subject: Don't Buy Solar Panel Kits – Make Your Own Solar Panels For Less Than $200 [print this page] Author: chris marker Author: chris marker
The latest things to hit the energy efficiency market are solar panel kits. Many are wondering if this is a good investment for their home. The truth is there is a much better way to get panels for your home and for far less than you might think. The typical kit that will give you a panel that produces 1 Kilowatt of power will cost about $600. You can build a panel for about $200. At that price, you'll have three solar panels for what one kit could cost.
Making your own solar and wind power for less than $200 How to Build A Solar Panel from Scratch If you are able to swing a hammer and use a saw, you can build a panel from scratch, rather than buy kits. The needed parts are as close as your hardware store. Here's what you'll need: A Good Manual or Guide: Before you purchase any materials, make sure you have a really good manual or guide. This is one area where you may want to spend a little more for one that is not just a four-page generic booklet. Get a video guide if possible. Most people learn more from a video than a book. Sheets of Glass, A Roll of Copper Wire, and Plywood: Your local home improvement store will probably have the best prices for these items. Solar Cells: The photovoltaic cells are not difficult to locate, either. Many of the major hardware stores can get these for you. A Weekend: The first solar panel you build may take a long weekend to complete; however, once you have that one done, the next should only take a day or so.
Making your own solar and wind power for less than $200 Lower Electric Bills You obviously will not be able to go completely off the grid with one solar panel. However, with each solar panel you build, you'll see a significant savings on your electric bill. You can connect the panels together in order to operate larger appliances or even your home's lights. Tie enough panels together and you can have the power company paying you for electricity.
