As more and more people choose to switch to a renewable power source such as solar energy, more and more do-it-yourself options hit the market. Building and installing solar energy panels is not a difficult job, there are even kits available that package all the materials and instructions together in one package.
All the homeowner has to know is how to choose a solar power kit and they are just steps away from using Earth friendly energy, for some if not all of their energy needs.
One main ingredient in the kit should be a set of clear and concise instructions. A solar power kit is only good if it is installed correctly. Check the advertisement carefully to make sure there are detailed installation instructions and look for recommendations by satisfied customers.
Your kit should also be expandable. If this is your first venture into solar energy and you decide you like it, you want to be able to expand on the installation, not start over with a new one. The ability to add to or upgrade is an important feature to look at.
I Use How Much Power?
To determine the size kit you need, you need to know how much power you consume. You can run around tallying your appliances and gadgets and then research their power use and how often you use them; do some multiplications and hope you are accurate in your determination.
Or you can call your power company and ask them to tell you what your average monthly usage was for the past year. Then you can determine your daily average. Much simpler.
Armed with your average power usage needs you can purchase your solar energy kit. You might want to purchase a kit that covers only a portion of your needs and upgrade later. Doing this lets you see how solar energy performs in your home and keeps your power company as a backup.
No matter what percentage of power you are going to replace, find out if the system you are buying includes a battery backup source. Battery backups are a must if you absolutely cannot tolerate the occasional blackout. However, they can be expensive to maintain and must be replaced over time.
There is a way to avoid both being without power and the cost of a battery backup. Keeping your power system partially on the electric grid will eliminate blackouts and at the same time any excess solar power you produce is sold back to the power company.
Your final decision, but also an important one is the company you are purchasing from. You should do your homework to insure you are dealing with a legitimate company that stands behind its products. If you can't find good reviews or customer comments, keep looking until you do. You can save yourself a lot of headaches.
That's it. Now you're ready to go install your solar kit and get on the renewable energy train. Choosing your solar energy kit takes some research but it pays off when you know you can trust the company you bought it from and that you chose a kit big enough to supply your power needs.
Cheaper Options to Solar Power Kits
You could of course pay for a professional installation of a solar power system. The main advantage of this is that you have peace of mind in that should anything go wrong in the warranty period you are covered for repairs.
However, the main disadvantage of professional system is that they costs thousands of dollars and can take many years to start paying for themselves.
What about a Homemade Solar Power System?
If you had list of every component you need to build your own solar panels, along with easy follow instructions of how to put the system together, you could actually build a complete solar power system for less than $200.
There are now several great guides available on Internet that provide crystal clear instructions, illustrations, and videos on how to make and install your own solar panels. These guides also teach you how to build your own wind turbines. The guides I've looked at are aimed at anyone who has basic DIY skills, not DIY experts.
Out of all the guides on DIY solar power systems, the one I think is the best is called Earth4Energy. Rather than go into detail you can watch my 7 minute video explaining this system here: Review of Earth4Energy on YouTube.
All the homeowner has to know is how to choose a solar power kit and they are just steps away from using Earth friendly energy, for some if not all of their energy needs.
One main ingredient in the kit should be a set of clear and concise instructions. A solar power kit is only good if it is installed correctly. Check the advertisement carefully to make sure there are detailed installation instructions and look for recommendations by satisfied customers.
Your kit should also be expandable. If this is your first venture into solar energy and you decide you like it, you want to be able to expand on the installation, not start over with a new one. The ability to add to or upgrade is an important feature to look at.
I Use How Much Power?
To determine the size kit you need, you need to know how much power you consume. You can run around tallying your appliances and gadgets and then research their power use and how often you use them; do some multiplications and hope you are accurate in your determination.
Or you can call your power company and ask them to tell you what your average monthly usage was for the past year. Then you can determine your daily average. Much simpler.
Armed with your average power usage needs you can purchase your solar energy kit. You might want to purchase a kit that covers only a portion of your needs and upgrade later. Doing this lets you see how solar energy performs in your home and keeps your power company as a backup.
No matter what percentage of power you are going to replace, find out if the system you are buying includes a battery backup source. Battery backups are a must if you absolutely cannot tolerate the occasional blackout. However, they can be expensive to maintain and must be replaced over time.
There is a way to avoid both being without power and the cost of a battery backup. Keeping your power system partially on the electric grid will eliminate blackouts and at the same time any excess solar power you produce is sold back to the power company.
Your final decision, but also an important one is the company you are purchasing from. You should do your homework to insure you are dealing with a legitimate company that stands behind its products. If you can't find good reviews or customer comments, keep looking until you do. You can save yourself a lot of headaches.
That's it. Now you're ready to go install your solar kit and get on the renewable energy train. Choosing your solar energy kit takes some research but it pays off when you know you can trust the company you bought it from and that you chose a kit big enough to supply your power needs.
Cheaper Options to Solar Power Kits
You could of course pay for a professional installation of a solar power system. The main advantage of this is that you have peace of mind in that should anything go wrong in the warranty period you are covered for repairs.
However, the main disadvantage of professional system is that they costs thousands of dollars and can take many years to start paying for themselves.
What about a Homemade Solar Power System?
If you had list of every component you need to build your own solar panels, along with easy follow instructions of how to put the system together, you could actually build a complete solar power system for less than $200.
There are now several great guides available on Internet that provide crystal clear instructions, illustrations, and videos on how to make and install your own solar panels. These guides also teach you how to build your own wind turbines. The guides I've looked at are aimed at anyone who has basic DIY skills, not DIY experts.
Out of all the guides on DIY solar power systems, the one I think is the best is called Earth4Energy. Rather than go into detail you can watch my 7 minute video explaining this system here: Review of Earth4Energy on YouTube.
About the Author:
For further information on solar energy, wind energy, and other renewable energy sources then you can read more of my articles here: Renewable Energy Sources.
0 comments:
Post a Comment