PV Gap

Perry Said:

Solar energy. Can you set it up at home so that you can save money? Is it difficult?

We Answered:

Yes it is possible to set it up at your home, and yes it can save you money, and no it is not difficult.

You can build your own solar panels, and depending on how much you have to spend for the solar cells themselves, the cost is no more than $200. for a 100 watt panel. If you salvage materials and really shop around, you can probably get this cost down well below $100.

A couple of sources for how to build a solar panel are:

www.instructables.com
www.earth4energy.com

In regards to hooking the panels up to your home. The solar panels are generating DC current, and most homes operate on a AC current.
You will need an inverter to convert from DC to AC.
Also, everywhere I know of, you are prohibited by law from connecting an alternative power source to the Grid system (your utilitiy companies power lines) unless you are a licensed electrician.

You can build your system and get everything ready, but you would need this licensed electrician to make the final connections.

What happens next is simple. You have a kilowatt meter on your home which your utility company reads to determine how much to charge you. If your solar system is generating more power then you are using, the meter will turn backwards. When the utility company reads the meter, if it has gone backwards more then it has gone forward they will cut you a check for the power you generated.

During the day is normally the peak power usage time for most homes, and this is also the peak time that your solar system is generating. You might be able to slow down your usage of utility power during the day, but it might prove more efficient to store your solar power in a battery bank, and then at night when your home usage goes way down, the batteries can be turning your meter back for you.

I have also seen people who have installed DC lighting through out their home, and even some DC appliances. They then wired these items directly too the solar system bypassing the homes regular electric lines. By doing this they eliminate the need for an inverter, and they greatly reduce their need for utility company power. You lose a lot of your Kilowatts when you use an inverter, and with a straight DC system you can greatly reduce the number of solar panels needed, and also reduce the number of batteries required for storage. You always want enough battery storage to provide at least 2-3 days of power. DC flourescent or LED light bulbs use very little wattage compared too incandescent bulbs.

The other thing you must remember. The solar panels operate with sunlight. You will want them facing South for optimal efficiency, and they must have clear unobstructed sunlight. If you do not have a South facing roof, or your South roof is shaded by trees or other obstructions, you can always place your solar array somewhere else and wire it into the home. A garage, barn, or any building with a South facing roof will work. If nothing is available, you can also have your solar array free standing on its own stand.

A really nice thing about a solar system. The solar panels do not have moving parts, so there is nothing too wear out. Depending on the location, and the environment they are in, you will need to wash them off occassionally but other then that they are pretty much maintenance free. If you let the outer cover get dirty, it blocks the sunlight from the solar cells, and reduces the amount of power generated. So what I'm saying is, once you get the solar system built and hooked up, it will pretty much run on its own. The exception would be the batteries. If you use a battery bank for storage the batteries do have a life span, but depending on the batteries used, that could be a few years or 10 or more. You can start off with as little as one panel, and then add panels as you go. It is very easy to add panels to an existing system. Over time you may not need your utility company at all.