Solar kits come in a range of categories from educational/beginner to professional. Most come with instructions, but if not, there are books with step by step instructions. It is possible to purchase an entire kit, or to create your own. Both of these require some research which will allow you to know what you are getting yourself into. Although it doesn’t take a pro to put up solar panels, it does take some time and some attention to detail. Once that step is taken, you will have approximately 20 years of power saving, pollutant free, energy.
Which materials and the material quality you choose are important when deciding on a panel. Firstly, there are two main types of panels, one which creates electricity by capturing the sun’s rays and converting them into electric energy which is then stored in a battery. This energy can be used for all household needs. The other type of panel traps heat and converts it into radiant heat which can then be used to heat water for all basic home needs, including hot water heaters and the heating of a swimming pool. A combination of the two types of panels is possible.
Solar kits include a variety of these cells which work together to produce enough energy for the needs of an entire household. It is important to inspect your roof prior to installation to make certain there is enough square footage to collect adequate direct sunlight for your energy needs. If you have a flat roof it is necessary to make extra adjustments for your solar panels.
While pre-made solar panels are included in most solar kits, it is possible to build your own solar panels. However, this does come with a warning that these panels often convert minimal amounts of energy, sometimes only enough to light a single lamp. Purchasing or building panels is a personal decision and each type has its pros and cons.
To create your own panel a minimum investment is necessary. Materials for these panels include a diode, lumbar, Plexiglas, screws, silicone caulk, solar cells, and wire. The cost of making homemade solar panels comes to about $ 120. This makes the price of creating an inexpensive solar kit very low. It is also necessary to have an inverter, a DC combiner, rails and clamps, and metal-clad (MC) cables.
It is also possible to buy inexpensive solar kits. Purchasing a solar panel is more expensive that building one, however, the panels may be more reliable and therefore require less maintenance in the future.
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