Install your own solar

Simply fill out the form below and get your free quote within one business day. Remember me Log in. Lost your password? Solar Energy Simplified. DIY Solar kits with everything you need to go solar! Solar Panels Monocrystalline, black on black solar panels. Mounting Hardware Complete racking system with all hardware.

Electrical Componets Wiring, switches, and all other necessary components. Inverters Designed for your specific needs. All DIY solar kits come with Lifetime support, quality components at the best prices. With most utility companies, you do not need to install batteries. This recipe features our time-tested rolling-chilling-cutting technique ensuring a smooth surface for all your holiday designs. We asked our authors and illustrators for help selecting the perfect gifts to pair with their books.

These hand-picked pairings encourage folks—young and old—to grow, build, create, and explore the world beyond the pages of the book. From binoculars and wings you heard that right! We don't sell books directly through storey. If you'd like to buy Install Your Own Solar Panels , please visit one of the online retailers above or give us a call and we'll take care of you.

Support local businesses when you can! Storey Direct: Sign up to receive sneak peeks, monthly ebook sales, and news from the Berkshires. See past issues. Give it a spin. Unsubscribe at any time. We hate spam too. Installing Your Own Solar Panels? First, Check This Checklist. Related Books. Greywater, Green Landscape Laura Allen. PlyDesign Philip Schmidt. While most people want to focus on panels and inverters, it's important to remember that solar panel racks are critical. Besides the orientation and shading issues we discussed above, you also need to find out the wind category in your area as well as your soil conditions if you plan to install a ground mount system.

Even with off-the-shelf parts, many permit offices will not give you a permit if the racking approach does not have a civil engineer's stamp of approval. Solar is still new to a lot of people, including engineers, but solar racking systems are in essence just giant erector sets and getting an engineer's approval of a proposed structure is often required.

Now, having chosen your solar modules, you'll need to decide on a solar inverter. Again, the inverter changes direct current DC from the panel into alternating current AC that your appliances can use. There are several considerations here. First, you'll need to make sure to choose a grid tie inverter rather than an off-grid inverter.

Second, you need an inverter that can handle what your panels generate, so make sure the wattage of the inverter is as strong as the wattage of your array.

Third, you can consider solar micro inverters , smaller inverters that are connected to each panel instead of the entire system as a whole. After selecting panels and an inverter, the rest of the system known as balance of system , or BOS is simple to plan.

You'll need to contact your local utility about the metering system - in most cases, they will give you the two-way meter also known as a "net meter" for free. You can also consider a battery backup. For safety reasons, solar inverters will shut off current in a blackout, even if the array is making power, so that linesmen aren't zapped by errant solar systems while making repairs.

If you install a backup battery bank, you can power critical loads independent of utility power. This requires specific wiring from the battery to the critical loads, but enables you to have power if the grid goes down. PV systems with battery backup are considerably more expensive. Now that your system is planned, you only need to figure out installation, solar financing for your solar power system, and other various legal issues. DSIRE also has information on utilities that will buy electricity back from you.

While you are reviewing this material, keep in mind that some incentive programs limits the benefits to those systems installed by an approved installer and are not available to those who install the system themselves, so be clear on the eligibility requirements of any programs you investigate. At SolarTown, we will be launching a special solar financing program to allow you to defer payments on your purchase for up to one year. Please contact us for more information.

Now all you need to do is plan your installation or you may choose to select a solar energy installer through Cooler Planet. If you do install the system yourself be sure to read our DIY solar installation tips! More importantly, you can install your system all the way into your breaker box, but it will need inspection.

Do not install a solar energy system without obtaining the permits required by your local government authority. Your local laws may require this, and other safety measures such as building permits, so be sure of these things before you begin.

Once you're sure you're in the clear, you can start building! We hope that this guide has helped demystify some of the elements of a solar array and shown you what to consider to install a solar array.