Did you know that there are 10 various parts that are required to make a complete solar powered system for your home? Depending on what type of system you want to implement will depend on whether you use some or all of them.

It doesn’t really matter where you start. For example, if your home gets electricity from the national grid, it doesn’t mean you have to hook your system up to it if you don’t want to.

PV Solar Panels

Solar cells are placed in direct sunlight, and they transform daylight into electricity. Unfortunately, they produce DC power, so we have to change this to AC power. It doesn’t matter how many solar cells or solar panels you connect together. Really, you want to connect as many as possible. Follow this link find out more about how to build a solar panel.

The panels are linked together inline. One follows the next one, a bit like a string of fairy lights in contrast to being connected together on an adhoc basis. That is why you can have as many panels as you like and the more you have the electricity you generate.

DC Disconnect

As the electricity flows from your panels, the first component it hits is the DC disconnect. This is a vital piece of kit as it switches off the electricity generated by your solar panels. This now allows to carryout maintenance on any other part of your system.

Battery Charge Controller

If you are using a battery bank to store any unused electricity then I strongly suggest you fit a charge controller to your system. If a battery gets over charged it can become damaged. A charge controller is designed to protect your batteries.

Battery Bank

Read up on the different types of batteries and get familiar with them. You want to use deep cycle batteries like the ones they use in forklift trucks. Do not use car batteries.

Keep the batteries warm, that way they work better. Do not put them outside, they need to be protected from the weather and covered. Furthermore, consider investing in a battery box which will help keep them at the optimum temperature.

System Metering

Your solar system meter is, in effect, your dashboard. It tells you the amount of electricity you are generating, consuming and how much is stored in your batteries. You don’t want to work blind, they don’t cost very much are really worth their weight in gold.

DC Disconnect to the Main Supply

If you have a battery bank then you will need a main Direct Current disconnect. You design the system so that it sits between your batteries and the AC DC inverter. Again it is very handy if you want to do any systems maintenance.

Alternating Current (AC) Direct Current (DC) Inverter

Batteries and solar panels output a direct current. However, all your appliances in your home use AC current. This is the job of the inverter to convert direct current to an alternating current.

Petrol Generator

You can get petrol and diesel powered generators. If your home is off-grid then it is definitely worth considering adding one of these to your system. The generator can produce electricity when there is no sun or when the batteries are run down.

AC Breaker Panel

If you have a utility supplier, you will have a AC breaker panel. This is where the electricity from the national grid enters your home. Although all houses have them, only the electric company is allowed to wire them up. You have to get the electric company to come along and wire it up for you.

Don’t be tempted to do it yourself, it is a criminal offence for unqualified people to touch these panels, and you want it to be done correctly..

Home Kilowatt per Hour Meter

Every house with a utility electric supplier has an electric meter. This what the electricity company uses to record how much electricity you have used.

Video on Different Aspects Of Building Your Own Solar Panel

Once you know how to build a solar panel you now need to source all the other components to build a complete system to power your home. Visit build a solar panel and discover how to build a complete system to power your home.

There are ten different components that make up a solar powered generating system. Depending on what type of system you want to implement will depend on whether you use some or all of them.

It doesn’t really matter where you start. For example, if your home gets electricity from the national grid, it doesn’t mean you have to hook your system up to it if you don’t want to.

Photovoltaic Solar Panels

The PV solar panels are positioned so they get maximum sunlight throughout the day, and they turn sunlight into solar electric power. Unfortunately, they produce DC power, so we have to change this to AC power. You can connect as many panels as you like together, this is called a solar panel array. Follow this link find out more about how to build a solar panel.

They are connected in series so the flow of electricity is from to the next one in line. That is why you can have as many panels as you like and the more you have the electricity you generate.

Direct Current (DC) Disconnect

As the electricity flows from your panels, the first component it hits is the DC disconnect. You do not want to undertake any maintenance on your system while there is electricity flowing through it. The DC disconnect switches of the power generated by your solar panels.

Electric Charge Controller

A charge controller is very important to have if you are using batteries to store electricity. If a battery gets over charged it can become damaged. A charge controller is designed to protect your batteries.

Batteries

Learn about the various types of batteries that are available. The type you need is deep cycle. These batteries are often used in forklift vehicles. Do not use car batteries.

Keep the batteries warm, that way they work better. Do not put them outside, they need to be protected from the weather and covered. The other thing you might want to think about is getting a battery box. They are great for protection and keeping batteries warm.

Solar System Meter

A system meter is very useful for telling you how much electricity you are using and how much power is left in your batteries. If you don’t have one you do not know if you are producing enough electricity or not.

DC Disconnect to the Main Supply

The main DC disconnect is used to turn off the power from your battery. It is placed in-between your battery bank and your inverter. Like the solar panel disconnect, it is very handy for when you are carrying out maintenance on your system.

DC To AC Inverter

Both the battery bank and the solar cells generate a direct current. What we have to do is convert this DC current into an AC current. So the inverter converts the DC into an AC current so everything works as it should.

Generator

Check out the many types of fossil fueled generators. If you live in a house that does not have an electric utility supplier then this is a good option to add to your system. The generator can produce electricity when there is no sun or when the batteries are run down.

Alternating Current Breaker Panel

The AC breaker panel switches off the flow of electricity either from the grid to your home or your home to the grid. Only your electricity supplier is allowed to touch these panels. You have to get the electric company to come along and wire it up for you.

Whatever you do, do not wire it up yourself. You can get into a lot of trouble, and it isn’t worth the hassle. The utility company will find out in the end..

Electric Meter

All homes which are on-grid are fitted with a kilo watt hour meter. This what the electricity company uses to record how much electricity you have used.

Video on Different Aspects Of Building Your Own Solar Panel

The first step is to build a solar panel, after that we have to design a home electrical system for it to work with. Check out build a solar panel and discover how to build a complete system to power your home.

The simple truth of capitalism is that everything and anything is a commodity and therefore has an intrinsic value or price. However, despite this being a fundamental precept upon which the system of capitalism is founded upon, it is simply astonishing the number of consumers who actually neglect to appreciate this very important lesson. In other words, they purchase goods and think that the cost associated with that item ends solely with the initial capital sum.

However, it is important to appreciate the running costs that will be actually or potentially associated with the item, as this may potentially influence our final choice of product. In the context of most electronic appliances such as laptops, washing machines and Ipods, they all require a steady stream of power to keep them running smoothly. Electricity, whether it is derived from the main power source or from batteries will cost the user money and this can quickly prove to be a real drain on the finances of the owner. A Solar Panel Charger maybe just the answer to all of your prayers.

The solar panel charger has proven to be a most controversial item indeed, polarising public opinion significantly. There are some consumers who have welcomed it with open arms, embracing the remarkable array of benefits it has to offer with no small measure of joy and indeed relief. There are others who are somewhat sceptical about the seemingly magical properties of solar panel technology as a whole, and remain distinctly unconvinced that it is indeed worthy of their time or indeed their money.

It is amusing to watch the reaction on people’s faces as you inform them that a solar battery charger works in a manner akin to a plant, and such a revelation will either invoke a great degree of respect or outright cynicism. This is no marketing hyperbole: the solar battery charger contains a number of cells within it, and each of these cells works in conjunction with the others to absorb the sun’s energy.

Because the solar panel charger does not actually require any external electrical supply (except for the sun) this means that not only will the owner of the charger be able to enjoy a significant reduction in the running costs associated with their electrical and electronic appliances, but will also be able to enjoy a greater degree of freedom. After all, if you decide to go hill walking or rambling through the woods, you will not have the luxury of access to a nearby electrical terminal! Even better, the Solar Panel charger creates no harmful or toxic emissions or waste products, which has been a long standing concern for many an environmentalist.