Believe it or not, you really can build your own solar power system for your home. DIY panels are a good option for those who enjoy building things with their hands, and would rather put in some work on their own time instead of outsourcing a professional company to build and install their solar panels for them.

DIY panels definitely have their pros and cons. I’ll list out some of them for you to consider.

Pros of Building Your Own Solar energy Panels:

1. Saves You Money!

The most obvious advantage of using DIY energy solar electricity by building your own solar power system is that it is going to save you a great deal of money off of your monthly energy bill. Exactly how much you cut from your utility bill is hard to say, because it depends on the size of your home, the size of your solar panels, and their efficiency. Most people cut at least 10% off of their bill with a small kit, and can end up eliminating their electricity bill by expanding their DIY solar panel system.

The really cool thing about a large solar power system is that you may end up actually using less energy than you produce, and the electric company would end up having to pay you for putting extra electricity back into the grid. How awesome is that!?

2. Be Kind to the Earth!

Solar energy is one of the few energy sources on our planet that is 100% clean and limitless. Most electricity today is created by burning coal and other fossil fuels, which put harmful pollutants back into their atmosphere. Solar energy will never end, and will never harm the Earth.

Cons of Building Your Own Solar Power Panels:

1. It Can Be Difficult

If you don’t know what you’re doing, it can be really hard to find all the necessary parts, assemble them correctly, and then wire everything correctly so that you’re actually able to use the electricity that is produced.

2. You Have to Start Small

Unless you are extremely ambitious, you should probably start by building a small DIY solar panel system, which isn’t going to create a great deal of electricity. Although, you can always add on to it in the future.

Approximate cost of a DIY solar panel system: $200 or below. You can build a solar electricity system for under $200, easily.

Where to find the necessary parts and instructions: I suggest going with a good DIY solar panel guide. There are a lot to choose from, and most can be purchased online for about $50. I would recommend going with Green DIY Energy or Earth 4 Energy. Those are the two best DIY solar panel guides today. They have everything you need to get the job done right. I personally purchased and used Green DIY Energy; it worked well for me.

Jude Angel is a DIY enthusiast and loves taking on new DIY challenges. The Green DIY Energy Guide is what he followed for his most recent project, DIY solar panels.

He has reviewed many DIY solar panel guides, but only recommends the one he personally used for his home solar panel system. Visit his Green DIY Energy review for the discounted guide.

Click on the above link for a SNEAK PEEK inside of the Green DIY Energy Guide.

Start your DIY solar panel project today, and cut your energy costs while saving the environment!

Along with the continuously increasing demand for electric hot water heaters in the market, is the growing demand for DIY hot water systems, particularly solar powered water heaters. People are starting to use this as a substitute way to heat up water at home.

The following are the six frequently asked questions about solar powered water heaters. This information can be very helpful as you create your own solar hot water heater. The situation and answers will give you an outline of how a DIY solar hot water system really works and what to expect during it’s operation.

DIY Solar Water System FAQ:

1. Will the solar water heater system work even during wet or gloomy days and during the winter?

A. It can still work throughout cloudy days and even in the winter season since solar collector panels are still capable of producing heat that is at least half of what it can create during bright days. The only occasion that it won’t work is at night, at which time you would have to get energy from your typical source.

2. How much can I save with a DIY hot water system?

A. A DIY hot water heater can easily save you up to 33% of your heating bill. Together with the increase in energy prices, the savings you would start getting now would grow with energy costs in the future.

3. How much will it cost to build?

A. The cost depends on a assortment of factors, such as the type and size of the home solar system and the kind of roof where the DIY solar collector is going to be placed. A do-it-yourself system can be built for as little as $100 plus your time, while a prefabricated system can cost from $1,500 to be installed.

4. Is the DIY hot water system reliable?

A. If you have a correctly installed solar hot water system in your home, you will have many years of solar water heating.

5. How long would it take to set up a solar water system?

A. From beginning to end it should take you a few days to complete. You can normally finish the diy solar hot water system over a weekend. The time you use building the system will save you money and time in the long run.

6. Do I need to fortify my roof for the solar panel?

A. No. DIY solar collectors panels weigh no more than 50kg, which is pretty light for a roof. A solar water system definitely offers a lot of benefits. But before setting up your own system, use the best guide available to understand how this system will work and all of the steps needed to build your solar powered water heater.

7. Where can I learn more about DIY solar water heaters?

A. Be sure to read a full review of one of the best, step-by-step DIY hot water plans and learn more about installation and operation of the DIY solar water heater system, to see how it can cut your energy costs at your home.

Bill enjoys writing about green power, providing tips, and helping other people save money on electricity and save the environment through his website.

When it comes to DIY solar energy, the topic itself isn’t really that complicated. With the availability of parts, and the lower cost of solar cells, building your own solar panels is easier than ever before.

A solar energy system can quickly reduce or eliminate your power bill, and by choosing DIY solar energy you’ll save as much as 90% over the cost of having a system installed. Best of all, as long as the final wiring is done by a local electrician, your DIY solar power system still qualifies you for government tax rebates, further reducing the cost of your solar panels.

When you choose the do-it-yourself solar route though, there are some little things you can do to increase the ease of your conversion to solar energy. In this article I want to give you five tips to help you get the right start for your DIY solar energy projects.

DIY Solar Energy – 5 Tips

Sometimes the success is in the details. It’s often the little things that can make all of the difference in getting the right start. DIY solar really isn’t that complicated, but these 5 simple tips will help you make the most of the time and money you invest.

1. Start with the right instruction – A professionally written DIY guide is a much better starting point than possible misinformation you got from somewhere else.

2. Build Solar Panels According to Those Instructions – Next, use those instructions when you build your panels. Don’t decide to save money by using cheaper parts (ie. broken solar cells), or lower quality materials. Choose the best parts, and follow the step-by-step instructions included in your guide.

3. Use ISO Certified Breakers/Inverters/Controllers – Do not build your own charge controllers, inverters, or buy radio shack switches. A single solar panel is only 12Volts so the risk of fire is almost nil. On the other hand, when you wire 10 of them together the voltage and amperage increase. Be sure to use a certified charge controller and DC inverter. These parts are inexpensive and will reduce the risk of fire.

4. Have An Electrician Do The Final Wiring – Especially if your home is already tied to the power grid, have an electrician do the final wiring for your DIY solar energy projects. This will ensure you aren’t dealing with the high voltages coming from the grid. In many places it’s also against the law to wire to the power meter in your home (unless you’re an electrician).

5. Check Your Panels Once a Year – Once you have your DIY solar energy system wired in, be sure to check your panels once a year. Make sure that they are still sealed well, and if you used a material like plywood as a backer, don’t forget to ensure they stay painted.

If you follow these simple tips, your DIY solar energy system will work harder for you right from the start. With solar power installed in your home, simply checking on it once in a while will ensure that you get to use renewable energy for the next 25 – 30 years (the life expectancy of your panels).

John O’ryan works as a builder/installer of Solar Energy solutions. He also runs a site that helps others choose the right solutions to go green and save. You can read about the top 5 guides to go green and save on his site DIY Solar Guides. You can also get the video version of this article here: DIY Solar Energy.