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	<title>DIY Solar Panels World &#187; Solar Energy System</title>
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	<description>Window To The World Of Homemade Solar Power</description>
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		<title>How To Determine The Payback For Your Solar Panel Investment (Part 1 of 3)</title>
		<link>http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/how-to-determine-the-payback-for-your-solar-panel-investment-part-1-of-3</link>
		<comments>http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/how-to-determine-the-payback-for-your-solar-panel-investment-part-1-of-3#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:00:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Build Your Own Solar Panel]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/?p=701</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Buying (or making) solar panels is an investment you make toward a better future. For every investment you make, you have to find out the risks involved and its potential payback.


Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/building-a-diy-solar-panel-my-personal-experience' rel='bookmark' title='Building A DIY Solar Panel &#8211; My Personal Experience'>Building A DIY Solar Panel &#8211; My Personal Experience</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/why-are-solar-panels-the-best-investment-for-your-home' rel='bookmark' title='Why Are Solar Panels The Best Investment For Your Home?'>Why Are Solar Panels The Best Investment For Your Home?</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/survey-your-household-energy-usage-before-installing-solar-panels' rel='bookmark' title='Survey Your Household Energy Usage Before Installing Solar Panels'>Survey Your Household Energy Usage Before Installing Solar Panels</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_702" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Solar-Panels-Installation.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-702" title="Solar Panels Installation" src="http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Solar-Panels-Installation-150x150.jpg" alt="Solar Panels Installation" width="150" height="150" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Solar Panels Installation</p></div>
<p>Buying (or making) solar panels is an investment you make toward a better future. For every investment you make, you have to find out the risks involved and its potential payback.</p>
<p>This is the same whether you invest in equity, put your money in the bank or use it to buy a solar energy system.</p>
<p>Even if you know (or have an intuition) that investing in solar panels for your home is a great decision, it doesn’t hurt to estimate how this decision can help you financially.</p>
<p>First, let’s look at the big picture: There is an upfront cost for owning PV panels, and this hurts initially (for many of us, at least). Thankfully this is about all you’ll pay for the next 30+ years, as long as your solar panels last.</p>
<p>When you add up the total cost of your utility bills for the next 30+ years, your perspective will change. This is because it will almost always be more expensive. To make things worse, energy rate only goes skywards over time. And the bill you’re paying now will probably double in 30 years time.</p>
<p>Do you remember what the energy rates were 30 years ago?</p>
<p>Next, in order to know how long it takes to recoup your investment, we have to consider the total upfront cost for a commercial solar panel setup.</p>
<p>Here is a list of things you have to invest in:</p>
<p><strong>1. Equipment cost.</strong> This includes your PV panels, inverters and rechargeable batteries, if applicable. This cost can be paid in one lump sum, or you can get financing from the bank or the supplier. When a loan is involved, you also have to include interests to the total cost.</p>
<p><strong>2. Installation cost.</strong> You can hire a professional installer…or you can do it yourself, if you are handy with these tasks. Installers can charge you an hourly rate or quote you a net price for the installation job.</p>
<p><strong>3. Maintenance cost.</strong> You’re lucky…solar panels need very little maintenance. And damages are usually paid for by the warranty.</p>
<p><strong>4. Miscellaneous costs.</strong> There are other costs involved. You may have to pay for permits and fees to carry out solar panel installation on your roof. Although rare, there may also be taxes involved as the value of your home appreciates due to solar installation. When your solar panel has reached the end of its lifespan, you may also have to pay people to haul your equipment away.</p>
<p>Fortunately, the costs above are defrayed by subsidies and rebates that you may be qualified for. Your utility company, the state and federal government or even the manufacturer often provide these benefits.</p>
<p>Part 2 of this series talks about how long it takes to recoup your investment in the light of the above costs. The article also illustrates how much savings you can expect by installing solar panels at home.</p>
<p>Read on&#8230;</p>
<p>View Part 2 here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/how-to-determine-the-payback-for-your-solar-panel-investment-part-2-of-3">http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/how-to-determine-the-payback-for-your-solar-panel-investment-part-2-of-3</a></p>


<p>Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/building-a-diy-solar-panel-my-personal-experience' rel='bookmark' title='Building A DIY Solar Panel &#8211; My Personal Experience'>Building A DIY Solar Panel &#8211; My Personal Experience</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/why-are-solar-panels-the-best-investment-for-your-home' rel='bookmark' title='Why Are Solar Panels The Best Investment For Your Home?'>Why Are Solar Panels The Best Investment For Your Home?</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/survey-your-household-energy-usage-before-installing-solar-panels' rel='bookmark' title='Survey Your Household Energy Usage Before Installing Solar Panels'>Survey Your Household Energy Usage Before Installing Solar Panels</a></li>
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		</item>
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		<title>Building A DIY Solar Panel &#8211; My Personal Experience</title>
		<link>http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/building-a-diy-solar-panel-my-personal-experience</link>
		<comments>http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/building-a-diy-solar-panel-my-personal-experience#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:00:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Build Your Own Solar Panel]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/?p=488</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My experience with building a DIY solar panel was fraught with difficulties. Yet I&#8217;m glad I learned a few things along the way so you can benefit from it and save yourself heaps of money and needless detours. Here&#8217;s my story&#8230; A few years ago, in 2008, I had a rude awakening as I received [...]


Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/about' rel='bookmark' title='About'>About</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/how-to-make-a-personal-diy-solar-power-system-with-less-than-99' rel='bookmark' title='How To Build A Personal DIY Solar Power System With Less Than $99'>How To Build A Personal DIY Solar Power System With Less Than $99</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/homemade-solar-panels-common-mistakes-to-take-note-of-when-building-and-installing-photovoltaic-pv-panels' rel='bookmark' title='Homemade Solar Panels &#8212; Common Mistakes to Take Note Of When Building And Installing Photovoltaic (PV) Panels'>Homemade Solar Panels &#8212; Common Mistakes to Take Note Of When Building And Installing Photovoltaic (PV) Panels</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My experience with building a DIY solar panel was fraught with difficulties. Yet I&#8217;m glad I learned a few things along the way so you can benefit from it and save yourself heaps of money and needless detours. Here&#8217;s my story&#8230;</p>
<p>A few years ago, in 2008, I had a rude awakening as I received an energy bill of over $250. Even though my household energy consumption remained the same, the bill increased dramatically over the months.</p>
<p>As it turns out, the energy rate has risen again! And this is happening more frequently than ever. The effect of rising oil price has affected many families, including mine. Yet when the price of oil dipped, there wasn’t much adjustment downward.</p>
<p>Naturally, I was angry!</p>
<p>Few weeks later, I met up with a friend who proudly introduced me to his roof-mounted solar panels. I was excited. Because if I install the same thing on my roof, I won’t have to pay energy bills again.</p>
<p>After a little digging, I realized all these promise of harvesting energy from the sun doesn’t really pay off financially. Here’s what I found out:</p>
<p>- A typical solar panels installation costs at least $20,000 for a complete setup. Most of them cost more.</p>
<p>- With such upfront cost, it’ll take me at least 30 years before my energy supply becomes (technically) free.</p>
<p>But I was hooked on this idea of harnessing energy from nature, especially when sunlight is abundant where I live. There was no turning back. This propelled me on the search for an affordable energy system that can take me off grid.</p>
<p>My search began at major retailers but it proved futile. After researching on the Internet and talking to a few friends, my only alternative is to make a DIY solar energy system myself.</p>
<p>I was confident of this approach as I graduated with an Engineering degree.</p>
<p>Five weeks and a bruised knuckle later, I had my first failed project. Everything was well planned on paper and my calculations were precise. Sadly, practical application required more than just theory derived from the books I referenced. This is especially so for DIY solar panel projects.</p>
<p>I’ve already lost hundreds of dollars on trial and error. Ouch! It was at this juncture I decided to get proper instruction to build a reliable solar panel system.</p>
<p>With high hopes, I searched around for a good guide to help me. I bought one guide after another, hoping each guide can help me build my DIY project.</p>
<p>Another two hundred and seventy bucks later, my bookshelf and hard drive was replete with instructional guides. But none of them helped. Again, I was disappointed. It seemed my dream of living off-grid was shattered.</p>
<p>All I found were nothing but rehashed material from textbooks and many of them simply copied each other’s work. Some were so difficult even an engineering graduate like me finds it too time consuming to understand. Others lack crucial information that left me high and dry. Yet others lacked customer support.</p>
<p>Then I decided to put all these DIY stuff away and call it quits. It just didn’t work out…</p>
<p>I went back to my usual life and paid my regular energy bills.</p>
<p>Five months later, I was looking for an electrical component for a client and bumped into a young lady, Susie, looking for a similar item. Curious, I asked her what she wanted these components for. (It was unusual for ladies to shop around for such electrical stuff…)</p>
<p>I was shocked to learn she had almost completed her own DIY solar panels. She just doesn’t look like she can handle any tools, let alone build anything at all.</p>
<p>Excited, I went online to scrutinize the website she recommended:</p>
<p>View Here =&gt; <a href="http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/diysolar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/diysolar</a></p>
<p>It looked like one of those websites I bought from, so I was a little apprehensive. But I bought it anyway. By now, my enthusiasm has dried up. Yet somehow my curiosity led me to begin building a DIY solar panel.</p>
<p>One weekend later, I had my first DIY solar panel leaning against my garage door waiting to be installed. I was pleased, and very thankful for meeting Susie at the hardware shop.</p>
<p>This guide she recommended truly makes building your own solar panels easy to understand. Best of all, it shows you how and where to get very affordable components and materials to build your project.</p>
<p>With the low cost involved, it probably takes only 3 years before the cost of the hardware is fully paid back. After that, energy will be totally free for my family and me. Of course, we’ll soon be living entirely on renewable energy.</p>
<p>For the first time in my life, living on free electricity became a reality.</p>
<p>If you have the aspiration to build your own DIY solar panels like I did, I encourage you to take the first step… Look for a good instructional guide and take action to build a system that can harness free energy from the sun. You, too, will be glad you did.</p>
<p>You can learn a lot about building DIY solar panels here and also see many newbies accomplish amazing projects on their first try:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/diysolar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/diysolar</a></p>


<p>Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/about' rel='bookmark' title='About'>About</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/how-to-make-a-personal-diy-solar-power-system-with-less-than-99' rel='bookmark' title='How To Build A Personal DIY Solar Power System With Less Than $99'>How To Build A Personal DIY Solar Power System With Less Than $99</a></li>
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		<title>Do-It-Yourself Solar Panels – Electricity Conversion From Sunlight</title>
		<link>http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/do-it-yourself-solar-panels-%e2%80%93-electricity-conversion-from-sunlight</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:00:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Solar Panels Electricity]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/?p=163</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With solar panels, electricity is produced when a phenomenon known as photovoltaic effect takes place. This effect causes a voltage (potential difference) to manifest when electromagnetic radiation falls on the surface of a semiconductor. In the case of solar panels, the radiation happens to be visible sunlight. As you may have realized by now, the [...]


Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/about' rel='bookmark' title='About'>About</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/homemade-solar-panels' rel='bookmark' title='Homemade Solar Panels'>Homemade Solar Panels</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/solar-panel-efficiency-how-does-dirt-on-you-solar-panels-affect-the-amount-of-electricity-produced' rel='bookmark' title='Solar Panel Efficiency &#8212; How Does Dirt on Your Solar Panels Affect The Amount Of Electricity Produced?'>Solar Panel Efficiency &#8212; How Does Dirt on Your Solar Panels Affect The Amount Of Electricity Produced?</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With solar panels, electricity is produced when a phenomenon known as photovoltaic effect takes place. This effect causes a voltage (potential difference) to manifest when electromagnetic radiation falls on the surface of a semiconductor. In the case of solar panels, the radiation happens to be visible sunlight.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1305/1373687157_1a218354de.jpg"><img title="Do-It-Yourself Solar Panels Electricity" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1305/1373687157_1a218354de.jpg" alt="Do-It-Yourself Solar Panels Electricity" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Do-It-Yourself Solar Panels Electricity</p></div>
<p>As you may have realized by now, the (semiconductor) material used is largely responsible for the efficiency of energy conversion &#8212; from sunlight to electricity. As scientists discover better semiconductors and better production techniques, photovoltaic cells become cheaper to produce. And as the demand for solar panels increase, economies of scale drives the price of solar cells to the value we know today.</p>
<p>Recently, many hobbyists are getting interested in building for themselves homemade solar panels. This further reduces the cost of introducing a solar power generator into their house. In fact, most of them are able to gather materials from used and broken solar panels to construct fully working (restored) panels at a tenth of the original cost.</p>
<p>However, before you commit to a do-it-yourself solar panel project, you need to consider what you’ll be using it for. Beginners tend to build smaller panels to power their garage lights or garden sprinklers. More experienced enthusiasts often challenge themselves to generate all their household energy needs with several pieces of homemade solar panels installed on rooftops.</p>
<p>If your aspiration is to build a grid-tied or off-grid system for your home, you’ll need to determine the size of your solar energy system needed. Then you’ll know the type and quantity of batteries to buy and what inverters to use. You’ll also need to cater sufficient space in your home to house these electrical items safely.</p>
<p>As many of the DIY solar panels are built from used solar generators, their efficiency may not be as good as off-the-shelf panels fitted with new photovoltaic cells. Therefore it is important to keep the efficiency as high as possible.</p>
<p>This can be achieved by keeping the solar panels as cool as possible. Because efficiency drops as the temperature of photovoltaic cell rises. If your solar panels are installed on the rooftop, you need to ensure sufficient gap between the roof and panels so cool air can pass through to bring away excess heat from the solar panels.</p>
<p>Another way to ensure maximum electricity production is to locate your solar panels at a place with the most sunshine throughout the year. This means the panels should be tilted toward the south (if you’re living in the northern hemisphere) and there should be as little shading as possible.</p>
<p>If your location allows you to generate sufficient energy for your household needs, you’re in luck. With your own set of do-it-yourself solar panels, electricity cost will no longer be a concern as long as the sun is shining for you. You’ll also enjoy shorter payback periods than similar commercial models because DIY solar panels are cheaper.</p>


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		<title>Recreational Vehicle (RV) Solar Panels</title>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:59:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[There are many benefits to install recreational vehicle (RV) solar panels. The most important one is you can go further without having to worry or plan to stop at the next RV Park to charge your batteries. This may be obvious. But when you can’t find an RV park to recharge your batteries for the [...]


Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/solar-energy-panels-for-big-toys' rel='bookmark' title='Solar Energy Panels For Big &#8220;Toys&#8221;'>Solar Energy Panels For Big &#8220;Toys&#8221;</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/recreational-vehicle-rv-solar-panels-run-your-appliances-with-a-12vdc-panel' rel='bookmark' title='Recreational Vehicle (RV) Solar Panels &#8212; Run Your Appliances With A 12VDC Panel'>Recreational Vehicle (RV) Solar Panels &#8212; Run Your Appliances With A 12VDC Panel</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/solor-panel-inverters-multifunction-solar-panel-inverters' rel='bookmark' title='Solor Panel Inverters – Multifunction Solar Panel Inverters'>Solor Panel Inverters – Multifunction Solar Panel Inverters</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/69/186910244_289488c4a9.jpg"><img title="RV Solar Panels" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/69/186910244_289488c4a9.jpg" alt="RV Solar Panels" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">RV Solar Panels</p></div>
<p>There are many benefits to install recreational vehicle (RV) solar panels. The most important one is you can go further without having to worry or plan to stop at the next RV Park to charge your batteries. This may be obvious. But when you can’t find an RV park to recharge your batteries for the night, you can get pretty frustrated.</p>
<p>More and more full time RVers are planning to install solar panels on their vehicles so they can reap the full benefits of using solar energy to power up their equipment in their recreational vehicles.</p>
<p>Before you decide to buy a solar energy kit to hook up onto your recreational vehicle, there are a few points you need to work out. The first and most important step is to determine your total energy needs. This affects the number of solar panels you’ll need to buy and the batteries and size of inverter you need to have.</p>
<p>In order to size your solar energy system, you’ll have to make calculations with considerations to the energy you’ll use in a typical day. After sizing your required solar power system, you can then know if you have enough space inside your RV for the batteries and inverter.</p>
<p>You’ll also need to consider having a backup generator in case the worst happens…and these situations occur from time to time.</p>
<p>If the solar power system is too big to fit into your RV, the best solution is to reduce your energy consumption. Some practical electricity-saving advice given by fellow RVers are as follows:</p>
<p>-	Avoid cold places that needs extensive furnace use<br />
-	Never fall asleep with the TV on<br />
-	Always switch off lights and equipment when not in use<br />
-	Do not leave any lights on throughout the night</p>
<p>You may also want to consider using a catalytic heater, as this does not require electricity. Since heaters would otherwise consume a large part of your solar generated electricity, this may help you get away with a smaller solar energy system.</p>
<p>You may also be wondering how much it costs to install a complete RV solar panel system. Depending on the quality of your solar panels, batteries and inverter, an approximate cost for each complete panel system is about (more or less) $500.</p>
<p>You may choose to buy a portable solar panel to charge your batteries and see if using solar panels suits your way of life. Very soon, you may be hooked to it. Then you’ll experience for yourself the benefits you can only experience with a set of RV solar panels installed on your recreational vehicle.</p>


<p>Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/solar-energy-panels-for-big-toys' rel='bookmark' title='Solar Energy Panels For Big &#8220;Toys&#8221;'>Solar Energy Panels For Big &#8220;Toys&#8221;</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/recreational-vehicle-rv-solar-panels-run-your-appliances-with-a-12vdc-panel' rel='bookmark' title='Recreational Vehicle (RV) Solar Panels &#8212; Run Your Appliances With A 12VDC Panel'>Recreational Vehicle (RV) Solar Panels &#8212; Run Your Appliances With A 12VDC Panel</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/solor-panel-inverters-multifunction-solar-panel-inverters' rel='bookmark' title='Solor Panel Inverters – Multifunction Solar Panel Inverters'>Solor Panel Inverters – Multifunction Solar Panel Inverters</a></li>
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		<title>Survey Your Household Energy Usage Before Installing Solar Panels</title>
		<link>http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/survey-your-household-energy-usage-before-installing-solar-panels</link>
		<comments>http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/survey-your-household-energy-usage-before-installing-solar-panels#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Build Your Own Solar Panel]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[An important step to take before you install solar panels is to do a thorough survey on how you use energy at home.


Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/about' rel='bookmark' title='About'>About</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/sizing-your-solar-energy-panels-part-3' rel='bookmark' title='Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 3'>Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 3</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/7-different-ways-of-using-solar-energy-at-home-and-in-your-office' rel='bookmark' title='7 Different Ways of Using Solar Energy At Home and In Your Office'>7 Different Ways of Using Solar Energy At Home and In Your Office</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_668" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/audit.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-668" title="Audit Your Household Energy Usage" src="http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/audit-150x150.jpg" alt="Audit Your Household Energy Usage" width="150" height="150" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Audit Your Household Energy Usage</p></div>
<p>An important step to take before you install solar panels is to do a thorough survey on how you use energy at home.</p>
<p>It is much cheaper to buy energy-saving devices and electronic timers to conserve energy than it is to build a bigger solar energy system.</p>
<p>Energy-saving lamps or LED lamps only cost you over a hundred dollars, at most. An additional solar panel can easily cost you hundreds of dollars.</p>
<p>Many people are not conscious of how they use energy at home. Thus they do not know how much electricity they are wasting on a daily basis. A simple energy audit can help you uncover areas where you can cut back on wastage.</p>
<p>First, you have to collect some data about your current electricity consumption. All you need to do is gather a stack of power bills from the past one or two years. Then average out your energy usage on a daily basis. (This will take inconsistencies and seasonal changes into consideration.)</p>
<p>Simply add up your monthly figures and divide it by 365. This will help you estimate your consumption in kWh per day. The average American uses about 20 kWh per day. How much do you use?</p>
<p>If you can get some data on the energy you use over a 24-hour period, it will be interesting. However such details are not always necessary.</p>
<p>The next thing you have to do is find out where you can save electricity. The average household use electricity in this proportion:</p>
<p>-	Heating / cooling: 44%<br />
-	Lighting, household appliances &amp; cooking: 38%<br />
-	Water heating: 18%</p>
<p>A huge part of your expenditure probably goes into heating or cooling as well. It makes sense to look at how we can save energy on heating before moving on to other areas.</p>
<p>You may find these suggestions useful for energy conservation at home:</p>
<p>1. Turn off heaters, air-conditioners and electrical appliances when they’re not in use</p>
<p>2. Use energy saving appliances. Some examples are energy-saving bulbs and LED lamps. Energy saving appliances are easily identified. With the Appliance Labeling Rule enforced, manufacturers are now required to attach labels on major home appliances to provide an estimate of their product&#8217;s energy consumption and efficiency.</p>
<p>3. Use power-controlling devices. These basically control the power delivered to motors (or other inductive loads) by matching the 60-Hz sine wave to the changing demands of the motor. Essentially, power supply that was once out-of-phase with the load is now aligned (in-phase).</p>
<p>You can use this formula to find out each home appliance&#8217;s power consumption:</p>
<p>(Wattage × Hours Used Per Day ÷ 1000 = Daily Kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption</p>
<p>Let’s take your refrigerator as an example:</p>
<p>Suppose your fridge is rated at 725W, its monthly consumption is estimated to be:</p>
<p>725 Watts × 24 hours ÷ 1000 × 30 days = 522 kWh per month</p>
<p>(Note: This is just an example. A refrigerator, although turned on all the time, cycles on and off to maintain storage temperature. Thus it does not operate at maximum wattage all the time.)</p>
<p>Here are some power ratings (in Watts) of different types of household appliances, according to the U.S. Department of Energy:</p>
<p>·	Aquarium = 50–1210<br />
·	Clock radio = 10<br />
·	Coffee maker = 900–1200<br />
·	Clothes washer = 350–500<br />
·	Clothes dryer = 1800–5000<br />
·	Dishwasher = 1200–2400 (using the drying feature greatly increases energy consumption)<br />
·	Dehumidifier = 785<br />
·	Electric blanket- Single/Double = 60 / 100<br />
·	Fans<br />
Ceiling = 65–175<br />
Window = 55–250<br />
Furnace = 750<br />
Whole house = 240–750<br />
·	Hair dryer = 1200–1875<br />
·	Heater (portable) = 750–1500<br />
·	Clothes iron = 1000–1800<br />
·	Microwave oven = 750–1100<br />
·	Personal computer<br />
CPU &#8211; awake / asleep = 120 / 30 or less<br />
Monitor &#8211; awake / asleep = 150 / 30 or less<br />
Laptop = 50<br />
·	Radio (stereo) = 70–400<br />
·	Refrigerator (frost-free, 16 cubic feet) = 725<br />
·	Televisions (color)<br />
19&#8243; = 65–110<br />
27&#8243; = 113<br />
36&#8243; = 133<br />
53&#8243;-61&#8243; Projection = 170<br />
Flat screen = 120<br />
·	Toaster = 800–1400<br />
·	Toaster oven = 1225<br />
·	VCR/DVD = 17–21 / 20–25<br />
·	Vacuum cleaner = 1000–1440<br />
·	Water heater (40 gallon) = 4500–5500<br />
·	Water pump (deep well) = 250–1100<br />
·	Water bed (with heater, no cover) = 120–380</p>
<p>After you have figured out where to save energy on, you’ll probably want to make use of solar heaters to reduce your utility bills. Solar heaters are much cheaper than PV panels and are more efficient.</p>
<p>With lower electricity consumption, you&#8217;ll only require a smaller solar system. Thus the upfront cost reduces.</p>
<p>If you are installing a grid-tied system, you need to take into consideration your rate structure.</p>
<p>Some utility companies charge you for electricity based on a flat rate. No matter how much you use, the rate remains. Others charge you according to a tiered structure. This means that rate goes up if you use beyond a certain limit. There may also be a time-of-use (TOU) rate, which means you have to pay more if you use electricity during the peak period.</p>
<p>If you have surveyed your household energy usage and also implemented energy saving measures, you probably will never need to pay the higher-tier rates set by your utility company.</p>


<p>Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/about' rel='bookmark' title='About'>About</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/sizing-your-solar-energy-panels-part-3' rel='bookmark' title='Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 3'>Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 3</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/7-different-ways-of-using-solar-energy-at-home-and-in-your-office' rel='bookmark' title='7 Different Ways of Using Solar Energy At Home and In Your Office'>7 Different Ways of Using Solar Energy At Home and In Your Office</a></li>
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		<title>How To Build A Personal DIY Solar Power System With Less Than $99</title>
		<link>http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/how-to-make-a-personal-diy-solar-power-system-with-less-than-99</link>
		<comments>http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/how-to-make-a-personal-diy-solar-power-system-with-less-than-99#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/?p=44</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Whether you are building a DIY solar power system or putting together a solar power kit for your children’s school project, the major components you’ll need are the same.


Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/build-amazing-home-solar-power-systems-used-by-families-who-dont-want-to-pay-for-their-utilities' rel='bookmark' title='Build Amazing Home Solar Power Systems Used by Families Who Don’t Want to Pay For Their Utilities'>Build Amazing Home Solar Power Systems Used by Families Who Don’t Want to Pay For Their Utilities</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/sizing-your-solar-energy-panels-part-3' rel='bookmark' title='Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 3'>Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 3</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/building-a-diy-solar-panel-my-personal-experience' rel='bookmark' title='Building A DIY Solar Panel &#8211; My Personal Experience'>Building A DIY Solar Panel &#8211; My Personal Experience</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Whether you are building a DIY solar power system or putting together a solar power kit for your children’s school project, the major components you’ll need are the same.</p>
<p>You should spend less than $99 (often much lesser) to build up the solar panel to power small electronics like your automatic gate opener, garden sprinkler or fishpond filtration system.</p>
<p>Recently I saw a 10-Watt solar power kit going for more than two hundred dollars. I immediately thought, “I can put these kinda stuff together in half a day for less than half its price!”</p>
<p>This is a 10-watt DIY solar power kit.</p>
<p>You can use it to construct your personal 12V solar energy system to power stuff like battery chargers, electronic gadgets and LED lamps.</p>
<p>If you’re into building DIY solar panels, you may be pretty familiar with these main components of a DIY solar power system:</p>
<p>1. A 10-Watt Solar panel</p>
<p>2. Charge controller</p>
<p>3. Battery</p>
<p>4. Diodes and Fuse</p>
<p>5. Switch</p>
<p>6. Wiring</p>
<p>If you hop over to eBay, you’ll find that a solar panel costs less than $35, a charge controller costs less than $25, and a 12V battery costs less than $20. Diodes and some wires cost just a few bucks. The total cost is less than $90.</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-52" title="Solar Cell eBay" src="http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Solar-Cell-eBay4.bmp" alt="DIY Solar Power Component" /></p>
<p>You can check out these prices for yourself on eBay…see if what I’m saying is true. If you can take the trouble to monitor listings on eBay everyday, you can usually pick up even better deals than this within a week.</p>
<p>You can also drop your local supplier a line to find out if their prices are similar. I personally find that retailers can sometimes reduce to almost wholesale prices when they want to move their old inventory.</p>
<p>Using the same concept, you can also build pieces of 60 to 120 watt solar panels as part of your solar power system for your home&#8230;at a low cost.</p>
<p>I recently found some innovative ways to create a 60 to 120 watt solar panel for less than $200. I thought it was impossible. But this was before I read about an ingenious idea in a manual I bought years ago&#8230;</p>
<p>PS. Sometimes you never know what you’re capable of unless you take action (to start). This also applies to other areas of our life. A good idea implemented can take your project on the highway to success. It can also help create a DIY solar power system that can serve you for years… even if you are on a tight budget.</p>


<p>Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/build-amazing-home-solar-power-systems-used-by-families-who-dont-want-to-pay-for-their-utilities' rel='bookmark' title='Build Amazing Home Solar Power Systems Used by Families Who Don’t Want to Pay For Their Utilities'>Build Amazing Home Solar Power Systems Used by Families Who Don’t Want to Pay For Their Utilities</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/sizing-your-solar-energy-panels-part-3' rel='bookmark' title='Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 3'>Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 3</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/building-a-diy-solar-panel-my-personal-experience' rel='bookmark' title='Building A DIY Solar Panel &#8211; My Personal Experience'>Building A DIY Solar Panel &#8211; My Personal Experience</a></li>
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		<title>Properties Of Solar Energy You Must Know About</title>
		<link>http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/properties-of-solar-energy-you-must-know-about</link>
		<comments>http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/properties-of-solar-energy-you-must-know-about#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:59:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Energy & Efficiency]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/?p=688</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Before you buy or build a solar energy system, you have to understand the basics in order to make useful decisions. This applies whether you are interested in PV panels or solar heaters.


Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/pool-solar-panels' rel='bookmark' title='Pool Solar Panels'>Pool Solar Panels</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/what-are-solar-heaters-how-they-work-and-what-they-are-used-for' rel='bookmark' title='What Are Solar Heaters, How They Work And What They Are Used For'>What Are Solar Heaters, How They Work And What They Are Used For</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/important-fact-and-properties-of-a-solar-pv-panel-you-must-know-about-part-1-of-3' rel='bookmark' title='Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 1 of 3)'>Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 1 of 3)</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Before you buy or build a solar energy system, you have to understand the basics in order to make useful decisions. This applies whether you are interested in PV panels or solar heaters.</p>
<p>With good foundation, you can better understand other materials (or salesmen) in the future.</p>
<p>First, you need to know that there are different wavelengths present in sunlight.</p>
<p>You can use a prism to split sunlight into various colors, which is a manifestation of its wavelengths. (Remember those science experiments?)</p>
<p>In some solar application, it’s the infrared component of sunlight that’s utilized. In others, only the visible light is useful. Modern engineering tries to marry different technologies to harvest as much of the (visible and invisible) spectrum as possible to enhance solar panel efficiency.</p>
<p>Second, you need to know how sunlight interacts with matter.</p>
<p>Sunlight can be absorbed, transmitted, scattered or reflected. It is the material’s property that determines how light behaves.</p>
<p>When light is absorbed, its energy is transformed into heat. In some cases, it is changed into electricity. All solar energy systems depend on this property &#8212; absorption.</p>
<p>When light is transmitted, very little energy is lost. It simply goes through the material with very little attenuation.</p>
<p>Scattering occurs when light interacts with molecules. Light radiates in many different directions with different intensity in such cases.</p>
<p>Reflection occurs when light is bounced back. Shiny, smooth surfaces are better reflectors than dark, matte surfaces.</p>
<p>There are no perfect materials. Thus there is no such thing as a perfect conductor or a perfect absorber. An index is always used (in physics) to identify how well each material conducts or absorbs light.</p>
<p>If you are interested in solar water heaters, you must also know how heat interacts with matter.</p>
<p>Some materials can conduct heat pretty well while a few others restricts the flow of heat. Solar heaters make use of materials that can absorb solar radiation well. They trap solar energy and turn it into heat.</p>
<p>Once this is done, other materials are used to conduct and distribute heat so it can be used to warm up water (or air). In order to keep heat from escaping, a heat insulator must be used.</p>
<p>Putting these materials together, we can create a phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect. Glass is a good material for this purpose. It can transmit light pretty well and is also a good insulator of heat.</p>
<p>This is why your car, when parked under the sun for a while, can get so hot inside.</p>
<p>If you are interested in generating electricity, you must know about photovoltaic cells. They are commonly known as solar cells. They absorb sunlight to produce electricity.</p>
<p>Common PV cells consist of two layers of thin semiconductor sandwiched together. They are made of highly purified silicon. These are the same material found in transistors and microchips.</p>
<p>This construction forms millions of p-n junctions that can generate electricity when exposed to light. When photons (sunlight) hit each p-n junction, their energy is absorbed. This cause electrons to break free from its orbit.</p>
<p>Free-moving electrons are made to flow in a particular direction under the influence of an electric field. Such electron movement produces electricity.</p>
<p>If you need to know more about solar energy, solar panels and energy conservation, more information is available as you browse through the categories on the right.</p>


<p>Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/pool-solar-panels' rel='bookmark' title='Pool Solar Panels'>Pool Solar Panels</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/what-are-solar-heaters-how-they-work-and-what-they-are-used-for' rel='bookmark' title='What Are Solar Heaters, How They Work And What They Are Used For'>What Are Solar Heaters, How They Work And What They Are Used For</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/important-fact-and-properties-of-a-solar-pv-panel-you-must-know-about-part-1-of-3' rel='bookmark' title='Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 1 of 3)'>Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 1 of 3)</a></li>
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		<title>Important Facts You Must Know Before Installing Your Own Home Solar Panels</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:00:24 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[This article highlights those important facts about solar panels you must know before buying them. If you are about to make an important decision to install solar panels at your home, be sure to read this.


Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/important-fact-and-properties-of-a-solar-pv-panel-you-must-know-about-part-1-of-3' rel='bookmark' title='Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 1 of 3)'>Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 1 of 3)</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/important-facts-and-properties-of-a-solar-pv-panel-you-must-know-about-part-2-of-3' rel='bookmark' title='Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 2 of 3)'>Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 2 of 3)</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/important-facts-and-properties-of-a-solar-pv-panel-you-must-know-about-part-3-of-3' rel='bookmark' title='Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 3 of 3)'>Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 3 of 3)</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This article highlights those important facts about solar panels you must know before buying them. If you are about to make an important decision to install solar panels at your home, be sure to read this.</p>
<p>Commercial solar panels cost at least $20,000 (usually much more than this) and you need to wait at least 12 years before your investment pays back. Of course the actual price and payback period depends on how much electricity you require and the amount of sunshine at your location.</p>
<p>Even though solar panels seem expensive, owning them can help your finances in the long run. Beyond its payback period, solar panels are essentially free. Thus you are actually using free electricity from that point on. If oil price continues to rise (quite certainly), the savings you realize will only become greater.</p>
<p>On top of that, your property value appreciates the moment you install solar panels on your roof.</p>
<p>Installing PV panels at home or office may be one of the best few decisions in your life. If you buy the correct solar energy system, it’ll reward you handsomely in time to come.</p>
<p><strong>Why solar panels?</strong></p>
<p>Solar panels convert solar energy into electricity. Since the sun will not burn out in the next few billion years, this is a perpetual source of energy we can use. Many solar panels can operate for up to 30 years. Thus they provide us with a long lasting source of electricity.</p>
<p>Solar panels are suitable for providing electricity in remote places that are far away from the main electricity grid. If your home is situated in such places, solar electricity may be the cheapest and most convenient source of power for you.</p>
<p>PV panels do not require much maintenance. In fact all they need is an occasional jet of water for 5 to 10 minutes. This helps to wash away the dirt and dust that accumulates on the glass panel after months and months of use. Besides this, no other regular maintenance is needed.</p>
<p>Solar power does not pollute. It neither gives off toxic nor foul-smelling gases. There is no way solar panels can harm your health and well-being when it generates electricity. In fact, it doesn’t even produce any noise. Thus solar panels do only good and no harm.</p>
<p>The only time when pollution is involved is when solar panels are being produced. Energy is needed at production lines, and this likely comes from burning fossil fuel. Fortunately it does not take long to manufacture each PV panel. Thus its indirect damage to the environment is negligible as compared to its advantages.</p>
<p>For many homeowners, using solar electricity is a means to hedge against the rising cost of fuel. It is quite likely that oil price will double again after 15 or 20 years…who knows. But the price of solar panels keeps dropping. Today, you can get solar panels for as low as $3 per watt. And this (one-time cost) is all you have to pay for the next few decades. What a good deal.</p>
<p><strong>Different Types of Solar Panels</strong></p>
<p>Solar panels are made from single crystal (monocrystalline) wafers, polycrystalline wafers or by depositing photovoltaic material onto thin films.</p>
<p>Monocrystalline solar cells are made by cutting single crystal wafers into 1/3 to 1/2 millimeter slices. This is a costly process. The silicon used must be of very high purity and must have an almost perfect crystalline structure. This makes the final product expensive. Therefore even though monocrystalline solar cells have the highest yield, they are not as popular.</p>
<p>Polycrystalline wafers are made by pouring molten silicon into a mould and allowing it to set. Then they are cut into thin slices, similar to how monocrystalline wafers are made. Since polycrystalline wafers do not require very high purity silicon or a near perfect crystalline structure, they are cheaper to produce. However it produces less electricity than monocrystalline cells under the same illumination per square foot.</p>
<p>Yet polycrystalline solar panels are very popular. Unlike monocrystalline solar cells, polycrystalline cells can fill the solar panel with more photovoltaic material (due to its shape). This allows it to produce almost as much electricity per square foot as monocrystalline solar panels. Hence it is more cost effective to use polycrystalline solar panels.</p>
<p>Amorphous silicon cells are made by depositing a layer of silicon on a substrate. Amorphous silicon is just one of the product of thin-film technology. Other products include thin multicrystalline silicon, copper indium diselenide/cadmium sulphide cells, cadmium telluride/cadmium sulphide cells and gallium arsenide cells.</p>
<p>Among these 3 types of solar cells, thin-films produce the least amount of electricity per square foot. However they are light. Therefore they are used widely in portable applications.</p>
<p>In the process of manufacturing thin-film solar panels, very little silicon is wasted. This is in stark contrast to the manufacturing process of monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar cells where almost half the silicon is wasted as saw dust.</p>
<p>When choosing solar panels, it is important to know what type of technology is involved. More importantly, you must calculate the price you are paying per watt for the particular PV panel you chose.</p>
<p><strong>A Typical Solar Power System</strong></p>
<p>In a solar power system, one single solar panel is not sufficient to provide enough power for your house or office. An array of PV panels must be used in order to get the necessary amount of energy.</p>
<p>Other than the solar panel array, a control panel must be installed. It is used to regulate power from the panels. For an off-grid system, electricity must be stored in deep-cycle rechargeable batteries so you can use it later (usually at night). For an intertie (or grid-tied) system, this is not necessary.</p>
<p>Power coming from the batteries or your solar panels is in the form of direct current (DC). To run electrical appliances that use 110 VAC, you need an inverter. This device converts DC to AC power.</p>
<p>Even after all these are setup, you may want to consider having a backup source of power. This is important if you are not connected to the grid. One type of backup power you can consider is a diesel generator.</p>
<p>If you have a large solar power system, installing a solar tracker can help you recover some power that would otherwise be lost. What this device does is track the position of the sun and aligns the solar panels toward it. The increase in electricity supply can more than offset the cost of a solar tracker if your system is big enough.</p>
<p>You can also tap another source of renewable energy together with solar power. Wind turbines are commonly installed for residential use. The power generated by wind can charge your solar panel batteries. Instead of lining your roof with more PV panels, this is a good way to increase your electricity production.</p>
<p><strong>Solar Panels Installation</strong></p>
<p>Where your solar panels are sited is of utmost importance. The solar professional must help you determine the best location to install your solar panels. He must also inform you about the shading condition at the site he choose.</p>
<p>During installation, your solar panels will be tilted southwards. The angle of inclination depends on where you live. If solar panels are not installed properly, you may not get as much power as you expect. As a result, your solar panels may end up producing below its potential throughout its lifespan.</p>
<p>To improve the shade condition at the installation site, your contractor may advise you to crop some trees at your property.</p>
<p>When you work closely with a trusted solar professional, you can be certain he will be your best partner when it comes to providing renewable energy for your household.</p>


<p>Continue Reading:<ol><li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/important-fact-and-properties-of-a-solar-pv-panel-you-must-know-about-part-1-of-3' rel='bookmark' title='Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 1 of 3)'>Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 1 of 3)</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/important-facts-and-properties-of-a-solar-pv-panel-you-must-know-about-part-2-of-3' rel='bookmark' title='Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 2 of 3)'>Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 2 of 3)</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/important-facts-and-properties-of-a-solar-pv-panel-you-must-know-about-part-3-of-3' rel='bookmark' title='Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 3 of 3)'>Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 3 of 3)</a></li>
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