subject: The Biggest Mistake When Building A Solar Panel System For Your Home [print this page] The biggest mistake that novice builders commit when trying to put together a solar panel for their home occurs before they gather the necessary materials.
Many people think that a solar panel is so simple and easy to build that they don't need to consider any plans at all. They may read someones article, see a few pictures, maybe catch a short video, and think they have all the necessary information needed in order to construct a solar panel that they can be proud to display.
What usually happens is that they get started by trying to use the cheapest building materials and electrical components, coupled with the I can figure it out by myself approach and the project hits a snag and gets buried in the corner of the garage.
While I am not at all against saving money by locating the best available bargains, I am opposed to the attitude directed and controlled by cost alone.
Men especially, are more prone than women to making this big mistake.
A prime example of this would be: a couple may have dinner reservations at a restaurant in an unfamiliar part of town. The guy secures his date on the passenger side of the car, runs around and jumps in behind the wheel, all the while thinking he knows where hes going. After driving around long enough to be late and obviously clueless as to the address, his date says: "Honey, shouldn't you ask somebody for directions?
At this point the guy usually makes another attempt at finding it himself until he realizes that he must take her advice if he actually hopes to salvage the evening.
Purchasing an adequate and comprehensive set of plans assures a successful project.
In order to familiarize yourself with the terminology and process of construction, you should set aside a couple of hours to review the plans.
There are only two paths available for you to take in the progression of your project. You can save incredible amounts of time by using someone else's research and development and have an 18 volt solar panel built in one weekend. Or, you can take the opposite approach which will leave your questions unanswered and your frustrations imminent.
You will have questions either way you choose, but having the answers easily accessible is worth far more than the initial investment, which today is less than a tank of fuel in most mid-sized automobiles.
And, should you decide to hire someone to do the job for you, the knowledge you have gained from your set of plans will save you time and money as contractors will quickly realize that they cant fool you.
