It you are eager to generate your possess Solar Vitality Property you may possibly effectively have regarded Diy solar panels. Effectively, although I applaud your want to have a photo voltaic power residence, permit me alert you that you will not help save cash by producing your possess solar panels. Lets look at why.
Value of a Do it yourself Solar Panel
Lets overlook the value of your time. Listed here is a checklist of the supplies necessary:
– Distinct plexiglass or reduced iron solar glass 2ft x 4ft x 1/4in $34 or a lot more
– three/4in 2ft x 4ft plywood panel $23
– Solar cell package (eBay) $119, comprising:
– fifty Solar cells each 3in x 6in, 1.75w, pre-tabbed
– 10ft tabbing wire and 10ft bus wire,
– Flux pen and solder
– Peg board two panels 2ft x 2ft $five
– Obvious silicone caulk/sealant $three
– Junction box $five
– Paint, stainless screws, wood for frame $ten
– Diodes $three
Whole value $202. Just take off $20 for the 10 further photo voltaic cells that are not essential, provides a total of $182 for the components to make a sixty watt photo voltaic panel. This operates out at $3 per watt.
Expense of Manufacturing facility Created Panels
If you do a informal lookup on the Internet, most solar panels work out at $five – $7.fifty per watt. But we ferreted about and discovered a 120watt panel for $358 retail, equal to $two.98 for each watt. There are also a amount of wholesalers prepared to promote direct to the public, and minimum get quantities can be as reduced as two panels. We identified a 225watt photo voltaic panel wholesale for $549 (min get 2 panels), equal to $2.44 for every watt.
Warnings & Dangers of Do-it-yourself Photo voltaic Panels
Also, if you are considering about producing your possess solar panels to reduce the price of your photo voltaic power property, please be mindful of the following:
– In the US, you will NOT be permitted to link your home created solar panels to the grid. If you want your solar vitality home to be linked to the grid, you should use photo voltaic panels with UL certification. Several countries have similar restrictions.
– Commercially made solar panels appear with 25 12 months functionality guarantees. Diy photo voltaic panels have no guarantees and will probably last just a couple of several years at greatest.
– With any home produced solar panel there is a danger of hearth from poor good quality soldering. If your Diy solar panel ignited and resulted in fireplace hurt to your house, your insurance coverage business may be a tiny reluctant to shell out out for a hearth induced by a solar panel that did not have UL certification.
– And the last nail in the coffin of a property created photo voltaic power home: in the US, home created solar panels will NOT qualify for the substantial rebates and tax credits that are available.
If you want photo voltaic panels for your photo voltaic strength residence and want a program that is secure, reliable, qualifies for rebates and will truly reduce your electrical energy expenses, overlook Do-it-yourself. Do it yourself can be a wonderful introduction to knowing what it means to have a solar energy house, but it is not a viable substitute to factory produced solar panels.
Make a Solar Panel as a Science or Do it yourself Project
Nonetheless, if you want to make your very own photo voltaic panel as a science project, this can be entertaining, enjoyable and really fulfilling. On completion you will also have a solar panel you can display off to your pals and one thing you could use to supply light for a yard, lose or outbuilding.
If you want to make a photo voltaic panel as a science task, think about purchasing one particular of the “how way too make photo voltaic panels” guides. Some of these are quite great and do an outstanding job of displaying you (they have some very excellent films) what to do, how to do it and when to do. Sure, a guide will incorporate $40 – $fifty to the value, but that could be money quite well expended, just will not tumble for all the marketing and advertising buzz!
Conclusion
If you want a photo voltaic vitality home and to decrease your electricity bills, forget the Do it yourself route. But, although you will not conserve income or minimize your electrical power bill, creating a solar panel as component of a science undertaking ought to be really satisfying and academic. If you do not want to devote the $forty – $50 for one of the Do it yourself solar panel guides, there is a lot of details on the Web. I would like every single success with your Solar Energy Home.