Do it yourself solar panels for home
How to Create Do It Yourself Solar Panels for Home Use Do it yourself solar panels for home use are not too hard to create, especially if yo...
How to Create Do It Yourself Solar Panels for Home Use
Do it yourself solar panels for home use are not too hard to create, especially if you have an aptitude and/or experience in carpentry and electrical wiring. While you can hire a professional installation expert to put in factory made solar panels, it is quite expensive to do so. It is not hard to find step by step do it yourself instructions for making solar panels on the internet; many people who are concerned about using green energy and the environment have successfully created their own solar panels for home use following detailed instructions.
The first step to creating solar panels for home use is to purchase the necessary tools. Besides general tools such as a screwdriver, drill, saw and electrical pliers, you will also need to purchase solar cells, a soldering iron, electrical cable, diodes and connectors. These items are not as easily found as regular carpentry tools are; however, all the above-mentioned items can be found for sale at a reasonable price via a number of online retailers.
DIY Solar Power:
This short and controversial video you will discover an amazing solar system designed by one of the early pioneers of the electric car industry that left world renowned engineers in awe:
DIY solar panels: Pros, cons & 6-step cost savings guide
On this page
- Pros and cons of DIY solar
- DIY solar cost savings
- 6-step DIY installation guide
- Planning & system design
- Permitting
- Buy the equipment
- Install the system
- Final inspection & grid connection
- System goes live
There are many reasons why people choose to go solar. Some want to switch to clean and renewable energy. Others like the idea of reducing their reliance on the electricity grid.
But the number one reason to go solar is to save money. A Pew survey about solar found that 96% of people who have installed or will install solar do so to save money on electric bills - more than any other reason cited.
Now, it’s entirely possible to see big savings by using a professional solar company — that is, after all, the way that most people go solar. But if you want to lower your upfront costs as much as possible, you may want to consider a do-it-yourself (DIY) installation. After all, it’s cheaper to do things yourself rather than hiring someone else to do it for you!
So what are the pros and cons of a DIY solar installation? And how does one go about completing one?
I’ll answer those questions by looking at each major advantage and disadvantage of a DIY solar panel installation, and then breaking down the design and installation process into six simple steps.
What are the pros and cons of DIY solar panels?
Although cheaper than going solar with a professional solar company, DIY solar is still a big and costly commitment. You’ll want to figure out whether a DIY solar panel installation is right for you before you’re too heavily invested in the process!
To help you decide if DIY solar is worth it for you, here is a list of the possible pros and cons:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cost savings | Lots of time and effort |
| DIY satisfaction | Risk of roof damage & leaks |
| Physical danger | |
| Inability to claim incentives | |
| No support for faults or warranty claims |
Pro: Cost savings
A DIY solar panel installation can save homeowners thousands of dollars in upfront installation costs.
The average cost of solar panel installation by a professional solar company is around $2.85 per watt as of May 2021. For a typical 5 kW (5,000 watt) solar panel system, that works out to $14,000.
On the other hand, a 5 kW DIY solar panel kit costs between $1.00–$1.50 per watt. Assuming you perform the entire job by yourself (i.e. no contractors for any of the tasks), the total cost of a 5 kW DIY solar project is between $5,000 and $7,500.
That works out to a potential savings of $6,500 - $9,000 by choosing DIY over a professional solar installation.
The figures above are just averages. There are many variables that can change these numbers for you, such as system size and whether or not you qualify for the solar tax credit (worth 26% of solar energy system costs in 2021).
Pro: DIY satisfaction
If you’re someone who likes to take on big and challenging DIY projects, then a solar installation might be just what you’re looking for.
You will have to draw on many different skill sets, such as the ability to negotiate municipal processes, financial planning, proficiency with power tools, electrical work, and even tax accounting.
And there are many stages to the solar installation — researching, planning, shopping, permitting, installation, electric wiring, and monitoring.
This is a project that will keep you busy for a while, and if you manage to complete it on your own you will definitely feel a sense of pride for your accomplishment.
Let’s now take a look at the cons.
Con: It’s a lot of time and effort
Installing solar yourself can be rewarding — but only if you’re actively seeking a serious DIY challenge.
If, however, your past experience with DIY projects is limited to assembling Scandinavian flatpack furniture, you might want to steer clear of taking on solar. Not only does it require a lot of planning and organizational skills, it is also a very time-consuming project: from conception to commissioning, a DIY solar installation usually takes between one to four months.
Con: Risk of roof damage or leaks
This is perhaps the biggest financial risk when it comes to a DIY solar installation.
Unless you have a flat roof, your solar installation will involve drilling a large number of holes into your roof. Drilling into the wrong spot on the roof can cause structural damage, while incorrect sealing and flashing can cause a roof leakage and/or mold issues.
Another factor to keep in mind is that a DIY solar installation is likely to void the warranty of your roof, so you’ll have to foot the bill for any repairs that may be needed.
Con: Physical danger
Heights and high voltage electricity are two major risks that DIYers are exposed to during a solar installation.
And the physical risks aren’t just restricted to just the installation. If there are any problems over the 25-year life of the panels, it’ll be up to you to get back on the roof to troubleshoot the issue.
Worst of all, if you don’t connect the wiring properly, your rooftop system could catch fire!
Con: No support for faults or warranty claims
You are on your own if there is ever a fault with the equipment.
Of course, you can still contact the manufacturer directly, but it can be difficult to prove a warranty claim. Furthermore, if you perform an improper installation, you can actually void the warranty.
Con: Inability to claim some incentives
Many states offer incentives and rebates that dramatically reduce the cost of going solar.
Some incentives, however, are only available when the installation is completed by a certified solar company. Make sure to check what incentives and rebates are available where you live.
Installation guide: 6 steps for DIY solar panels
Let’s now dive into the 6 steps needed to take your DIY solar panel project from conception to completion.
1. Make a DIY plan and design your system
This is the trickiest step in the whole DIY process, especially if you don’t have any prior experience working with energy systems.
A. Decide on your goals
What do you want from your system? Financial savings? Backup power? Independence from the grid?
The goal you’re shooting for will determine the best system type for you, how complex the installation will be, and how much the project will cost.
B. Choose the right solar system type
The next decision is to choose the right solar power system type to match your goal.
All system types have many features in common: they all involve solar panels, inverters, mounts, and wiring.
There are, however, some crucial differences, and they can impact the project’s cost and complexity. Here’s a brief summary of each.
- Grid-tie solar panel system: This kind of solar setup that uses the grid as a battery through net metering. Grid-tied solar systems require less equipment than other types of systems, and thus have the lowest upfront costs. The disadvantage of these systems is that they lack backup power.
- Hybrid solar panel system: A hybrid system includes a battery storage solution while maintaining a grid connection. Hybrid systems are more expensive than grid-tied ones, but they offer additional functionality like backup power during a grid failure and time-of-use arbitrage.
- Off-grid solar system: Off-grid solar systems operate independently of the grid. Since there’s no grid to fall back on, the solar system needs many panels and a large battery bank to meet the home’s power needs 24/7, 365 days a year — even during winter and/or long stretches of overcast weather. This is the most expensive type of system.
C. Check solar rules and regulations
There is a wide range of rules governing solar installations. They can vary greatly between states, and even between local jurisdictions.
Be aware that some states don’t allow a solar system to be connected to the grid unless the installation was performed by a licensed contractor. If this is the case where you live, you won't be able to install a DIY grid-tied or hybrid solar system.
If DIY is allowed where you live, then you’ll probably need a building permit and a utility permit before you start your installation. This generally involves an onsite inspection by either a structural engineer or a licensed electrician.
Later, once the installation is complete, you’ll need to pass another round of inspections before your system can be activated and connected to the grid.
D. Design the system
This is one of the most complicated parts of the DIY solar panel process. You want your system to take into account all of the following factors:
- Your energy needs
- Climate and the number of sun hours you’ll see each month
- Solar panel orientation
- Solar panel angle
- Natural efficiency drop
- Conversion losses
- Shading
- Expandability
- Battery size and charging (for hybrid and off-grid systems)
Our solar panel calculator accounts for all these factors to show you total system output over each month of the year. It also recommends a system size for your specific home and even shows you which section of your roof you should use for maximum exposure to sunlight. Try it out by entering your zip code below.
DIY Solar Power:
This short and controversial video you will discover an amazing solar system designed by one of the early pioneers of the electric car industry that left world renowned engineers in awe:
