Solar Off Grid
For most homeowners The simplest form of alternative energy is produced with a Solar Off Grid Power system.
Most people today realize that Solar panels, photovoltaics, or PV- whatever term you use to describe it, there is no doubt that Solar Panels in a Solar Off Grid system is a great place to start with alternative energy. With no moving parts, solar cells and PV panels require very little maintenance.
For many years we had one small solar panel, the second one we ever owned, that still works fine after 13 years of operation and we have not touched it since installation. Solar Off Grid Power is a great investment for the home owner who doesn’t like fixing stuff all the time.
Our second favorite feature of a Solar Off Grid Power system is the modular nature of the installation itself. When we finished building our timber frame home some 14 years ago we did not have very much money left over in our budget. That October of 1994 we bought our first solar panel anyways. It produced about 2 watts of power (very small) and Jane remembers it was just enough to run a DC car radio when the sun was shining full. We could not afford a battery either so it only ran when the sun was shining. During the winter the radio would come on at about 9:30 in the morning and gradually fade with the setting sun at about 4:00 P.M. That was the only entertainment we had for years.
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The Solar Off Grid Guide
Gradually we have added more solar panels to our Solar Off Grid system. We started with another small panel, about 15 watts, a small inverter, rechargeable batteries for flashlights, and a rechargeable Coleman lantern. Anything that could be recharged slowly worked fine on our small system. Right now we are in the process of upgrading our battery bank and every year we add a solar panel or two. The nice part about this arrangement is that you can start to enjoy Solar Off Grid Power in your own home by spending very little money, and adding on as you can.
SOLAR OFF GRID SOLUTIONS
There is another hidden benefit to going slowly and taking the modular approach to Solar Off Grid, Have any of you noticed the quality of computers we can buy today compared to just 5 years ago- and the corresponding lower prices today? Well, the same thing is happening in the solar panel marketplace. Technology is slowly catching up with demand for renewable energy products driving the quality up and prices down. We are slowly approaching $3 per watt of production power right now. When Jane and I started some 14 years ago the price per watt of production was closer to $10 per watt. Solar Off Grid Power is getting more affordable!
The next step to take is choosing which Solar off grid Power system to purchase. Choosing a solar panel manufacturer can be a tricky process. We try not to favor one manufacturer over another when recommending solar panels, inverters, batteries, or any other renewable energy product for that matter. We do suggest a few guidelines to follow in making your own decision though. Generally speaking the larger the solar module, the cheaper the cost per watt of production. Single crystal or multi-crystal solar panels are most common for stationary, or home solar power applications. Amorphous cells are nearly twice the physical size of crystal types but are much more durable and shade tolerant. They are nearly unbreakable.
As with most decisions we have made in purchasing our solar panels the cost per watt of production remains the top priority for us.
There are many new technologies coming on the scene and we try and investigate each and every one. You need not wait to install your own Home Solar Power system though. (We will deal with installing your solar panels in another article) Suffice it to say- find a sunny location (no shade), install your solar panels, hook up a battery bank corresponding to your power usage and production capacity, and a small inverter, and you will be producing your own Home Solar Power in a mattrer of days.
The Solar Off Grid Guide
After you get started, or even before you begin just drop us a line and send some photos, we would be glad to include your story on the website.
If you are interested in learning about how to design and build a solar installation Click Here. This manual is an invaluable resource. It goes through step-by-step how to design and install solar panels.