Top 3 Tips to Get the Most Out of Building Solar Panels
Top 3 Tips to Get the Most Out of Building Solar Panels
Before you make your decision on whether or not to embark on an alternative energy project, there are some questions you should ask yourself. It is absolutely true that a project such as a solar panel setup will save you a lot of money, but the project can be stressful if you're not ready for it. Here are my top suggestions for how to approach building solar panels for the best results.
Take note of your current energy usage.
To create a feasible solar system, you should know how much electricity you consume monthly. Also equally important is finding out what is using the most energy in your home. Cutting back on your energy before building solar panels will allow you to increase your savings and get even closer to energy independence.
Of all of your appliances, chances are that the refrigerator is your main energy hog...purchasing a new one is a simple way to cut your energy usage quickly. However, if you just bought one in the last 3 years or so, it's probably not so bad. Mine was at least 15 years old and running nonstop, so it made more sense. You've all heard about switching out your light bulbs to compact fluorescent, but I found that more important is putting all of your electronics on power strips and turning them off when you're not using them. The phantom power phenomenon is something that should be brought up more frequently, as it helps out quite a bit with reducing electricity use. There's a ton of tips out there on this subject, and every house is different...so use your best judgment for taking the proper steps to reduce your energy use.
Take on the project with a partner, preferably someone experienced with electricity.
This project was much, much easier by having a friend of mine help that is experienced with electrical projects. While I'm confident that I could have built the panels alone, just having him there made me more confident and he caught a few small mistakes that I would have made otherwise.
If you've never soldered anything before, it's good to learn the technique from someone that's experienced. Since you'll be soldering a lot of connections together, getting the approach done right is super important...otherwise you could have a bad solder joint and spend a lot of time figuring out which one isn't done right. It also helps to know how to use a voltmeter, understanding wiring in series versus parallel, etc. Building panels doesn't have to be a headache, though... I really do believe that the average person can do it with some motivation.
On grid or off grid? Be aware of the zoning laws in your area.
It is important to know how you will utilize the power from the solar panels in advance. Some power companies may not allow you to connect to the grid, so you will need to use a battery and an inverter (not a bad choice at all). Most solar panel construction guides advocate using the battery+inverter setup to power your appliances, and this is how I would recommend doing it, too.
Where I live, the power company doesn't like the idea of tying in DIY energy to the grid. They claim that it disrupts the transmission lines...personally, I don't believe them. Nonetheless, I use a battery system to run my appliances and it works well. It also helps that I have a flat roof to place the panels...yet another item to consider. Where will you mount them so they are the most efficient for you?
Using these proven tips will save you time and help avoid stress during the project...and the results are simply stunning! With the economy the way it is these days, saving money goes a long way. Building solar panels are easily the most satisfying way to do the right thing and be rewarded handsomely for your efforts.
So remember, before starting on that solar panel project:
-Build with a friend that has some experience.
-Contact your power company.
-Evaluate your appliances' current energy usage.
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