Introduction
The cost of energy keeps going up. Electricity bills are a huge expense for most households. What if I told you there's a way to slash your energy bill by 75% or more without sacrificing any of your modern conveniences? DIY solar panels are the secret. With a few simple materials and some basic skills, you can build your own solar panel system and harness the power of the sun to generate your own clean electricity.
The big power companies don't want you to know how easy and affordable it can be. They would rather keep you dependent on their expensive electricity. But why pay them tens of thousands of dollars over the lifespan of a home when you can build your own solar system for a fraction of the cost? Read on to learn all my hard-earned lessons about how to use DIY solar panels to slash your energy costs for good.
Estimate Your Energy Usage
Before getting started with solar panels, first take a look at your electricity usage. Check your previous electric bills to see how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) you use per month. This will help determine what size DIY solar panel system you'll need. The average home uses around 900 kWh per month.
You'll also want to look at when you use electricity throughout the day. Solar panels only produce power when the sun is out. So if your usage is very high at night, you may need more battery storage capacity. But for most homeowners, solar can supply 50-75% of your overall energy usage easily.
Calculate Your Solar Energy Potential
The amount of sunlight that hits your home will determine how much power your DIY solar panels can produce. Use an online solar calculator to estimate your solar energy potential based on your location. Just input your address and details about your roof.
The calculator will estimate how many sunlight hours your area receives per day on average and how many kilowatt-hours your roof can generate per year with a solar array. Places like Arizona and California have huge solar potential. But even if you live in a cloudier climate, solar can still drastically reduce your energy bills.
Buy DIY Solar Panel Kits
Now for the fun part: getting your hands on everything you need to build your own solar panel system! Check out reputable solar retailers like Renogy, WindyNation, or Eco-Worthy. They offer complete DIY solar kits that come with:
- Solar panels
- Charge controller
- Inverter
- Batteries
- Racking and cabling
DIY solar kits range from 50 watts to over 1,000 watts. Size your system based on your electricity usage and solar energy potential. You can always start small and add more panels later. Expect to pay $500-1,000 for a starter 200 watt system. That's way cheaper than paying an installer tens of thousands!
Mount and Wire Solar Panels
Mounting your DIY solar panels is a simple DIY job. Kits include panel racks that you can attach to your roof with basic hardware. Make sure you have full sun exposure from 9am-3pm. Point the panels south if you're in the northern hemisphere.
Then it's time to wire up the system. This is the most technical part, but with the included manuals it's very straightforward. Essentially you'll connect the solar panels to the charge controller, connect batteries to the charge controller to store power, and hook up the inverter to convert DC from the batteries to AC for your household use.
Connecting all the components may seem daunting at first, but taking it step-by-step you'll see it's actually pretty simple. The satisfaction you'll get from generating your own power makes it incredibly rewarding.
Maintain Your System
A DIY solar panel system requires minimal maintenance, but follow these tips to keep it running smoothly for decades:
- Check connections yearly and tighten if needed
- Check voltage monthly
- Inspect batteries and refill distilled water
- Clean dust/debris off panels with a soft brush and damp cloth
- Check inverter filters
- Watch for corrosion and repair
- Check mounting structure is secure
Following the manufacturer maintenance recommendations is key. And when needed, components can easily be replaced individually. With basic care, your DIY solar panels should last 25-30 years or more!
Add More Solar Panels Over Time
One of the best parts of a DIY solar system is that it can grow with you. You may only need a few panels to cover your electricity usage initially. But as you expand your home or buy electric vehicles, you can keep adding more panels for increased capacity.
Additional solar panels and batteries easily integrate with your existing system. Just connect them to the controllers/inverters you already have in place. Expanding your solar array over time is much more affordable than paying your electric company!
So don't wait to start harnessing free electricity from the sun. With these DIY solar panel tips, slashing your energy bill by 75% or more is totally feasible. You'll save a ton of money over time while reducing your environmental impact. The power companies don't want you to know that solar energy independence is within your reach!