Solar Panels - One Room at a Time

Not many of us have $12-20,000 to plunk down on a solar array, especially in the northeast. We're seeing them all around us thanks to some people having the wherewithal to do so. If you take a quick inventory of your house, you can probably find a few rooms where there is nothing more than a couple of lightsand possibly a small radio/mp3 player. These are a great place to start to do a "room at a time retrofit". How many rooms do you have that primarily use just a couple of lights?

Depending on the type of retrofit you choose, you may need to rewire: either bringing in more wires to run DC (direct current) and making special DC only outlets (electrician recommended), or have certified electrician run wires to a new circuit breaker box, and then run those wires up to the room of choice. More than likely, they'd be able to use existing runs if you're running AC (alternating current) to an outlet in that room.

Many people like the convenience of "grid-tied" systems. These systems connect directly to the AC power grid, and you'll need licensed electricians, and your local utility company in order to do this. There are some lower cost alternatives, like Enphase Energy's grid compliant single panel inverters, or Plug and Play systems that use an SMA Sunny Boy 700U Grid-Tie Inverter so you "plug the solar panel into the wall" - not literally, but through this grid-tie inverter.

If you're going it alone, and are truly doing a room at a time, here's a list of the parts you'll need for an AC retrofit for one room, non grid-tied:
One or more Solar Panels (ready made or DIY) - examples of readymade would include:


Sunforce 50042 50 Watt Pro Series Amorphous Solar Panel

SunMar Panel from Kalyx,
20W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel and

20W Solar Panel 17.6VDC 1.14A

A Digital Charge Controller
- regulates the voltage and current coming from the solar panels going to the battery. Most "12 volt" panels put out about 16 to 20 volts, so if there is no charge controller, the batteries will be damaged from overcharging. Most batteries need around 14 to 14.5 volts to get fully charged.
A Sealed Solar Deep Cycle Battery
- used to store the power from the sun for when you need it. Google "deep discharge battery" for batteries that can take a lot of charging and discharging. Most batteries will last the longest if they're only discharged to 50% of their capacity.
A 300 Watt (or larger) Modified Power Inverter (DC to AC)
- This will allow you to plug your lights or small appliances into the solar retrofit.
12V female lighter socket with cable and fuse (optional) - in case you're using something that would normally plug into the cigarette lighter in your car (no need to turn the DC to AC just to turn it to DC again!)
A solar output cable (recommended) The shorter the better, and use 12 gauge or larger (10 gauge is actually larger than 12 gauge - go figure).
A Volt meter - so you can see what's working - or not.
REMEMBER! A battery has enough voltage packed inside it to KILL you or anyone else! Don't just leave these things laying around on the floor or accessible to small children, pets, drunks that think it'd be funny to pee on the leads, etc.

If you google solar leaseback, you will find several sites that will install the solar panels for you, and offer creative payback options - such as freezing your current energy rate (if you pay $0.16/KWh, they'll keep it at that - even if the cost of electricity goes up), and other ways. Caveat Emptor Read everything, know that if it's not in the contract, it isn't real - and if it is in the contract, you are bound by that contract (and so are they). Some questions to ask would be

What if the solar panels get damaged by hail/heavy winds (ask your insurance co. too!)

What if I can't pay my electric bill?

What if I move and the new owners don't like solar?

What if I decide to put plasma screens in every room in the house and jun the jacuzzi 24/7? Do I still get the same electricity rate?

What if I, being an industrious person like your CEO, decide to get my house zoned commercial and make "green widgets" using the solar power? Do I get the same rate? How about less, since it's excellent advertisement for your company?

Write your solar powered bright idea here)_________________________________?

Lowe's is starting to offer room at a time retrofit kits! There are others that have been at it for a lot longer, including Sundance Solar, gogreen solar, and 4lots.com has a solar panel with a charge controller built in for the "proud" price of $850,

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