Ever think about how to build solar panels for your home? If your means and location allow it, nothing gets you as close to being off-grid and off fossil fuels like a beautiful solar panel array.
Until recently, installation cost was a major consideration. But recent technology advances have made it less and less expensive to make or acquire a solar panel. Additionally, if you live in the United States you can take advantage of a cool tax break on the order of 30% of the cost of a solar panel array until the end of 2010. State programs can increase the savings even more.
Even if the panels themselves have come down in price, installation can still be expensive if you go with a contractor. If you happen to be the do it yourself type, then you may have wondered about how to build solar panels yourself. If that describes you, it turns out you can easily do this using easy-to-find materials, possibly for as little as $200.
There are several guides on the Internet about how to build your own solar panel array, so I decided to buy several of them and review them. I spent several hours reading the guides and supplemental materials, and watching the many videos that came with the courses.
I found one clear winner: Earth4Energy. I also found two other guides that were almost but not quite as good.
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Top Choice: Earth4Energy.com
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2nd Place: GreenDIYEnergy.com
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3rd Place: HomeMadeEnergy.org
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While all three programs are very good, in my opinion Earth4Energy stood heads and shoulders above the rest.
The main Earth4Energy step-by-step guide was thorough, well-organized and very easy to follow. It literally takes you from knowing nothing about how to build solar panels and guides you every step of the way. The manual presents the information in a logical sequence, so that each section builds on knowledge from the previous ones without assuming you know something that you don’t.
The Earth4Energy e-book teaches you all about electricity and wiring — explaining the difference between a circuit and a switch, between AC and DC electricity, and many other essential things you need to know to get your project right. It also teach you about batteries, estimating your load, how to wire your own solar panel, and evaluating the solar potential of your property.
The program comes with nine videos stuffed with additional information–from the tools you need to electrical fundamentals to ways of connecting your solar panels to the grid. The videos really help you visualize the instructions in the guide and help you get the job done.
GreenDIYEnergy is a close second place. Much of the same information is covered as Earth4Energy. The six videos this program offers are also very good, and are very “hands-on” in showing you how to build inexpensive solar panels for your home. Why second place? I felt that Earth4Energy’s information flow was a bit easier to understand and follow.
The runner up is HomeMade Energy. It had the most videos of the three, a total of fifteen videos to cover every subject. This program obviously relies more on the videos to cover the things you need to know, which may be good or bad for you. The eBook is good and included some creative ideas for getting free or discounted home solar panels. It also has a section on how to build solar panels that are portable so that you can use them for camping and outdoor activities.
So if you’re a do-it-yourself type and want to learn how to build solar panels for your home, click here to see why Earth4Energy is the best choice. I found it to be the one most likely to get you from zero to finished project and saving money fast.
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