Do you want to build your own DIY Solar Panels?

For people who want to use solar power in their home, the cost of buying and installing the panels can stop them in their tracks. Many of them start looking at DIY solar Panels, but is it really a viable alternative to getting the professionals in or can you really get all the power you need by doing it yourself.

Before you even think about installing a solar panel you have to think about the amount of sunlight you receive in your area, as this varies considerably. Some places like Santa Fe, New Mexico get sunshine an average of 325 days of the year. By contrast, Seattle has only 58 clear days, 82 days that are partly cloudy and 226 days that are cloudy. In the first case, a solar system would provide ample electricity most of the year. In Seattle’s case, the efficiency would be much lower. For those living in Seattle, many more modules would be required to get the needed amount of electricity. That will raise the cost, so before you even start at looking into building your own panel you will have to take into account of where you live.

Before you start I would ensure that read as much information as you can. It is better to go into any project knowing all the facts and ensuring that you have investigated all the solutions to problems before they happen. As with most things nowadays, you can find what you need to know on the internet, and even after a quick look you should be able to find manuals or a guide that will help you on your way. In fact here is an example of a video on my blog.

By spending a small amount of money now, will pay dividends in the end, and could stop you wasting money and time further along in your project. You will have to calculate how much power you will need to create from Solar Power to power your home, you should be able to get this information from your utility bills, it is best to go with the higher value. Once you know this you will be able to calculate how many solar panels you need to provide all your power needs. Any good manual will take you through these steps.

The actual building of the solar panels can be completed by anyone with the most basic DIY knowledge. The materials you need should also be available in your local hardware store, the only item you may need to track down are the solar cells, that make up the panels. The first panel you should make will be enough to power a couple of small appliances and should take about a day, and with the knowledge you gain from building it, all the subsequent panels easier and quicker. The whole process should be a lot easier if you have detailed pictures and information on what exactly you need to do, and be sure to have a look if any video detailing panel construction are available.

DIY Solar Water Heating

For most people when they think about Solar Power they immediately think about the solar panels that you currently see being used on people roofs to create electricity, but the power of the sun can be harnessed in another way. The suns energy can be used to heat water for your home, and you made be surprised that you can build a DIY Solar Water Heater, and that it really isn’t that hard to do.

This basic idea really isn’t a new one, the ancient Greeks used crude mirrors and lenses that used direct sunlight to heat water. Then in 1920s some communities had a fully functional solar water heating systems that provided water to their homes.

The solar heated water has direct uses in your home for example for showering or for washing the dishes. Once the water has been heated, nothing more has to be done to the water other than simply make it available. That’s typically done by storing the heated water in essentially the same way as with ordinary water heaters, in a large insulated water tank.

How does solar water heating work?

The way the water is heated is really the same as what happens is a greenhouse. A solar water heater panel is like a large, thin and double-paned windows, that contain a series of channels, tubes and pipes. The water is pumped through these channels and heated by the suns energy, and this heated water is then stored in an insulated water tank.

In the ordinary hot water system the water heater storage unit, heats the water. With a solar-powered water heating system there’s no need to, since the water that enters the tank is usually between 95F-150F (35C-66C). The storage tank acts like a big thermos bottle. It’s double-lined and/or made of well-insulated material so the heat doesn’t dissipate much out the walls of the tank.

The temperature range of such systems is fully adequate for bathing, cleaning clothes and other ordinary applications. The only difficulties are ensuring enough sunlight to generate enough heat, and minimal loss of heat through the panels and pipes. So you really have to think about where you place your panels.

In the average home the cost of heating water is roughly a third of the total energy bill. By building your own solar heating panels you not only be saving money on the building of the panels but also on your energy bills. The process of actually building the panels is relatively easy, but it is recommended to learn as much as you can before starting to build. On the internet you will find a wealth manuals and information that will take you right through the whole process from start to finish.

You should be able to find the majority of materials you need to build the panels in your local hardware store, and if not you can also have a look on the internet.

Building a solar water heater one of the easier ways you could save money on your utility bill, but you will also be doing your bit to help the environment.  If you want to learn more on how to build your own solar water heater I would recommend you have a look at DIY Hot Water today.