Youre Unlikely To Qualify For Government Incentive Schemes
To be eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee which pays you money for electricity you feed into the grid, most licensees will require your solar panels to be MCS certified . Having this financial incentive in place makes it much easier to make back your investment in a solar system and even earn an income over time.
While some may choose to offer the SEG for solar panels which are not MCS certified, there are several other important benefits of ensuring that your solar panels are MCS certified such as consumer protection should there be a problem with the installation. For this reason, we recommend hiring a professional solar installer who is MCS certified.
Diy Simple Water Heater
This DIY Simple Solar Water heater is an inexpensive and easy way to provide hot water in your home. It will do a fine job for occasional small use. You can easily modify the collector to fit between the rafters in your attic to make room for a larger collectors area. You can also add an expansion stage at any time when more heat is required. System output averages about 530 watts to heat 20 liters of water in one hour. This is just enough water for one person at a time during shower time.
Building A Lithium Power Bank
We took six 105-amp-hour, 12-volt lithium ion batteries made by Lion Energy, called the Lion Safari UT 1300 and wired them in series and parallel to make a 24-volt battery bank.
We have an 8,000 watt hour battery bank. We have 2,430 watts on the roof. That allows us to live comfortably as long as we are traveling out of extremely hot or cold areas. Smaller vans and skoolies can get away with less battery power since they use less electricity.
This is the number of batteries Id suggest for your type of vehicle:
Youll have to make a large monetary investment up front for your system. In the long run, it will pay off. You wont have to replace obsolete lead-acid batteries, youre not reliant on plugging in everywhere, you dont need to run a noisy generator, you dont need to worry about running out of propane, and there arent utility bills.
Youll probably get decades of service out of these parts. Youll be living off of completely renewable energy powered by the sun that you dont have to pay for monthly and that is an incredible feeling.
Tip: Wash your roofs panels to maximize energy collection
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Its A Complex And Potentially Dangerous Job
Installing solar panels is not an easy process, and without undergoing the same training as a professional installer there is a lot that could go wrong. Lifting heavy panels, wiring electrical equipment and simply working up high on a roof are just some of the safety hazards you face. If you aren’t confident in working with this kind of specialised equipment, then homemade solar panel installation may be too advanced for your skill level.
As an example, if you’ve just spent a few hours Googling how to build a solar panel and watching YouTube videos – then you’re probably not ready to start building your own DIY solar power system.
The technical side of solar PV installation can also be tricky and doing it yourself often results in systems being connected and fitted incorrectly. Even if you have electrical experience there are still many elements of solar installation that differ greatly to traditional jobs and should be left to a professional.
Final Inspection And Interconnection To The Grid
Once your installation is complete, schedule an inspection with the local AHJ. The inspector will assess if the system is compliant with local ordinances, and whether the design matches those laid out in your plans.
The system will also need to pass an electrical inspection to ensure that it is code-compliant.
Once youve passed the inspection, you can apply for interconnection with the grid. The utility will either install a second meter, or replace your existing one with a bi-directional meter. The bi-directional meter can record your homes power exports to the grid so that you can receive credits on your power bill.
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Cost Of Installing Solar Panels Yourself
While the initial cost of installing solar panels yourself is lower than hiring a professional, there are many disadvantages to DIY installations. DIY projects can require a substantial amount of manual labor and time, and you might not qualify for some state incentives. Moreover, most manufacturers of solar equipment will only honor their warranties if they are installed by a qualified installer. Additionally, some solar installers offer additional warranties on their work. Whether or not you choose to install your solar system yourself is entirely up to you, but it is certainly worth considering.
Professional installation is the best option if your energy usage demands are high. The pros of hiring a professional electrician include the expertise of installing the system properly, ensuring safety and functional performance. The downside of DIY solar panel installation is that you wont have access to local electricity grid companies and may not be able to use them for passive income. In addition, it may take weeks for the professional installer to obtain the equipment and schedule the installation.
My Thoughts Of The Whole Project
Overall, the project was a fun experience, and the total amount of money that I spent was around $400-$500, which includes the battery, charge controller, and deep cycle battery. So I saved a large portion by building my own solar system, since a commercial solar panel would have cost $400 on up for just the solar panel itself.If you have any questions or concerns, just visit GreenTechTown.com’s Forum and I or other members will try to answer them as quickly as we can. This is a free resource including the videos, so be sure to share this with others.
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The Solar Panels May Have A Shorter Life Span
Buying a DIY solar panel kit may be less costly upfront, but it’s unlikely to be of the same quality as the products offered by professional installers. The right solar panel system should last for 20 30 years so getting the cheapest deal now could end up costing you more in the long run in repairs or even breakdowns.
DIY installations, especially where the panels themselves have been constructed at home, will likely see a shorter life span and can be costly to replace without a warranty. It’s also important to be wary of ‘scams’ in the form of paid for DIY tutorials and even the sale of panels which are not up to standard. In addition, solar panel installers are also buying from manufacturers in bulk so can often offer lower prices.
Getting Started With Solar System Sizing
Before you begin to size a solar system, youll want to figure out the main constraints on the project and use those restrictions as the starting point for the design. You can approach the project from one of three angles:
- Budget constraints: Build a system within your target budget.
- Space constraints: Build a system that is as space-efficient as possible.
- Energy offset: Build a system that offsets a certain percentage of your energy usage.
Take into consideration other sizing factors and common stumbling blocks that may impact how to size a solar system:
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How To Build A Diy Solar Water Heater
Do a quick search on the Internet for DIY solar water heaters and youll find plenty of different types you could build. We chose this style because it didnt require working with expensive copper tubing and soldering joints.
But in case youre looking for something different, well provide you with several different options so you can choose the type of project you want to tackle.
How Does A Solar Water Heater Work
A solar water heater works by absorbing light. Ultimately, the light is absorbed by means of a collector placed on the roof and ultimately converts the sunlight into heat.
This heat is then transferred to the water tank by means of a circulating pump. Then the exchange is triggered by the regulator but only when the collector is hotter than the water in the tank.
This prevents the circulating pump from using electricity unnecessarily. It also prevents overheating. At midday, in summer, when skies are cloudless is when the efficiency of the collective is at its highest.
Alternatively, they also do well when the collectors face south. When there is not enough sunlight, the water is preheated, and a backup system kicks in to bring the water to the required temperature.
The system ultimately is used to produce hot water at a constant temperature throughout the year without emitting any CO2. Youll find that solar water heaters are usually described according to the type of connector and the circulating system that they use.
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Choosing The Right Solar Panels For The Job
If youre limited on space for your DIY solar project, monocrystalline panels are the best option due to their greatest efficiency and similar cost to their polycrystalline cousins.
Polycrystalline panels may be suitable if space is not an issue and youre trying to reduce costs even in small ways.
Thin films arent suitable for small-scale solar installation projects, nor are they worth it.
Should You Install Solar Yourself Or Hire An Installer
If youre wavering between a DIY solar system and hiring a solar installer, getting a ballpark estimate for an installation may help you in your decision process. With our Solar Calculator, you can see upfront cost and long-term savings estimates based on your location and roof type to determine if a solar installation is the best choice for you. If youre looking to get quotes from local contractors today, be sure to check out our quote comparison platform.
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Diy Solar Panels Years Back Was Understood As Assembling Actual Solar Panel Itself Soldering Solar Cells And Mounting It With Glass And Frame Today When The Price Of Solar Panels Is Much More Affordable You Can Assemble Your Own Solar System From Available Components
You will need some basic mechanical skills and imagination to mount solar panels somewhere so they do not fly off with the wind. If you know what tile and rafter is, then you are halfway to getting the system installed on your roof . There are plenty different types of solar hooks:
But without getting much into detail you need to slide tile up, fasten hook to the rafter and slide tile back to its original position. Fitting hooks is often hardest part of the installation. When PV hooks are in place , and keeping in mind that it is good to have hooks at the ends of planned solar array , all is left is to do is to fasten mounting rail to them. Solar panels are mounted to rail using middle and end solar clamps.
If you have metal sheeting instead of tile, then you will not avoid penetration of it. Most common is sinusoidal shape sheeting or sheeting which looks similar to tile. For this type of roof system based on hanger bolt is used. It is special 2 threaded bolt where bottom thread is designed for wood and top is machinery thread ready to fasten rail to it. There is also seal to secure penetration hole so there is no leaking.
There is also a metal sheeting where you assemble your panels directly to it without getting deep to the rafter.
Other option is to install solar panels on ground using metal or even wooden frame.
DC cabling
Inverter heart of the system
Order KIT or elements from our Shop
Install The Racking Or Mounts For The Panels On A Roof Or On The Ground
Once you have the necessary equipment, designs and permits in order, it is time to install your equipment. For roof-mounted systems, this begins with installing your racking and mounting equipment. To start, mark where your system will be installed, drill where lag bolts will be put in place, caulk the holes, put in lag bolts and lock rails onto them.
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Should You Or Shouldnt You
Jump to:The BasicsTypes of PanelsWhere to InstallSolar InvertersNet MeteringFinal HoopsPros and ConsDIY or Not?
Youve heard it on the news and youve read the latest reports. Solar power is projected to become cheaper than coal in about 10 years. Just consider the significant drops in the cost of going solar since 2009, solar prices have dropped 62%! What was once a far-reaching solution to lowering your home energy bill has now become a reality in the life of many homeowners. In fact, DIY residential solar kits are appearing on the shelves of big box stores. As a homeowner, youre ready to get in on the action! And with a DIY kit, how hard could it be to start saving money on your monthly electric bill? In this article, well cover what youll do to install a home solar energy system and the pros and cons of the DIY method versus hiring the professionals.
Run Solar Panel Dc Power Into A Charge Controller
In the example above as we have shown, we had 4x 100 watt solar panels putting out 400 watts max, so we are going to match THAT with the appropriate solar charge controller.
Each 100 watt solar panel would put out MAX of 22.5 volts and around 5.29 amps. All 4 being wired into parallel, we would have 22.5 volts MAX and about 21.16 amps MAX. For this setup, we found a PWM Charge Controller with 40A and can have 12 or 24 volt input. This should cost around $30-$40 dollars. Connect the solar panel positive and negative terminals into the PV inputs on the charge controller.
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Calculate Your Kwh Usage
To determine your homes energy usage more accurately, use our home appliances power consumption table to find out how many kWh your appliances would use per month.
If your utility provides a favorable net metering policy, the energy your system generates can be banked with the utility as a credit that can be used later. Not all utility companies give you credit check with your local provider.
Solar Sphere Plug And Play Home Solar Kits
These small solar kits are great for the homeowner who is easily intimidated by lots of parts or has no electrical experience. These kits are designed to be as simple as possible. Merely set up, plug in and you are good to go. The ease of these systems means a lack of versatility, but they are a great place to start getting your feet wet. The systems come in multiple sizes from portable and emergency back up, to full working systems with larger voltages.
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Do You Want To Earn Money From The Fit
The crucial thing to bear in mind, however, is that DIY installs are not immediately eligible for Feed-in Tariff payments, which for many people are the principal attraction of PV systems. In order to be eligible for FiT payments , every installation must secure government-approved Microgeneration Certification Scheme certification.
Harbor Freight Tools Chicago Electric Power Systems Kit
Seen as the best kit for those who like it simple, but still want to be able to adapt the system to there needs, Harbor Freight offers a great deal on these Chicago Electric Power Kits. The panels come only in 45 watts, but can easily be combined and upgraded to create larger systems. These kits are simple, but still modular and can be wired to supply multiple batteries. As a single unit, they will not power much, but with a small amount of background the panels can easily be added to into a much larger unit. These kits do not come with an inverter, but at the most economical price out there, the inverter can easily be purchased.
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Select Your Mount Type
A roof mount is the simplest and most cost-effective solution since it costs less than other racks. To determine if you can use a roof mount:
2. If a roof mount is not an option, look into a ground mount or pole-mounted solution. On the flat ground, you can position solar panels in any direction you want to maximize sun exposure, unlike on a slanted roof.
To learn more about the pros and cons of each mount type, read this article: Ground Mount vs. Roof-Mount Racking: Whats the Best Way To Mount My Solar Panels?
