What is solar energy for home? Does homemade solar energy system work? These are some common questions about green energy for home that a beginner usually asks. I will give some basic information about solar panel; a very popular solar energy product that is recommended for those who want to start go green at home.
Solar panel converts light energy (sunlight) to electrical energy MPPT Solar Charge Controller photovoltaic effect. It is made of solar cells that are connected to each other to generate larger amount of electricity. Photovoltaic array made up of several solar panels that are interconnected to generate greater power than a single solar panel.
Photovoltaic array will not work without wiring. A complete solar energy system is known as photovoltaic systems that normally includes interconnection wiring, inverter, and batteries. Wiring connects the photovoltaic array to the main electric supply. Inverter converts direct current (DC) into alternative current (AC). Batteries store electrical energy for future use. It is useful when there is no sunlight or at night.
Besides, photovoltaic array can be on-grid or off-grid. You must take note that on-grid photovoltaic array is illegal in some states. Some states don't allow people to install it without permits. You need to obtain city permits before installing it. Find more information about it before you install home solar power system. If you want to use solar energy without permits, you can connect it to off-grid appliances which are legal.
There are two ways you can produce green energy at home: retail or homemade. Retail solar system is more expensive. Solar panels normally costs $1000+ and installation fee is >$10,000. In average, people spend around $27,000 to buy and install a solar system. In contrast, homemade solar power is very cheap. You can build one panel with less than $200. These are the pros and cons of retail and homemade solar power:
Retail
Pros: They are professionals in building solar energy for home. You don't have to worry about the permits and its design & functionality.
Cons: Very expensive due to low competition in this industry.
Homemade
Pros: Much cheaper and if you are able to build it successfully, it works!
Cons: You have to obtain the permits by yourself and you might fail to build your own solar power system (most probably you will for first time) if you don't have any expert knowledge.