Once you have built your solar panel array. The next step is to put them into a system which can use all the electricity which has been produced. So you either feed the electricity to the grid, store it in batteries or power your appliances. You probably have a rough idea of what you want your finished system to look like, but plan very carefully. Know exactly how many watts of energy you need and how many watts of energy your solar panels are capable of producing.
Portable Solar Power Generator
This is the simplest of all the systems. All you need is an inverter, charge controller, a battery and your PV solar panel.
You don’t have to build all your solar panels before you install a system in your home. You can add more solar panels as and when they are available. The inverter will switch the current from DC to AC so you can power directly your household appliances.
Should you produce more electricity than you use then the excess electricity can be stored in deep cycle batteries. Not your normal car batteries.
Solar Power For a Grid Tied Home
If you currently have your electricity supplied by a utility company then give this type of setup very close consideration. In this system, you do not use batteries, you feed all unused electricity back to your utility supplier network. This has the effect of reversing your meter and so your electric utility supplier will credit you on your bill.
After you build a solar panel, you will appreciate how easy they are to make. You can easily build one panel in 7 days and let’s say over a year you build 35 of them. If you built 26 panels, this would probably be more than enough to cover not only your electricity bills but many other monthly as well.
Add a Battery Bank to Your Grid-Tied System
However, it still may be prudent to have a battery backup with a grid tied system. For example, if it is a cloudy day and you are using some DIY tools which demand a lot of electricity. The battery system will store any previously unused electricity and so instead of tapping power from the grid you use your batteries.
Generate Solar Power With Off-Grid Homes
If you live in part of the world where you have no direct electricity to your home then having a battery bank may prove very beneficial. The battery bank will ensure you have the most effective system as it will store the unused power.
Batteries perform better when they are warm so it is wise to invest in a battery box and keep them in your garage. Not only does the battery box keep your batteries warm they also prevent them from being tampered by children or animals. Your dog would get a real shock if he decided to relieve himself up against a battery bank!
You may already have a generator to power your home. If you do, I suggest you connect this to your system as well, it can charge your batteries should they start to go flat.
Different Types of Solar Powered Systems For the Home
- Grid tied systems
- Off grid with just a battery backup
- Grid tied setup + battery bank
- Portable solar power pack
- On Grid + battery bank + generator
Read further about how to build a solar panel and use it for powering your home visit build a solar panel.
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