There are obviously costs involved in setting up residential solar panels. Today, we’re going to look at these and balance them up with the financial gains you’ll experience. It’s a busy day, so let’s get right in:

Cost #1: Equipment.

Equipment forms the largest part of the entire solar power setup. These are PV panels, inverters, battery bank, regulators, et cetera. Equipment cost can be spread out over time if you want to expand your solar power generator over time. Perhaps your goal is to be able to build up one more solar panel every weekend. Thus your cost really spreads out over time. It can really be less taxing on your wallet this way.

Cost #2: Installation

If you want to do the installation yourself, you won’t have to worry about this cost. But if you want to get a professional or contractor to do it for you, remember o budget for this as well.

Cost #3: Interest

If you took up a loan to pay for your PV panels and other photovoltaic components, the interest is going to build up and this must be factored into the overall cost as well.

Cost #4: Permits, Fees and Taxes

In some locations, you’ll need to pay for permits and fees when you install solar panels over your roof or on your property. Generally, most states let you install solar panels without imposing taxes on them. But be sure to check with your local authorities so you know if you need to pay for any taxes.

Cost #5: Clearing Refuse

If you need someone to clear out any refuse for you, you may need to pay for their service.

Now these are all costs…how about the benefits, I hear you ask. Well, here are the financial gains you’ll enjoy:

Benefit #1: Lower Energy Bills

The most obvious benefit is the reduced (or eliminated) electricity bills. If you are adding solar panels gradually to your collection of “solar harvesters”, your energy bills will gradually reduce and may finally be eliminated.

Benefit #2: Hedge Against The Rising Cost of Energy

The cost of energy is set to rise as inflation and scarcity forces its price upward over the long term. We all experience this effect — everything seems to get more expensive! Yet when you’re tapping energy from the sun, it doesn’t get more expensive then when you first bought the photovoltaic equipment. Therefore while the rest of the world pays for electricity through their nose, you can quietly enjoy cheap electricity using solar panels.

Benefit #3: Appreciation

The price of your property will probably appreciate because you installed an asset. Depending on the valuation, you may get back what you paid for. This mean you’re really using all the energy for free through the years. If you built your own residential solar panels, you’re definitely going to get back more than you invested in equipment and other photovoltaic components.

Continue Reading:

1. Benefits Of Using Residential Solar Panels
2. Why Are Solar Panels The Best Investment For Your Home?
3. Residential Solar Panels — Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

Solar panel inverters convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). This is one of the most important components that you need for your solar power generator.

You can find three types of solar panel inverters:

1. Stand-Alone Solar Panel Inverters
2. Synchronous Solar Panel Inverters
3. Multi-function Solar Panel Inverters

1. Stand-Alone Solar Panel Inverters

Stand Alone solar panel inverters has a range from as little as 100 watts to as much as 8,000 watts. Low wattage inverters can be used to power individual or small groups of appliances. At the high end of the scale, solar inverters can help power an entire home. In order to know what inverter specification you should use, you will need to first determine the total energy consumed by your household.

This information is easily available from your monthly energy bills. To arrive at the specification you need, please take into account the power loss through various photovoltaic components. Even if there’s no loss (which is impossible), it’s good to have some buffer.

When using inverters to power household appliances, it’s important to choose models that have a built-in ability to surge. Common appliances like dryers and clothes washers and other motorized equipment require a surge when you start then up. Thus your inverter has to supply this need.

Click Here To Read About Synchronous Solar Panel Inverters

Continue Reading:

1. Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 2
2. Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 3
3. Solor Panel Inverters – Synchronous Solar Panel Inverters

A Small Solar Power Generator

If you’re thinking of making your own solar power generator, you may have heard how easy it is to throw some photovoltaic components together and start generating energy from the sun. Isn’t it?

Yet if you’re building a solar powered generator for the first time, I can almost guarantee you’ll make these 3 most common mistakes that most beginners (and even some experienced hobbyists) do not know about.

Mistake #1: Not Calculating the Number of Solar Cells and Battery Bank Needed

While this sounds like the obvious, a good proportion of us are guilty. Simply estimating the power and voltage generated by the cells will not do. Calculations and measurements need to be done…for everything. You’ll need to have sufficient solar cells. Battery banks also need to be large enough to store enough of these renewable energy so that it can power your appliances throughout the period of use. Everything needs to be calculated, even the wire gauge (size).

This is especially important if you intend to power your appliance throughout the night. A small initial effort (towards calculations) goes a long way to make sure your project doesn’t crash and burn mid-way.

Mistake #2: Using A Flimsy Solar Panel Casing

It is important to design your solar panel casing with proper dimensions according to your material selection. But most beginners do not have a proven design nor proper planning. As a result, many of these constructions end up being flimsy. And as you may already know, solar cells are brittle and easily broken if you do not handle them with care. If they’re mounted on a flimsy panel casing, they can be broken during installation — it is at this time when most handling (and knockings) occur.

Mistake #3: Not Vapor-Proofing Your Solar Panels

Most homemade solar panel projects break down due to corrosion and rust at metallic joints. This is especially apparent if you’re living by the sea or in a humid area. Reason: vapor seeps through many types of sealant through time and they stay in the interior of the solar panel. So it is important to use the correct type of sealant so vapor cannot seep through.

While there are many other pitfalls you’ll probably encounter while building your first solar power generation project, the above three are the most common among hobbyists.

Fortunately, many mistakes such as these can be avoided if you have an experienced hobbyist guiding you. A good alternative is a reliable, step-by-step construction guide. This can also help you avert mistakes that can potentially bring your solar power generator project to a grinding halt.

PS. As many “advanced” hobbyists have commented, they’re still referencing these manuals even after they’ve built a few successful projects over the years.

Continue Reading:

1. “Who Else Wants to Build DIY Solar Panels?”
2. Build Amazing Home Solar Power Systems Used by Families Who Don’t Want to Pay For Their Utilities
3. Do-It-Yourself Solar Panels – Electricity Conversion From Sunlight