| At current prices the cost of installing solar panels | | | | be installed in a way that guarantees that. |
| even for a modest-sized home, could cost you | | | | The actual process of building the solar panels that |
| somewhere in the region of $10,000-$16,000. With this | | | | could power a couple of small appliances should only |
| in mind many people are starting to look at making and | | | | take about a day, even if you only have the most |
| installing their own cheap solar panels. If you decide to | | | | basic DIY skills. Many of the manuals have instructional |
| go down this route there are a few points to | | | | videos available as well as detailed instructions that |
| remember to make the whole process easier and will | | | | should make the whole process a lot easier. Once you |
| save you even more money. | | | | have learnt the skills to build a small panel, you can |
| The initial planning is probably one of the most | | | | easily scale this up to gradually make more panels to |
| important stages, to help with this it would be a good | | | | power more and more appliances in your home. |
| idea to learn as much as you can about solar panels | | | | You will also have to remember to build a way of |
| and how they work. You can find this type of | | | | storing the electricity you created, so you can still |
| information on the internet and in manuals or guides | | | | power your home when the light isn't strong or around |
| that will take you right through all stages of the project. | | | | enough to provide enough electricity. This is usually |
| You will initially have to look at how much power you | | | | done by a battery storage system, any manual should |
| need to create for all your appliances, this is very | | | | give you advice on how to go about building the |
| important if you want to start living completely of the | | | | storage system. |
| grid. Once you know how much power your home | | | | The actual materials that you need to build the panels |
| needs you can start calculating how many panels you | | | | should be easily available in your local stores, and if not |
| need for this to happen, and if it is really a viable option | | | | you can turn to the internet. You will probably have to |
| for you. Any good manual or guide should take you | | | | turn to the internet to get the solar cells that make up |
| through this step. Spending time and a small amount of | | | | the panel, but again any good manual or guide should |
| money at this stage, could stop you wasting money in | | | | include a shopping list of what you need to buy. |
| the long run. | | | | If you keep some of these tips in mind when you are |
| Also remember that most municipalities will require that | | | | thinking about making solar panels it should make the |
| you have your system inspected and approved even | | | | whole job easier. The main point to take away is to |
| if you go entirely off grid. They need to ensure that it's | | | | spend some time learning about solar power and |
| implemented in a way that's safe for local lineman. | | | | planning your installation before you start building, as |
| During power outages they have to assume there's no | | | | you don't want to waste money but building a solar |
| power running through the lines. Your system has to | | | | electric system that doesn't meet your needs. |