Even with tax incentives, photovoltaic solar panels are a pretty big financial chunk for most families, if purchased commercially from a retailer and installed by a contractor. But did you know that you can build and install your own solar panels? If you’re handy and have some patience and carpentry skills you can, with a great set of plans and some instructions on sourcing, build DIY Solar Panels. Some of the newer commercial products are actually “between” the original commercial style and the true DIY. Popular Mechanics reports on a couple manufacturers who have redesigned the solar panel so that the power inverters aren’t part of the external installation, which makes it safer and easier for a homeowner to install a panel themselves.
There are some articles around the web, but not all of them are all that complete. This site here seems to have the best free information on using broken solar cells to build your own solar panel.
There are also a couple ebooks available here and here that have gotten some buzz around the web. There’s also an ebook about reconditioning batteries that will prove useful to anyone using solar or wind energy.
DIY Solar Panels will save you money and allow you to recoup your investment faster. And you’ll sleep better knowing you’re off the grid and not contributing to air pollution spewing from your local coal fired power plant. If enough people do this, maybe someday they’ll go offline.
