Solar - Is a Solar Power System Right For Me? 3 Things to Consider
The debate on Solar Energy has been raging for longer than most of us care to remember.
It is is no secret that the lure of free energy has been strong in the past but the shear economics of installing expensive solar panel arrays never made much sense.
Enter the world energy crisis, (is this part 2 or 3 I don't recall?) and finally people are beginning to take solar a little more seriously.
Surprisingly it only took a few decades and a summer of $4 a gallon gasoline for the masses to wake up and start screaming about alternative energy sources.
So now what? It still costs and arm and a leg to install these things and the return on investment could take years right? Well it turns out that solar may be more doable than you think.
It does not take a rocket scientist to actually build a solar panel that has decent power output.
That's right Sally I said you can build your own solar panels relatively cheaply.
So "How do I do this" you ask? With the right instruction it can be done, and done well.
There are a few caveats however.
Here are a few things one should consider before tackling the job: 1.
What are my energy needs? - Just how much power are we talking here Scotty? This will determine the size of the system you need.
There are several ways you can asses this, either by calculating it yourself based on consumption or have a professional give you and estimate.
It should also be noted that you should always have a professional do the technical electrical work.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
Unless you are an electrician you should never try to wire any system yourself.
It's just not worth the risk.
2.
Where are going to put the darn things? You will need to make sure you have the space to accommodate the cells either on your roof or on the ground.
Also you will need to figure out where you are going to put the batteries.
3.
Do I get enough sun? No I'm not talking about your tan lines.
If you live in a relatively cloudy place or your location is shaded most of the day you may want to consider other alternatives like wind power before you strike out on the solar path.
On a final note, If you have an giant electrical bill each month you might want to begin by trying to cut back on your usage by weatherizing and installing energy efficient appliances and lighting before you move forward with DIY Solar.
It is is no secret that the lure of free energy has been strong in the past but the shear economics of installing expensive solar panel arrays never made much sense.
Enter the world energy crisis, (is this part 2 or 3 I don't recall?) and finally people are beginning to take solar a little more seriously.
Surprisingly it only took a few decades and a summer of $4 a gallon gasoline for the masses to wake up and start screaming about alternative energy sources.
So now what? It still costs and arm and a leg to install these things and the return on investment could take years right? Well it turns out that solar may be more doable than you think.
It does not take a rocket scientist to actually build a solar panel that has decent power output.
That's right Sally I said you can build your own solar panels relatively cheaply.
So "How do I do this" you ask? With the right instruction it can be done, and done well.
There are a few caveats however.
Here are a few things one should consider before tackling the job: 1.
What are my energy needs? - Just how much power are we talking here Scotty? This will determine the size of the system you need.
There are several ways you can asses this, either by calculating it yourself based on consumption or have a professional give you and estimate.
It should also be noted that you should always have a professional do the technical electrical work.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
Unless you are an electrician you should never try to wire any system yourself.
It's just not worth the risk.
2.
Where are going to put the darn things? You will need to make sure you have the space to accommodate the cells either on your roof or on the ground.
Also you will need to figure out where you are going to put the batteries.
3.
Do I get enough sun? No I'm not talking about your tan lines.
If you live in a relatively cloudy place or your location is shaded most of the day you may want to consider other alternatives like wind power before you strike out on the solar path.
On a final note, If you have an giant electrical bill each month you might want to begin by trying to cut back on your usage by weatherizing and installing energy efficient appliances and lighting before you move forward with DIY Solar.