Solar Panels DIY

If you are looking for alternative energy sources for your home, solar panels DIY are by far the best solution. While other green forms of energy exist, these can be difficult to implement on a residential scale. For example, massive wind turbines are used for wind farms, but these aren’t feasible as a home project. So, if solar panels are the best route to take, you may be interested in learning what benefits and features they will provide. To help you to discover what they can do for you, let’s examine how they work, types to consider and how cost effective they are.

The energy from the sun is free and abundant, and is one of the best types of renewable energy in existence today. You are probably already familiar with low level solar panels, as they are now used in a variety of common household products. Examples of these include garden lights powered by the sun, or even calculators which run on solar energy. Products such as these display how easy solar energy is to use and the technology is only improving. In fact, did you know that solar panels have been in use since the 1980′s, and have only gotten more efficient with time? At the present, normal residential panels can boast an efficiency in real world conditions of up to 10 percent, which may seem quite low at first glance. However, when you realize that plants can only convert the sun’s rays at a 3 percent efficiency rating, you can see the incredible strides this technology has taken in recent years.

The technical term for solar panels is photovoltaic cells, and there are three different types available on the market. As these differ in efficiency, it is a good idea to know more about them before deciding make your own solar panels for your  home. The first type is termed monocrystalline solar panels, and these are constructed from a single layer of crystallized lattice. With only one layer to react with the sun, these cells have the highest efficiency rating. However, because of their fragile structure, they cannot be made on a large enough scale to power your home. They are also the most expensive, and because of these reasons are only used for smaller applications or specialized projects. They are also often used for do it yourself solar panels.

A Second Option for Solar Panels DIY

A second option is polycrystalline solar panels, and these are the preferred form for some countries because of their efficiency and cost. However, these are still the exception when it comes to residential use. The third form is the most widely employed, and is the cheapest of the three options. This type of panel uses thin layers of amorphous silicon, and it can be manufactured much less expensively and in far greater size. Therefore, it is the preferred panel for use on your home, and is the most common choice for this type of project.

Now that you know what type of solar panels DIY to select, you may be interesting in discovering how they operate. Photovoltaic cells harness the solar energy which the sun provides. They do this in a highly interesting way, which has to do with the negative and positive charges of the silicon inside. Pure silicon is actually too stable to be useful in this process, as in this state it has a neutral charge only. Therefore, it is combined with other elements, which creates the positive and negative charges needed to generate electrical energy.

How does this work? Well, for example, to make a negatively charge compound, silicon can be combined with phosphorous. If you recall from chemistry class, the last ring in any atomic structure is made up of eight valence electrons. This combination of silicon and phosphorous creates a total of nine, so one free negatively charged electron is available for donation.

When the sun’s rays hit the solar panels on your roof, the atoms are excited by this energy. Rather than simply pulsating from the heat which is created, the phosphorous and silicon sheds its ninth electron. However, to create electricity you need both a negative and a positive charge as well. This is accomplished by combining silicon with boron, which has only seven in its last electron ring. This open space has a positive charge, and the negative electron donated by the phosphorous and silicon combination flows into this empty position. This movement creates a conductive electrical current, which is transmitted into batteries attached to your solar panels DIY. These batteries allow you to use the stored electricity even when the sun isn’t shining, like during cloudy weather or in the evening hours.

In fact, if your solar panels DIY create more electricity than your home can use, it will turn back your electricity meter. At the end of the month when the utility company checks the reading on your home, they will actually have to pay you for the kilowatts you’ve provided back to the electrical grid! This can be a great way to recoup your investment, and it is good for the environment as well. Not only that, but by providing for your own home’s electrical needs, you will be immune from problems such as power outages.

Solar Panels DIY Benefits

Yet these benefits come at a price, and you may be wondering how cost effective solar panels truly are. After all, you want to protect the planet, but need to be wise in your choice of investments as well. The good news is, solar panels DIY will pay for themselves over time, and after this point is reached the savings they provide is pure profit. How long does it take for a solar array to become profitable? Typically, in a residential setting, it takes 11-12 years of savings from your utility bill to recoup the original cost to install the solar panels. However, most are now made to last 30 years, so over half of their useful life you won’t pay a penny to have them working on the roof of your home. Therefore, although they represent a large upfront expense, they will save you money in the long run.

So, if you are looking for alternative ways to power your home, solar panels are an excellent option. Not only do they use renewable energy, they represent a wise monetary investment as well. Why not give solar panels DIY a try in your home today, you have nothing to lose but your large electricity bill!

Solar Panels DIY is a post from: Solar Panels