| As the world's natural resources are become more | | | | panels? Well photovoltaic is a method of converting |
| and more scarce, electricity generated from burning | | | | the sunlight into electrical power. The PV solar cells |
| natural gas, coal and oil is becoming increasingly | | | | produce direct current (DC) electricity from sunlight, |
| expensive to produce. Most countries have therefore | | | | which can then be used to power electrical equipment |
| started reducing their dependencies on these scarce | | | | or to charge a battery. An inverter is required to |
| and unclean sources of energies by opting for other | | | | convert the DC to AC power. There are numerous |
| more cleaner and greener alternatives. Top of the list | | | | guides available that can teach you where to locate |
| of these renewable energy sources are solar and | | | | cheap solar panel parts and provide you with |
| wind generated power. | | | | step-by-step instructions for making and installing |
| Solar power is energy extracted form the sun, which | | | | homemade solar power systems. These systems can |
| can be used to provide electricity in your home, heat | | | | be installed on the roof or walls of a building or can |
| the water or drive other electrical equipment. In fact | | | | even be ground mounted depending on your particular |
| the possibilities are endless with a little bit of imagination. | | | | circumstances and the amount of energy you want to |
| However, did you know that you can reduce your | | | | generate. |
| expensive electricity bills by switching over to solar or | | | | Of course the key to installing a good reliable home |
| wind power generated electricity? This will reduce | | | | solar system is to purchase a well recommended user |
| your dependence on fossil fuels and will help to protect | | | | guide which provides clear instructions on where to |
| our environment by cutting down on the amount of | | | | purchase the materials from and how to assemble the |
| carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas) that is produced. | | | | solar panels (preferably backed-up by video |
| Of course there is a lot of misconception among | | | | instructions). You also need to purchase these from |
| individuals that installing solar power is expensive and | | | | providers with excellent customer support, who are |
| needs to be professionally done. In fact there are | | | | keen to answer your technical questions and have |
| much cheaper alternatives available where you can | | | | been in business for a long time, and therefore know |
| build your own solar panels to generate electricity at a | | | | the market inside out. A typical solar panel can be |
| fraction of the cost of manufactured panels. All you | | | | made for around $200 using materials picked up from |
| need to do is locate inexpensive photovoltaic (PV) | | | | your local hardware store. |
| solar cells and assemble the solar panels yourself. A | | | | Solar energy is one of the cleanest and most viable |
| single solar panel will consist of several solar cells | | | | sources of renewable energies and can be used in |
| connected together. The PV cells use a | | | | numerous ways to power the energy needs of your |
| semiconductor material such as silicon to allow the | | | | home or garden. The technology is improving all the |
| sunlight to be converted into electricity. The mounting | | | | time and solar panels are becoming more compact |
| up of the PV cells into solar panels does not require | | | | and more efficient. Generating your own electricity |
| any specialist technical or DIY skills and can be | | | | from the sun will help to greatly reduce your utility bills |
| undertaken using only a few tools. | | | | and any excess power generated can also be sold to |
| So how can you generate electricity using solar | | | | your energy supplier for a profit. |