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Basics for Building your own Solar Panel

AlyssaDavis | Apr 27, 2010 |

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With the skyrocketing cost of oil and natural gas, augmenting your energy needs with the free power of the sun is rather appealing. No longer relegated to the ranks of geeks or granola-crunching hippie throwbacks, solar panels have come of age as a 'green' alternative to traditional energy sources that are dirty and expensive. You can buy solar panels or you can make your own for a fraction of the price of a ready-made panel. Kits and guidelines can be found for as little as $50.00 and materials to make a panel run about $200.00.

Building your own solar panel is not as simple as buying art wall decor or choosing the perfect metal sun wall art for the patio wall, but it can be done with careful planning. Before you purchase a kit or materials to build a solar panel, there are some considerations to keep in mind.

Practical Matters: Here Comes the Sun

It's unlikely that you will be able to build enough solar panels to meet the majority of your energy needs; but even if you can use one to power outdoor patio lights or a fountain in the garden, you will save a little on your total energy bill. Spend some time thinking about what you'd like to power with your solar panel; start small and you can always augment from there.

You also need to take a good hard look at whether your property receives enough sunlight. If you live on a heavily wooded lot, you may be out of luck. But most people find that a portion of the roof with a southern or western exposure receives a good amount of sunlight each day. If the angle of your roof is not advantageous and you have strong sunlight elsewhere on your property, you may consider installing the panel in an area near your home at the proper angle to capture the sun's rays.

Kits and Instructional Guides

Many first-timers prefer to build their maiden solar panel via a kit with easy-to-follow instructions and materials all in one neat little package; some come with a video that makes the procedure even easier. Many companies sell instructional materials online that make the process quick and easy and the kit usually includes a list of needed materials. Make sure that before you buy a kit you do a little research and shop around; kits vary in regard to price and the clarity and accuracy of their contents. Read online reviews and customer comments before settling on a kit. If someone in your neighborhood has a solar panel, you may want to get some feedback and pointers that way as well.

Also Consider…

While considering different kits, take the look of the finished product into consideration as well. If you live in a residential area you don't want to stick an eyesore on your roof that will lower the property value of your home and the homes around you. But, more likely, once it is known that you are saving money on your energy bill with your new solar panel, you'll probably be the hero of the neighborhood and the go-to person on solar panel advice.