so that the electricity flows properly from the batteries when someone places a demand upon them by flipping a switch or turning on an appliance.

This is a basic method of explaining how a solar energy system works. The engineering details are of course more complicated. These solar energy facts should help you to make a decision to seek more detailed information about how to go about building a solar energy system for your home.

DID YOU KNOW? You can build your own Solar Panels, saving thousands off the retail price. Almost anyone can do this, even if you have no solar experience. There is a step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how to build your own solar panel system for less than 200 dollars: Click Here -> Green DIY Energy

How to Build Your Own DIY Solar Panels

At first glance, building your own solar panel doesn’t seem like a do it yourself project, but actually it is a lot simpler that many other DIY projects. The solar cells are the complicated part of a solar panel, and you can buy them fairly cheaply. Once you have the solar cells, you basically have to solder them together, place them in a frame, and wire them to terminals. The good news is you can build a solar panel for about $1 per watt while purchase prices for a completed panel run $2 1/2 to $3 so your savings on a 3600 watt system amounts to range from $5,000 to $7,000.

Buying your Solar Cells.

Polycrystalline solar cells are available to the consumer is small quantities from a number of suppliers on the internet. Probably the best source is eBay since there are many suppliers so pricing is very competitive, and Ebay has a seller rating system so you know by their rating that you are dealing with a reputable supplier. The size that is most common is 80mm by 150mm or 3 1/4″x6″ that output 0.5 volts, 3.5 amps or 1.75 watts. They are available tabbed or untabbed. The tabbed version has the tabs used to connect the cells together already soldered to the cell so they are much easier to work with. I would suggest you use the tabbed version for at least your first panel.

You also will find blemished cells with minor aesthetic issues and broken cells available for less money. The blemished cells perform well, you just will have a spotty looking panel, so they will work, but the broken cells will be very difficult to solder together and won’t produce a consistent power so I would leave them to the hobbyist. Additionally, you should make sure your shipments are insured since the cells are very fragile and you don’t want to pay for broken cells.

Constructing your Solar Panel Framework.

The first consideration is the size of your panel which will be determined by the number of solar cells used for each panel. Remember in your planning that you want to make all the panels the same size with the same electrical output. For example, if you use 36ea 3″x6″ solar cells arranged in a 4 x 9 matrix, you can build a panel that would output 65 watts and measure 55cm x 70cm (25″ x 32″). The least expensive panel can be made with a plywood backing and a wood frame. This would need to be painted with an exterior primer and several coats of UV resistant paint so it will last. If you want a longer lasting panel, you could use an anodized aluminum frame.

Soldering your Solar Cells Together.

Assuming you are working with tabbed cells, and using the 4 x 9 matrix mentioned above, you will need to make 4 strings of 9 cells each. Each cell will have two tabs soldered to the back or negative side of the cell. These tabs will be long enough to reach across the back of the next cell and should be soldered to each of the contacts of the next cell. Be sure to leave about 1 cm or 1/2 inch between cells, and it is a good idea to crimp the tab in this gap before soldering so you have a little wiggle room for expansion and contraction due to weather and imperfect measurement. Continue soldering cells in this manner until you have completed your string of 9 cells. Finally, you need to solder tabs to the negative contacts on the first cell so you have leads on both ends of your string. Test each string in full sun with your multimeter to make sure your connections are working and you are getting at least 4.5 volts and 3.5 amps..

Final assembly of your Solar Panel.

Lay the four strings on the panel you made making sure they fit evenly and cells aren’t touching. Make sure you rotate your strings so the positive leads coming off the end of one string will be next to the positive leads of the next string. If everything looks good, attach each cell to the panel with a dab of silicon caulk. Next we have to solder the strings together with copper wire or tab ribbon. Connect the positive leads to the negative leads of the next panel so all strings are connected in series. Finally solder a 25cm or 12 inch wire to the negative lead at one end of the panel and a wire to the positive lead at the other end of the panel to create the wires that will be used to connect panels together. Test once more to make sure you are getting the output of 18 volts and 3.5 amps. After waiting several days for the silicon to dry, you should cover the cells with a Plexiglass or tempered glass cover, seal edges with silicon and you are done.

DID YOU KNOW? You can build your own Solar Panels, saving thousands off the retail price. Almost anyone can do this, even if you have no solar experience. There is a step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how to build your own solar panel system for less than 200 dollars: Click Here -> Green DIY Energy

DIY Solar Energy – Tap Into the Power of the Sun

There is simply no doubt about it, DIY solar energy is seeing a major surge in popularity. It really is no surprise though when you consider the rising price of energy and the increased awareness of how we manage our planet and its resources. And this lousy recession that we can’t seem to get out of certainly adds to the attractiveness of harnessing a renewable energy resource, in this case, the sun.

Using solar panels can actually reduce our electricity bills to the point where they become negligible expenses. Not only that but if you were to truly get ambitious you could string together enough solar cells and solar panels that you could actually eliminate your electricity bill altogether. It is even possible to generate enough electricity that you can sell it back to the electric company.

With the run-up in fuel prices that we have seen over the past three years people are now, and possibly for the first time in these numbers, taking alternative energy sources serious. It’s true that we become complacent when it is cheap to do so but with the rising cost of utilities the time for complacency has ended. We simply can no longer afford it.

Adding to the attractiveness of DIY solar energy is the friendly tax treatment that people who take advantage of it receive. Not only that but the Obama administration also seems to be very friendly towards alternative sources of energy including wind power and solar energy. There are initiatives that encourage the use of natural resources and I would say that it’s a safe bet that we will see more of them in the future.

Probably the biggest issue with DIY solar energy is the initial cost. There is no single question that purchasing solar panels and having them installed requires a serious outlay of cash. It can cost tens of thousands of dollars to install a solar energy system for even an average sized home. Photovoltaic cells are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination.

But what if you could make your own solar cells and string them together into solar panels? Not only will you save thousands of dollars on parts and labor but you will also enjoy the long-term savings that come with solar energy. Not only will they pay for themselves over time but they will also increase the resale value of your home.

Well, I have good news. It absolutely is possible to build your own DIY solar energy system and you can do it for as little as $200 per solar panel. And the surprising thing is that it is really not that difficult to do. With parts and supplies you can get from your local hardware store or home improvement center and common household tools, you can build your own solar panels and generate electricity to power your home.

There are several excellent programs online that literally spell out everything you need to not only build your own solar energy system for your home but to also construct wind power generators for an additional source of energy. For less than $50 you can have the instructions that you need instantly sent to your computer allowing you to take action without delay.

A do-it-yourself solar energy project is not nearly as difficult as one may think. With just using common household tools you’ll have your first solar panel completed in no time and will begin generating electricity from the sun. Then it will be you that will be radiating from the satisfaction that you will not only be saving a substantial amount of money, but will also be doing your part in reducing our carbon footprint.

DID YOU KNOW? You can build your own Solar Panels, saving thousands off the retail price. Almost anyone can do this, even if you have no solar experience. There is a step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how to build your own solar panel system for less than 200 dollars: Click Here -> Green DIY Energy