| When it comes to planning a solar power system | | | | you will need an inverter. The only times I have seen |
| there are lots of things you need to consider. Solar | | | | people go without an inverter are when they are |
| Photovoltaic systems (also known as PV Systems) | | | | putting PV panels on top of an RV. |
| have many options that you need to think about | | | | Do you have enough direct sunlight on your house? |
| depending on your needs and wants for what the | | | | This is a crucial question to ask yourself, and many |
| system will power. Many people think that in order to | | | | people do not even know. What I had to do because |
| get a great PV system you just need to buy an all in | | | | of having many trees around my house was I had to |
| one system. And this may be the right choice for | | | | get up on the roof one day and sit there to see how |
| some, but is it for you? Here is how you plan out your | | | | many hours the sun was shining and where. I did this |
| Solar PV system. | | | | because if you don't have enough direct sunlight your |
| How long do you want your charge to last? If you | | | | solar cells won't have enough sun to power them and |
| want enough power to run most of your house off of | | | | it will all be a waste of time and money. Make sure |
| then you will need more cells and bigger battery packs. | | | | that you also have enough room and that your roof is |
| When choosing a battery pack you really need to | | | | sturdy enough to hold a few hundred pounds of |
| know this, because batteries are not cheap and if you | | | | material. |
| buy the wrong one then you will just be wasting | | | | As you can probably tell DIY solar plans can become |
| money. The great thing about adding and subtracting | | | | very complicated, so if you answered "I don't know" to |
| cells is that you can do it at anytime. Making a solar | | | | any one of these questions then you have more |
| panel bigger or smaller only takes a few added wires | | | | planning to do. With a solar panel planning will save you |
| and another junction box. | | | | a bunch of money and keep you from rebuilding your |
| Do you want direct current and alternating current? | | | | solar panel a few months down the line. Make sure |
| Most people think that when you buy a solar panel it | | | | you build a solar panel to fit your needs now and into |
| gives you alternating current, but it actually only gives | | | | the future. The best tip I ever got when I built my solar |
| you direct current and you have to convert the current | | | | panel for my home was to build a solar panel that I |
| with an inverter. This is a big cost because solar | | | | would want, not just one that I need. Think about that |
| power inverters do not come cheap. And if you plan | | | | when you build your solar panel. |
| to run any household items off your solar panel then | | | | |