Solar Power Systems For The Home

Friday, June 4th, 2010 at 9:44 pm

Are you a proud householder who dreams of having a solar powered home? It’s possible you have been reading up on owner-installed solar power systems in kit form. The idea may be tempting however a lot of people are frightened to install their own domestic solar power system .

Solar power is normally found in three forms . You too can use any of these powers gradually.

People usually associate solar power together with solar panels. But there are two kinds of solar panels – solar electric panels (also called PV or photovoltaic panels) and then there are solar hot water panels. Therefore solar panels are not the only type of power . You can pick any of several different solar components known today . These are the solar power components that you can use at home .

1. Solar cookers – Solar cooking is a low-tech and a common way of using solar power . Some people may find the cooker slow in terms of performance, but if you’re not rushing, you can surely cook on time. You can use the solar cooker to roast, bake, and boil. This is best suited for a small family with a maximum of 5 members. You will no longer need fuel since you will be using only sunshine. There are also no emissions or smoke.

2. Solar thermal systems – this is trickier solar heating arrangement but it’s just a modern twist on the oldest-known consumer technology. You need to have solar hot-water panels for this type of arrangement . From the hot water panels, the heated water is siphonedt to a hot water storage tank. The hot water can then be piped around your home to keep the building warm in winter. This technology had already been invented some decades back but it was rather expensive . Today, the thermal systems are more efficient and much more affordable .

3. Solar PV panels – many homeowners enjoy using solar photovoltaic panels to create free electricity from the sun. A solar PV generator makes use of photovoltaic cells which make a DC voltage that gets stored in batteries or goes to a DC to AC inverter to produce 110v or 220v AC mains power for the house. You can use the PV solar panels for your lighting system at home . The electric power can be stored in batteries so you can use it later on . By using solar generators, it would be possible to run some household electrical appliances, like a vacuum cleaner. If you have a few hundred dollars, you can put together some PV panels and make your own electricity.

A wealth of information can be found on the net if you simply do your homework and look for useful information. By purchasing one of these tdo-it-yourself solar kits, you can get started with your own home solar powered system. There are also instructional materials available online that provide step by step instructions on how to create solar panels or cells. It would help a lot if you conduct a search online and read the step by step instructions there; that way, you can make up your mind if you can install home solar power or not.

Solar power systems are not too challenging to build , especially if you already have a practical knowledge about it.

All you will need to do now is to establish a workable budget so that you can start with the right project that you can afford. You can start with very simple solar power systems for your home like the solar generators. The generators are much more affordable and easy to make. After some time, you can now make more complicated plans like the thermal systems. Solar power for homes is an excellent alternative to those who want to save on electricity and help save the earth.

Don’t think twice and if you have the money to purchase the materials to make home solar power systems, go for it . In the coming months , you will be sure to benefit from it .