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DIY Solar Power

DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Solar Power is becoming quite popular these days as people are putting it to work in many ways. It may be installed at the primary residence, a week-end cabin, on a recreational vehicle or as a portable unit that can be be moved to supply electricity wherever it's needed.

We have to distinguish DIY solar power systems from solar power system which are installed by professionals. Typically the DIY system is where the owner does most if not all the work himself; this includes design, purchasing the components, assembling and installation. He usually begins his education by reading some books and maybe even building a small 'learner' system. They're are a number of instruction manuals and even kits available.

There are 'on-grid' and 'off-grid' solar power systems. On-grid (also known as grid-tie) systems are connected to the local power utility lines. They are usually used to to supplement the power requirements during daylight hours. These systems consist of a solar panel array and an inverter. Any power that is not used goes into the local power grid and a credit is given toward the monthly power bill. Even the smallest system will contribute to a smaller bill.

As the name implies off-grid systems are not connected to the utility power provider. These systems are usually used where utility power is not available or it is too costly to have power lines run from the main lines. A week-end home or cabin is a good candidate for an off-grid power system. These systems not only require a solar array and inverter, but also a battery bank and charge controller for energy storage so that power is available at night and on cloudy days.

There are also hybrid DIY solar power systems which are attached to the power lines and also have battery storage.

Solar panels are made up of an array of solar cells. The solar cells convert sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Solar panels are usually purchased prefabricated though some folks build their own panels by mounting and wiring many individual solar cells. This is certainly a way to save quite a bit of money as long as the panels are mechanically sound and are sealed from the weather.

An inverter is an electronic device that converts the direct electrical current (DC) from the solar panels into alternating current (AC) of the proper voltage and frequency; usually 120 V at 60 Hertz.

The battery bank is made up of individual batteries that are wired in series and parallel to store the power from the solar panels for use when the sun isn't available. It is usually a good idea to size the solar power battery bank so that three or four days of power can be stored.

The charge controller connects between the solar panel and the battery bank. It provides optimum battery charging and protects the batteries from overcharging and discharging.

For more information go to DIY Solar Power.