Archive for April, 2011
The Truth About the Earth 4 Enegy Scam
Saturday, April 16th, 2011Earth 4 Energy Rip Off?
Saturday, April 16th, 2011DIY Solar Panels
Thursday, April 14th, 2011
Everyone knows doing things yourself is a great way to save money. However, when it comes to something as complex as getting off-the-grid and generating your own energy, is it still possible? Luckily, with the right tools, guides, and kits, you really can DIY solar panels. This has never been more true with the guide Earth 4 Energy.
To make or find DIY solar panels, first you have to decide if you want to purchase whole panels and perform the installation yourself, or purchase parts or kits to assemble the panel more or less from scratch. Purchasing a whole panel is easier, but assembling one is both cheaper, and more flexible, since you get to dictate the size and shape of the end product. Many detailed guides exist for how to assemble photovoltaic cells and other parts into a fully-functioning panel.
The next part of setting up DIY solar panels is obtaining the wiring, connectors, power inverters, and batteries you need to get your panels up and running. A lot of specialty shops and catalogues offer these products, as well as written guides on how to connect your DIY solar panels to your home’s electrical system.
Solar panel parts and kits are inexpensive and easy to find, and the other components can sometimes easily be picked up at a hardware store or garage sale. Once you’ve learned how to turn someone else’s trash into DIY solar panels, there is nothing stopping you from making your home completely electrically independent.
Cheap Solar Panels
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011Solar panels are a fantastic way to help you lower your utility bills, or even live completely off-the-grid. Unfortunately, they are often very expensive. However, with some judicious shopping, it is possible to find cheap solar panels.
Online retailers sometimes carry cheap solar panels, particularly used or discontinued models. While the price, in this case, doesn’t include installation or any consultations, there are books available on how to set up and maintain a panel array that can help you install your own cheap solar panels, such as Earth 4 Energy.
It also might be possible to find broken pieces of a panel, and reassemble them. While a broken panel won’t be nearly as efficient as a whole one in terms of energy generation, pieces of panels broken during manufacturing, shipping, or installation is frequently a fraction of the price of other cheap solar panels. Installing them might take a little more work, since they require reassembly before installation, but by doing all of the work yourself, it’s possible to have a functioning solar panel for less than $100.
Hopefully, photovoltaic energy technology will someday advance to the point where everyone can have cheap solar panels. Until then, learning to shop wisely and install them yourself can be a homeowner’s best friend when it comes to living off-the-grid, without spending a fortune.
