First, you should survey your household to see where the panels can fit and function perfectly. The portion of your roof which has the most exposure to sunlight will be the best choice here.To assemble your solar roof, lay out the solar panels arranging them in such a way that the optimal amount of sunlight can be captured by the photovoltaic cells.

Next, traverse a set of wires connected to the panels through a series of outlets that have the least amount of obstacles present. This is to minimize interference as well as prevent any possible fire hazards brought about broken wiring systems.

Then attach a set of solar batteries to your solar roof system. These will be your back-up storage facility for any excess solar energy harnessed throughout the day for later use.

Lastly, install a solar inverter for the purpose of  converting your solar power supply to AC power which you can use in your home. Depending on the setup you want, you can either directly connect this to an appliance you want to run or batteries to store power or you can even directly hook it up to your house.

Once you’re finished, you can start using free energy in your home. So just wait until the next electric bill arrives and I am sure that you will surely be happy about the results of your solar roof!

Solar power is getting a lot of attention these days because of skyrocketing oil prices. What makes solar power unique is its ability to make energy from something so abundant which is the sun. But how does this work?

Solar power is possible thanks to something called photovoltaic panels. Photovoltaic panels or PV panels are also known as solar cells.

Photovoltaic panels are devices that converts energy from sunlight directly into electricity. This results in a voltage buildup across two electrodes as electrons are moved from one place to another. Photovoltaic panels or solar cells are used to power electric devices or even charge batteries.

The first practical application was to power orbiting satellites or spacecraft in space where the use of fossil fuels was impractical. Nowadays, because of the advancements in technology and the slowly decreasing price tags of photovoltaic panels, solar power is connected to the power grid to provide additional electricity.

Another common use of PVs are in off-grid systems where solar power is used to power structures that are in remote locations. Other applications are in powering boats, electric cars, public street lights and so on.

While there are tons of research on advancing photovoltaic panels, the most common material used as of today is silicon. The current average efficiency of converting sunlight into electricity using today’s PVs is around 12-18% and the cost of generating a watt or electricity is around USD4-8. This is inclusive of all components and installation from inverters to panels to mounts.

Looking toward the foreseeable future, we can expect photovoltaic panels to cost less and produce electricity more efficiently. Around the 40-50% range.

One thing we can all be sure of is the sun isn’t going away soon, so the more we rely on solar power and photovoltaic panels and the less we rely on fossil fuels and non-renewable energy, the better.

1. Solar Panels or Photovoltaics
2. Charge Controller
3. Deep Cycle Battery
4. DC input or Inverter

if you plan on running only DC appliances then a simple DC input would suffice. If AC however, you need an inverter.

Here is a diagram to make things more easy…

To have continuous power or atleast some backup, you would need some batteries installed.

The components that you will be using are:

1. Solar Panels or PV
2. Array Disconnect
3. *Charge Controller
4. *Deep Cycle Battery
5. *System Meter
6. *Main DC Disconnect
7. Inverter
8. AC Breaker Panel
9. Kilowatt per Hour Meter
10. Grid tie in

The one’s in red with an * before it are the optional components needed if you want to have battery back-up installed.

And as always, for easier comprehension check out the diagram below…

The components that you will be using are:

1. Solar Panels or PV
2. Array Disconnect
3. Charge Controller
4. Deep Cycle Battery
5. System Meter
6. Main DC Disconnect
7. Inverter
8. Generator
9. AC Breaker Panel

And as always, for easier comprehension check out the diagram below…

Another essential part of your residential solar power system is the charge controller.

The main purpose of the charge controller is to prevent the destruction of your batteries because of over-charging or even under-discharging. Charge controllers are regulators that go between solar panels and your batteries. It acts to keep your batteries charged at peak without overcharging.

For some, this isn’t an essential part of their solar power circuit, but if you’re using a small battery bank and you can afford to spend a little bit more for a charge controller, this is definitely worth it.

It’s like buying a car with safety airbags. You probably don’t think it’s worth much, but it counts when you need it. And besides, dead batteries due to over or undercharging and need to be replaced is always more of expensive in the long run.

So buy some peace of mind and get a charge controller fast!

Another common question I often get when it comes to solar electricity and residential solar power is whether you really need a battery bank and a charge controller. Isn’t connecting the inverter or any appliance directly on to the solar panel simpler?

The answer is yes, of course you could. But all you would be doing is risk breaking your inverter or appliance. With solar panels, the voltage it produces varies widely. On extremely sunny days it could produce a lot of voltage while on cloudy days it could produce very little.

This inconsistency is one of the major disadvantages of using solar power and why it isn’t anywhere near close to replacing traditional forms of energy yet.

Going back, with a battery bank, the load smooths out the voltage and basically insulates the inverter from any damage. Another benefit of a battery bank is that during cloudy or rainy days, when there isn’t enough sunshine to make significant power, the battery bank serves as a back up source of power.

“Can I just plug my solar panel or wind turbine into my house to offset my electricity bill?”

The answer is NO. Plugging your solar panels into your home isn’t as easy as most people think. It definitely isn’t as easy as plugging it straight into your house wiring. Maybe straight to your appliance but definitely not into your house.

Because electricity that comes from solar panels are DC and appliances are also direct current, it can be hooked straight up with no problem. However, your house is powered by the power company and it runs in AC. So you would need an inverter and synchronizer to effectively sync your solar power to your house electricity.

You also need a certified qualified electrician to do the wiring and everything.