So how do you know if building a do-it-yourself solar panel is the right thing for you?

There are a few guidelines that can help you along. In this way, you won’t ever have to get into a project just to abandon it mid-stream.

You should build your own DIY solar panel if:

1. You are able to work with simple tools and have a weekend to spare

Thankfully, all it takes to build a reasonably sized solar panel are simple tools and a weekend. If you have browsed through the free book titled “How To Build A Solar Panel”, you’ll understand it doesn’t take much. (Download it now, if you haven’t…)

This assumes you have already gathered all your materials and have them cut to size. In fact, if you already had some DIY experience, you can even build a solar panel (not the complete set to power your entire home) in an afternoon.

However do note that integrating your inverter and the battery bank into your power system certainly requires planning and installation. And this takes up time as well.

2. You are not willing to invest much into a solar power generator

Cost is the main reason people build their own solar panels. This is understandable. You can easily burn at least $20,000 (depending on the size of your house) to install a solar energy generator. And things are not getting any cheaper…

With homemade solar panels, you’ll only have to part with a fraction of this cost. This means you’ll get your returns on investment sooner. And your home may be worth a lot more than it originally was without spending a ton of money. In some states, you can receive tax breaks just by using renewable energy like solar power.

In terms of dollars and cents, it certainly makes sense to build your own photovoltaic panels.

Of course, there is no point in starting a DIY project if you simply have no time or are totally uninterested in picking up even a screwdriver to put the solar panel frame together.

Needless to say, if you have spare cash (to the tune of $20,000) to burn, it can be quite fun to watch the contractors climb onto your roof to slap on a few pieces of solar panels while you sit at your garden with a can of beer in your hand.

Seriously, you have to take some time to decide for yourself if building homemade solar panels is for you. Otherwise you can start a DIY solar panel project and leave it uncompleted, shelving it for years in your garage.

Continue Reading:

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

Image via Wikipedia

There are two major benefits to using residential solar panels. First, you can reduce pollution as you rely less on the burning of fossil fuel. Second, you can get a very good return on investment on your photovoltaic panels — these are always double digit returns, much better than Wall-Street-types investment with only single digit paybacks.

Other than these two benefits, there are more that people seldom heard of. But these can be significant when added together:

1. Government subsidies

Many state governors have realized the importance of using renewable energy. Therefore rebates, tax breaks and subsidies are given to households that use renewable energy to power their homes. The total discount on a system may be more than you imagine…sometimes more than 50%. Therefore do check what you’re eligible for.

2. Electricity Bill Hedging

Fuel is consistently increasing in price due to inflation and diminishing supply. But whatever the cost of fossil fuel may be in the future, there is no need for you to pay an extra cent if your solar power generator can supply all your energy needs. The grand total of your bills will still amount to $0. Isn’t that great?

3. Property Appreciation

Properties installed with solar panels are worth more than those without. This is obvious, since solar power generators are assets that can help the household lower their monthly electricity bills dramatically. Having PV panels in your property will not increase your property tax. Therefore it is a priceless item that can maximize the value of your home.

When we install solar panels on our property, we always look for numbers like cost per watt or payback period.. With the above benefits such as government incentives and rebates factored in, we’ll find these numbers become more attractive. Moreover, there are also many intangible benefits like environmental protection that comes along with your PV “toy”.

Continue Reading:

1. Solar Energy Panels – What You Need To Know Before Purchasing
2. Cost Of Using Residential Solar Panels
3. Homemade Solar Panels – Should You Even Roll Up Your Sleeves To Build One?