Building do-it-yourself panels can be a great and rewarding experience. However, without the right knowledge upfront, it can literally turn your project into a nightmare.
A good plan is key to everything in a do-it-yourself project, such as this one. In order to build your own solar panel array, you need to be able to see how you can get to your end goal.
Before starting on your solar project, you need to answer a few questions, such as which direction your roof is pointed, how much electricity you will need to generate, or even if your neighborhood even allows you to build solar panels.
Here are some questions you should ask, before beginning your project:
1. How much power will you need to generate? Before building do-it-yourself solar panels, it is important to find out exactly how much electricity you currently generate. This should give you a good starting point, in order to assess how many panels you will need.
2. What part of your roof gets the most sunlight? One of the most commonly missed factors when building your own solar panels, is where the roof is pointed. Your solar panels won't produce much, if they spend their entire lifetime in the shade. Before you begin, you need to assess your roof's sunlight coverage in morning, in the afternoon, and even in different seasons.
3. Is your roof strong enough for solar panels? Face it, building do-it-yourself solar panels and mounting them on your roof is going to put it through tremendous loads. If it is not structurally sound to support them, you should check into other options such as installing them on the ground or on an external structure.
4. Do you have all the tools & materials you need? Starting with a good solar guide is probably the first step, before purchasing all of your materials involved. Sure, you can buy all recycled parts and build a system for less than $200. But if you want to build a system big enough for your house, you'll need to shop for a few extra tools & parts.
5. Does your homeowner association or city allow solar panels? This is likely the most missed question, since everyone allows solar panel installations, right? Although federal and state laws often encourage you to build solar panels, neighborhood and homeowner associations may disagree. Although you can sue your association and likely win, it is best to work with them first, to ensure a successful and headache-free project.
Good research is a priceless step when building do-it-yourself solar panels. Once you have discovered the answers to all your questions, you will have a good idea about where to begin and have a worry-free project. - 31812
A good plan is key to everything in a do-it-yourself project, such as this one. In order to build your own solar panel array, you need to be able to see how you can get to your end goal.
Before starting on your solar project, you need to answer a few questions, such as which direction your roof is pointed, how much electricity you will need to generate, or even if your neighborhood even allows you to build solar panels.
Here are some questions you should ask, before beginning your project:
1. How much power will you need to generate? Before building do-it-yourself solar panels, it is important to find out exactly how much electricity you currently generate. This should give you a good starting point, in order to assess how many panels you will need.
2. What part of your roof gets the most sunlight? One of the most commonly missed factors when building your own solar panels, is where the roof is pointed. Your solar panels won't produce much, if they spend their entire lifetime in the shade. Before you begin, you need to assess your roof's sunlight coverage in morning, in the afternoon, and even in different seasons.
3. Is your roof strong enough for solar panels? Face it, building do-it-yourself solar panels and mounting them on your roof is going to put it through tremendous loads. If it is not structurally sound to support them, you should check into other options such as installing them on the ground or on an external structure.
4. Do you have all the tools & materials you need? Starting with a good solar guide is probably the first step, before purchasing all of your materials involved. Sure, you can buy all recycled parts and build a system for less than $200. But if you want to build a system big enough for your house, you'll need to shop for a few extra tools & parts.
5. Does your homeowner association or city allow solar panels? This is likely the most missed question, since everyone allows solar panel installations, right? Although federal and state laws often encourage you to build solar panels, neighborhood and homeowner associations may disagree. Although you can sue your association and likely win, it is best to work with them first, to ensure a successful and headache-free project.
Good research is a priceless step when building do-it-yourself solar panels. Once you have discovered the answers to all your questions, you will have a good idea about where to begin and have a worry-free project. - 31812
About the Author:
Building your own solar panels can help you save cash in the long run, but it is not possible without the right information. To find out more, just check out Learn How to Build Solar Panels.com .
