FAQ On How To Build a Home Solar Power System

Home solar power systems can be very expensive. Just one solar panel can cost more than $1,000. On the other hand, if you don't give solar power a try, you'll be stuck with rising electric costs. However, there's a simple solution: you can learn how to build home solar power systems yourself. You can build solar panels and install them as part of a system. It's not that difficult. Even if you don't have a lot of experience with building things, you can still learn how to put a home solar power system together, just as long as you have the right set of instructions!

Here are some frequently asked questions on how to build a solar panel.

What components are needed?

The primary components of a solar power system include the solar panels, battery, charge controller, and inverter. The panels charge the battery, the charge controller manages the charge, the battery provides DC power to the inverter, and the inverter converts the Direct Current voltage to Alternate Current voltage.

What materials and tools are needed?

• Wire cutters
• Drill
• Screwdriver
• Wire crimping tool
• Drill bit
• Reamer
• Plastic sheet cutter
• Hacksaw
• Pliers

The DIY guide you choose should provide you with a more detailed list. These will give you a general idea of what is required for this project. Obviously, most of what you need are tools that you probably already have. If you don't, you can easily obtain them at any hardware store.

What is the importance of a charge controller?

The charge controller monitors the battery to ensure that it receives the charge it needs when it needs it. An overcharged battery is just as problematic as an undercharged battery. The amount at which a charge controller is rated depends on the amperage it can process. For example, if a charger is rated at 30 amps, it means you can connect it with 30 amps of output current.

What is the importance of the inverter?

Standard VAC electricity is required to power residencies. Solar panels generate DC current, which is stored in the battery. In order to power lighting and appliances, an inverter is needed to convert the DC current to VAC electricity. There are two types of outputs: regular sine wave and modified. Most appliances can use sine waves, although some, such as fans and amplifiers, do better with modified sine waves.

Where should you install your home solar power system?

The ideal location for a well-designed system is a clear and unobstructed. Most homeowners put their DIY solar panels on their roofs, facing south. Even if you have a flat roof, you can still install the solar panels on a tilted mount. If the roof won't do, you can place the panels on top of a building or deck. Only place the system on the ground if there are no obstructions blocking the sunlight. There are "tracking" mounts available that will automatically follow the sun's position.

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Going Solar With Home Solar Power Systems

Home solar power systems are best suited for locations where sunlight is abundant. Solar panels, also known as solar photovoltaic panels, cost around $1,000 each so you can expect to spend up to $20,000 or more for an entire solar system that generates solar electricity sufficient for the home setting. Solar power systems offer a lot of benefits and these are reaped once you make the commitment to promote energy efficiency through the use of solar panels -whether at home or in your business.

Solar panels are installed to gather sunlight that is transformed into electrical energy. Their energy-giving potential is directly related to the amount of sunlight exposure. Generous incentives, such as rebates, renewable energy certificates and feed in tariffs are available and reduce the cost of ownership to individuals and businesses that use renewable energy sources. But getting a solar rebate is just one of the many reasons why you should switch to solar energy.

Control of utility bills. One of the main reasons why more households are investing in solar power equipment is to reduce electricity bills. Upfront spending is a little higher because of the cost of solar systems, but if used properly - good returns can be expected. Your home may be spared from increasing electricity costs with the help of solar panels. Furthermore, some governments are now more than willing to grant solar rebates, renewable energy certificates and feed in tariffs to any individual or establishment using solar energy.

Energy conservation. The main reason why solar systems were developed was to increase the generation of energy from small scale renewable sources and reduce emission of greenhouse gas emissions generated by the use of fossil fuels. Solar electricity is being actively promoted not only in residences but for commercial and industrial uses as well.

Reducing pollution. Solar electricity effectively reduces green house gas emissions by generating electricity from renewable sources as opposed to fossil fuels. Reducing the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity reduces carbon emissions that are harmful to the environment. Also, photovoltaic systems such as with the use of solar photovoltaic panels allow you to use energy that is free of carbon emissions.

Improvement of air quality indoors. In developing countries, aside from pollution reduction and energy efficiency, solar power provides health benefits to homes. It has been observed in developing countries that households using solar panels to generate electricity see a reduction in kerosene fumes indoors, especially where kerosene lamps are used in poorly ventilated areas.

Prevention of kerosene-induced fires. A common fire hazard in developing nations involves the widespread use of kerosene-powered lamps. With the installation of solar systems, the use of diesel fuel, kerosene, and gasoline for lamps and small generators is kept at a minimum. Threats of fire are thus, reduced where solar electricity is applied.

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Building Solar Panels - Identifying The Path of The Sun Across The Sky

Once you have identified a suitable position for your solar power system, it’s time to be a little more scientific in ensuring there are no obstructions that will block sunlight from reaching the solar array at different times of the year.

The path of the sun across the sky changes throughout the year. This is why carrying out a site survey is so important – you can’t just check to see what the sun is shining on today, as the height and position of the sun constantly changes throughout the year.

Each year, there are two days in the year when the day is exactly twelve hours long. These two days are the 21st March and 21st September and are known as the ‘solar equinoxes’. On these equinoxes, the sun rises due east of the equator and sets due west of the equator. At solar noon on the equinox (i.e. exactly six hours after the sun has risen) the angle of the sun is 90 deg. Minus the local latitude.

In the Northern Hemisphere (i.e. north of the equator), the longest day of the year is the 21st June and the shortest day of the year is the 21st December. These two days are known as the summer and winter solstices respectively.

On the summer solstice, the angle of the sun is 23.5 deg higher than it is on the equinox, whilst the angle is 23.5 deg lower than the equinox on the winter solstice.

These two extremes are due to the tilt of the earth, relative to its orbit around the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted towards the sun, and the winter solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted away from the sun.

We’ll take London, United Kingdom as an example. London’s latitude is 51 deg. On the equinox, the angle of the sun at noon will be 39 deg (90 deg – 51 deg). On the summer solstice the angle will be 62.5 deg (39 deg + 23.5deg.) and on the winter solstice it will be 15.5 deg (39 deg – 23.5 deg).

Now that you have understood the Path of the sun, your next objective is to learn how to build a solar panel.

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Roof Mounting For Your Solar Array

If you are planning to mount your home solar power systems on the roof, you need to gain access to the roof to check its suitability.

Use a compass to check which direction the roof slopes in. If it is not directly facing south, you may need to construct an angled support in order to get the panels angled correctly.

You will need to find out the pitch of the roof in degrees. Professionals use a tool called a roof angle finder to calculate this. Roof Angle Finders (sometimes called Magnetic Polycast Protractors) are low cost tools available from Builders Merchants. You press the angle finder up against the rafters underneath the roof and the angle finder will show the angle in degrees.

Alternatively, you can calculate the angle using a protractor at the base of a roof rafter underneath the roof itself.

Solar panels in themselves are not heavy – a 15-20 kilograms at most – but when multiple panels are combined with a frame – especially if that frame is angled – the overall weight can become quite significant.

Check underneath the roof to see the structure and to ensure that it is strong enough to take the solar array and to ascertain what fixings you will need. It is difficult to provide general advice on this point as there are so many different designs of roof it is not possible for me to provide suitable general information in this book. If you are not certain about the suitability of your roof, ask a builder or an architect to assess your roof for you.

Roof mounting kits are available from solar panels suppliers. Alternatively, you can make your own. Learning how to build a solar panel isn't really a difficult task only if you know how to.

If it does not compromise your solar design, it can be quite useful to mount your solar panels at the lowest part of the roof. This can make it considerably easier to keep the panels clean: most window cleaners will a happily wash easily accessible solar panels if they are situated at the bottom of the roof, and telescopic window cleaner kits are available to reach solar panels at the lower end of a roof structure.

Measure and record the overall roof-space available for a solar array. It is also a good idea to use your cardboard cut-outs you made earlier and place these on the roof to give a ‘look and feel’ for the installation and help you identify any installation issues you may have with positioning and mounting your DIY solar panel.

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Planning a Suitable Site For Your Solar Power System

It can be helpful to draw up a rough sketch of the site. It doesn’t have to be accurate, but it can be a useful tool to have, both during the site survey and afterwards when you are designing your system.

Include all properties and trees that are close to your site – not just those on your land – and make a note of which way is north.

Positioning the Solar Array

Your next task is to identify the best location to position your solar array.

Solar arrays need to be mounted at an angle, facing into the sunshine. The optimum angle varies throughout the year, but the best compromise is to install the solar arrays at an angle equal to the angle of the sun in the sky during March and September.

I’ll explain how you can calculate that later, but for now you’re looking at an optimum angle of between 40 deg and 64 deg from vertical in the United States, 33 deg and 40 deg from vertical in the United Kingdom and between 20 and 40 deg from vertical in Canada.

If the solar array is going to be installed in a building, then the solar array itself is quite often installed on the roof on the building.

This is an effective solution where the roof is south facing or where the roof is flat and angled mountings can be used to mount the solar array.

Other alternatives are to site solar panels on a wall. This can work well with longer, slimmer panels that can be mounted at an angle without protruding too far out from the wall itself.

Alternatively, solar panels can be ground mounted or mounted on a pole.

When considering a position for your solar array, you need to consider how easy it is going to be to be able to clean the DIY solar panels. Solar panels don’t need to be spotless, but dirt and grime will certainly reduce the efficiency of your home solar power systems over time, so whilst you are looking at mounting solutions, it is definitely worth considering how you can access your panels to give them a quick wash every few months. Learn how to build a solar panel today!

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Living Off The Grid With Stand Alone Solar Power System

Worldwide, stand alone solar installations are the most popular.

Whether it is powering a shed light, providing power for a pocket calculator, or powering a complete home, stand alone home solar power systems fundamentally all work in the same way – power is generated by solar, stored in a battery and then used as required.

Almost everyone can benefit from a standalone solar power system for something – even if it is something as mundane as providing an outside light somewhere. Even if you are planning on something much bigger and grander, it is often a good idea to start with a very small and simple stand alone solar power system first and then progress from there. Learn how to build your very own DIY solar panels today!

Grid tie

Grid tie is gaining popularity – particularly in Europe and the United States – thanks to the availability of grants to reduce the installation costs, and the ability to earn money by selling electricity back into the power grid.

In a grid tie system, power generated when the sun shines is used to power your home. Any surplus power generated is sold back to the power companies.

When the sun is not shining, you then buy your power from the power companies in the usual way.

One disadvantage of most grid tie systems is that if there is a power cut, power from your solar array is also switched off.

The benefits of a grid tie solar installation are that they can be used to reduce the reliance on the national utility grid, ensuring that more of your electricity is produced in an environmentally efficient way. It is considered to be an environmentally friendly generator after all.

Grid tie can work especially well in hot, sunny climates where peak demand for electricity often coincides with the sun shining, thanks to the high power demand of air conditioning units.

Grid tie with power backup combines a grid the installation with a bank of batteries.

As with grid tie, the concept is that you use power from your solar array when the sun shines and sell the surplus to the power companies. Unlike a standard grid tie system, however, a battery bank provides contingency for power cuts – so that you can continue to use power from your system.

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Why Choose a Solar Power System?

There are a number of reasons why you may wish to consider installing home solar power systems:

Where there is no other source of electrical power available, or where the cost of installing mains electrical power is too high.

• Where other sources of electrical power are not reliable – i.e. when power cuts are an issue and a solar system can act as a cost effective contingency,
• When a solar power system is the most convenient and safest option – installing low voltage solar lighting in a garden, for instance.
• You can become entirely self sufficient with your own electrical power.
• Once installed, solar power provides virtually free power without damaging the environment.

Calculating the true cost of installing a solar power system depends on various factors:

• The power of the sun at your location at different times of the year
• How much energy you need to generate
• How good your site is for capturing sunlight.

Compared to other power sources, solar power systems typically have a comparatively high capital cost, but a low ongoing maintenance cost.

To create a comparison with alternative power sources, you will often need to calculate a payback of costs over a period of a few years in order to justify the cost of a solar electric system.

On all but the most simplest of installations, you will need to carry out a survey on your site and carry out some of the design work before you can ascertain the total cost of installing photovoltaic systems. Don’t panic – this isn’t as frightening as it sounds. It isn’t difficult and it is covered in detail in later chapters.

We can then use this figure to put together a cost justification on your project that can then be compared to the alternatives. Learn how to build a solar panel today!

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