A Solar Energy Tutorial: Build Your Own Inexpensive Solar Power System

Author: alvinhannay

Do you want a solar energy tutorial that doesn't take for granted you have an engineering degree? This solar energy tutorial for everyone, including non-scientific folks, gives information on utilizing solar panels for your home and gives information on how you can build your own inexpensive solar power system.

Did you know that the level of sunlight falling upon the earth's surface is more than adequate for our energy needs - almost 6,000 times more than the average power consumed by humans. To boot, solar electric generation has the uppermost power density among renewable energies. People are starting to recognize this: photovoltaic (technology to convert sunshine into electricity) production has been doubling every two years, growing by an average of 48% each year since 2002, making it the world's fastest-growing energy applied science.

Here are a few of the benefits for having your own residence solar energy system:

Your dependency upon the power utility becomes less, i.e. you are not so much affected by power outages
You can lower or even get rid of your monthly electricity accounts
You will go green -- smaller greenhouse gasses are discharged by fossil fuel-driven power stations (if enough houses use solar power)
Solar energy permits electricity to be produced in the place where it is used (i.e. your house), also known as distributed generation. Since sunlight hours overlap nicely with peak demand, solar panels produce electricity when it is both greatest pricey and most required
You can even get money from the electric company for producing surplus electricity that they can distribute, or get a rebate from the power utility for installing a solar power system (depending on where you live)
You will add more value to your property
Your solar power installation can function with little maintenance or intervention after initial setup.

How does a residential solar power system work? Solar panels are placed in your yard or on your rooftop where they can get the greatest amount of sun during daytime by adjusting the angle of the panels facing the sun. The solar panels comprise of a number of interconnected photovoltaic cells which convert energy from direct sunshine into electricity. If you have enough of these solar panels, you can supply all your home's electricity requirements.

The electricity from the solar panels flow in the form of direct current (DC) at a low voltage, however most residence appliances need alternating current (AC) at a higher voltage. An inverter is needed to convert the DC (usually about 12 volts) to AC (110 volts or 220 volts, depending on where you live).

No electricity is generated when the sunlight is not available at night or on overcast days. Batteries are used to store surplus electricity during sunny days, and electric power is obtained from the batteries when the sun is not available. An additional charge controller is required to ensure that the batteries are not overcharged or drained -- this helps to prolong the battery's life.

Is it possible to build your own house solar power system? Yes, it is possible, however if you get an installation company to do the job, it is going to cost you a lot of money. A better thought is to research the growing number of DIY home solar energy kits, or a good professional solar energy tutorial.

Using such a DIY home solar power kit and solar energy tutorial
it is possible to do all the work on your own, therefore eliminating the cost of hiring a professional to perform the installation. However, if you are not technically minded, it is a good idea to hire an electrician to check that all the wiring is done correctly (in some countries or states it may be needed by law to have an electrical job certified by a professional). A good solar energy tutorial will give you more tips on how to do the job properly.