DIY Solar Power pt.1

Image courtesy of Instructables.com

One of the main inhibitions of many thinking about going solar is cost. The price of a decently sized system can easily deter someone from going any further when they are handed the quote for their set up. Fortunately for you and the rest of the planet Earth Gravy is here to help you. With help from our friends over at BuilditSolar.com we are going to bring you a series of articles that show you how to build your own Solar Panel system from scratch and save thousands of dollars in the process!

First and foremost you need to familiarize yourself with the actual parts and components of a complete solar system. There is actually a lot more to think about other than putting some solar panels solar panels on your roof. Home Power Magazine has a great run down of the different kinds of systems and the parts for each, such as Grid-Tied and Off Grid systems. Below you’ll see just some of the parts that go into a simple grid-tied solar set up. Make sure you take the time to read over Home Power’s article so you can decide what kind of system you want to build first.

Basic Solar System Components

Next, where are you going to buy the parts? Again the point of this post is saving you money. Many of the basic building materials can be found cheaply at any of your local hardware stores and don’t forget Ebay and Craigslist! Remember when buying everything, only buy what you need! Plan your entire system on paper first to make sure it will supply the power that you need and that the components support that power demand. The next part of our DIY Solar system series will go over purchasing premade solar panels or constructing your own.