Getting Started With Solar Panels

Most homeowners are interested in saving money and helping the environment nowadays, but aren't sure how to begin. It's a lot easier, (and cheaper) than you might think to generate electricity, and here's why:

- Home solar power systems are NOT complicated, you don't need a degree in electrical engineering to put together the basic battery charging systems. A larger system that will power your entire home is basically just a scaled up version, I.E. More panels and more batteries. Grow to the size you want as slowly or quickly as you want to, and can afford to. Remember, the panels will put out electricity for 25 years and have no moving parts or maintenance other than cleaning. Everything is 12 volts. Positive wire, Negative wire... EASY

- You can start as small as you want, and easily expand your system a little at a time. In fact, if you're thinking of making some of your own electricity for the first time, I actually recommend a small home solar panel kit at first so you can learn and enjoy how easy basic homemade power can be. Even a small solar panel will keep a deep cycle battery charged, and few things are more useful during a power outage, or when you're away from a power source. Anything that runs off of 12 volts, (RV and camping stuff comes to mind) can be powered directly off the battery.

Go one step further and hook up an "inverter", which converts 12 volts to 120 volts just like the plugs in your house. Anything you plug into the inverter will essentially be running for FREE. Start this way and power some CFL (compact fluorescent), or LED lights, watch tv, or use your computer. Save a few bucks, because every time they're on it's free, and a solar panel lasts for 25 years. Think about it. (To add the inverter, you'll simply connect the red wire to positive, and black to negative on the battery. You can do it! Easy instructions come with inverters too, such as what order in which to connect the wires, etc.)

- The costs have never been lower. There's a federal 30% tax credit until 2016. That's a credit, not a deduction. In other words, if you owed $100 in income tax at the end of the year, but you spent $300 on solar panels, your credit would be $90 ($300 X 30%) thus lowering your tax bill to 10 bucks. If you have a bigger credit than you need, you can carry it over to the next year. Pretty good deal huh?

And do remember that it is electricity. Use common sense and take appropriate safety measures. Keep the front of a solar panel covered if you're messing with it in the sun, because it'll be making electricity. Wear gloves and use insulated tools, etc. As you expand your power system, and particularly if you go to a higher voltage, then be cautious of electrical shock or sparks. If you aren't sure, ask somebody. Wires and connectors are cheap enough at your local home center, and the folks working there are good at helping DIYers with simple electrical projects.

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