Solar Kits: Go Green, Save Some Green
It is no doubt that energy costs are on the rise. With our main source of energy fossil fuel being finite they are only going to continue to get more expensive.
Fortunately for us we have one of the most abundant sources of energy in the universe available for us to use to power our homes and almost all of our electrical devices. The Sun.
The down side is the initial cost of a full professional solar kit can range from $8,000 to $50,000 plus. These costs are eventually paid back through reduce utility bills but it can take upwards of 25 years before you recoup your investment.
Many smart people have started to make their own solar panels using simple materials found at their local hardware store. These panels cost a fraction of the cost of commercial panels and are very simple to make. This means that you will regain your investment much sooner and be able to enjoy the extra money from having no utility bills.
Fortunately for us we have one of the most abundant sources of energy in the universe available for us to use to power our homes and almost all of our electrical devices. The Sun.
The down side is the initial cost of a full professional solar kit can range from $8,000 to $50,000 plus. These costs are eventually paid back through reduce utility bills but it can take upwards of 25 years before you recoup your investment.
Many smart people have started to make their own solar panels using simple materials found at their local hardware store. These panels cost a fraction of the cost of commercial panels and are very simple to make. This means that you will regain your investment much sooner and be able to enjoy the extra money from having no utility bills.
How much is switching to solar worth to you?
Lets say your average electric bill is $150 a month. It could be higher or lower, but use this number as a comparison. If you completely replaced the electric load in your home with solar power you would save $150 x 12 Months = $1,800 / year. Over a 25 year period that comes to $45,000 total savings.Now, if you were to put that money in to a savings plan at say 5% annual return your total savings would be staggeringly higher at $89,000.
In an attempt to make this all very clear, if you spend an initial $30,000 on a solar kit for your home you would net a profit of $59,000 over 25 years.
Now I want you to think of all the things you could do with $59,000.
- Pay off all your credit card debt
- Buy you a new car
- Pay for your kids college education
- Finish paying off your house
Wouldn't that be great.
These figures do not include the rebates that some states like California offer for going green, so the savings could be even larger.
I don't have $30,000 dollars to drop on a solar kit for my home
Well neither do most people, but your in luck because their are ways to DIY and save Big Bucks.
There are a few sites that offer plans on how to build a solar panel, the equipment you need to buy, then show you how to hook it all together in order to take advantage of the sun and start saving that extra cash.
Before you go and think that it has to be way to complicated to create a solar panel, I am telling you that it is very simple.
You can buy solar cells on ebay really cheap and then all you have to do is go to your local hardware store, get the material to build the housing, hook it all together and your done.
It really is that simple.
I will tell you that if you want to hook your solar kit in to the electrical grid you will need the help of an electrician to connect the system to your breaker. But, aside from that you can do everything else yourself.
Before you go and think that it has to be way to complicated to create a solar panel, I am telling you that it is very simple.
You can buy solar cells on ebay really cheap and then all you have to do is go to your local hardware store, get the material to build the housing, hook it all together and your done.
It really is that simple.
I will tell you that if you want to hook your solar kit in to the electrical grid you will need the help of an electrician to connect the system to your breaker. But, aside from that you can do everything else yourself.
So What Exactly Am I Going to Have to Buy
This really all depends on what you want your end result to be.Here is a list of all the parts and pieces you will need in order to build a solar panel and hook it into your electrical grid with a battery back up.
The Solar Panel
- Solar Cells - Usually $99 for 50 Cells on ebay with free shipping
- Flat Tabbing wire - About $11 per Roll - used to connect the solar cells together
- Soldering Iron - Price Varies - if you already have one then its free
- Rosin Flux Pen - $2.99 Ea - used to help the tabbing wire stick to the solar cells for soldering
- Material to build the frame (this can be wood or aluminum) - $35 - I am experimenting with the use of aluminum poster frames
- Plexiglas - $25 - used to protect the cells from the elements
- Silicone Sealant - $5 per Tube - used to affix the cells to the backing board and create a water tight seal in the frame
- UV resistant Paint - Price Varies by amount
The Electronics
- Array DC Disconnect - Price Varies - This is the disconnect switch between the solar array and the battery pack
- DC to AC Power Inverter - $200 for a 3000 - 6000 watt inverter on ebay - allows the DC power from the solar array to be turned into AC power for your house hold uses
- Deep Cycle Batteries - Price varies but these can got for free if you look for used electrical equipment batteries such as golf carts or electric forklifts, these are not car batteries
- Charge Controller - Price Varies - This regulates the amount of charge on your batteries and will significantly increase the life of the batteries
- System Meter - Price Varies - This shows you the amount of power in the battery bank as well as how much power you have used
- Main DC Disconnect - Price Varies - This is the disconnect switch between the battery bank and the inverter. Allows the inverter to be serviced.
- Wire - Price Varies by length needed
- Volt Meter - $20
Green is Economical
People seem to have this false belief that going green cost more than its worth.
That is simply not the case. Going green is all about conservation, including the money in your wallet.
Ok, So Whats the Savings
I am going to break this down in to building one high quality, high out put solar panel as opposed to buying a high quality commercial panel.
If you were to go on ebay and purchase the 2.3w lot of 36 high quality solar cells you would pay around $260 for the cells. Now, add the cost to build the frame and the components to put it all together that's another roughly $100.
Your grand total for a 83 watt 3.5 amp home made solar panel comes to $360.
A comparable commercial panel such as the AEE Solar Module AE-85ET runs around $700. So $700 - $360 = $340 savings per panel.
Multiply that by the amount of panels that you need and the savings really start to add up. For example, if you need 10 panels the commercial panels will cost you about $7000 and your homemade panels will only cost you $3,600 for a total savings of $3,400.
The more panels you need to more you will save by doing it yourself.
If you were to go on ebay and purchase the 2.3w lot of 36 high quality solar cells you would pay around $260 for the cells. Now, add the cost to build the frame and the components to put it all together that's another roughly $100.
Your grand total for a 83 watt 3.5 amp home made solar panel comes to $360.
A comparable commercial panel such as the AEE Solar Module AE-85ET runs around $700. So $700 - $360 = $340 savings per panel.
Multiply that by the amount of panels that you need and the savings really start to add up. For example, if you need 10 panels the commercial panels will cost you about $7000 and your homemade panels will only cost you $3,600 for a total savings of $3,400.
The more panels you need to more you will save by doing it yourself.
DIY and Save Big Time
DIY Solar Panels are a 53% Savings over Buying Commercial
Solar Panel Kit At work
This is a 45 watt Kit from Ebay
Where Can I Get The Plans For My Solar Kit?
Here is a list of some of the best sites that I have found
There are multiple sites that offer plans on how to make your own solar panels and start generating power off the grid and start saving some money while going green at the same time.
Earth4Energy.com Cost: $49.95
This is the the site I purchased my solar kit plans from. I recommend them because they offer very complete instructions on how to build and install solar panels on your home. They also give the plans to build your on power generating wind mill as well. The resources include a full e-book, video instruction, as well as list of resources to buy all the material you need in order to build a fully functional solar panel array.
The two site below seem to be popular as well among the home solar do it yourselfers. I can not speak from personal experience for these sites but others seem to like them.
HomeMadeEnergy.org Cost: $47.00
HomeMadePowerplant.com Cost: $47.00
Earth4Energy.com Cost: $49.95
This is the the site I purchased my solar kit plans from. I recommend them because they offer very complete instructions on how to build and install solar panels on your home. They also give the plans to build your on power generating wind mill as well. The resources include a full e-book, video instruction, as well as list of resources to buy all the material you need in order to build a fully functional solar panel array.
The two site below seem to be popular as well among the home solar do it yourselfers. I can not speak from personal experience for these sites but others seem to like them.
HomeMadeEnergy.org Cost: $47.00
HomeMadePowerplant.com Cost: $47.00
Important: Wiring Your Solar Panel Together
I highly suggest watching this video before attempting to wire your Solar Panels
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Get Solar Cells on Eaby Cheap
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Solar Resources
More Information on Solar Electricity and Solar Panels
- HowStuffWorks "How Solar Cells Work"
- Solar cells use sunlight to produce electricity. But is the 'solar revolution' upon us? Learn all about solar cells, silicon solar cells and solar power.
Other Reasons For Making Your Own Solar Panels
- School Science Fair Project for your Kids
- Educational Project for you and / or your kids
- Sell Your Panels on eBay and make a nice little profit. Great Home Business Idea
- Just Do It For The Fun of It
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