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Solar Power Kits
An Affordable Way To Install Solar Power
Solar power kits can offer an alternative to paying high prices for electricity. The popularity of affordable solar power continues to grow, and people like yourself are discovering ways to add renewable solar energy to their lifestyle. That's why easy to install solar energy kits are becoming popular for a wide variety of cost-saving applications. Let's look at how they can benefit you.
You've likely seen residential solar power systems being installed at costs up to $65,000 and sometimes more. There's NO reason why you need to spend that much to begin enjoying the benefits of solar power. You do have an affordable option. You can buy a solar starter kit along with a do-it-yourself guide and start saving money on your utility bills.
Home Solar Kit Advantages
One of the advantages of solar power kits is that, depending on the size of the kit you install and depending on the opportunities available in your location, you could get paid for the excess electrical power you generate by selling it back to your utility's main electrical grid. You'll not only reduce your carbon footprint, but you'll save yourself money.
While there are many solar energy advantages, one of the biggest is that a home solar system allows you to store electricity in a solar power battery storage system for use during nighttime hours or during any power outages. The solar storage batteries will permit your household to run on battery power for a given time period and be recharged by the PV solar panels during hours of sunlight.
Home Solar Kit Purchase & Installation
For the greatest in cost savings, you can elect to assemble the components you need to build
DIY solar panels
from scratch yourself, or buy a home solar panel kit with all the parts included. The most basic components in a system are the PV cells themselves. Solar power cells can be purchased in quantity from various online vendors and wired together using easily learned soldering skills.
But, if you don't have the necessary time, know-how, and patience to build solar panels from scratch, it's best to buy a DIY solar starter kit and assemble and install the solar power system yourself simply by reading and following the instructions.
Detailed solar how-to guides can be bought on the Internet, and there are homemade videos freely available on YouTube. These instruction videos were created by solar hobbyists who are eager to share step by step instructions on how to install solar power kits.
If you prefer not to install the kit yourself, some solar contractors specialize in the installation of solar power kits for homes. You can find solar kit installers locally by searching online. Also, some utility companies and local government offices can provide a list of qualified solar installers to encourage home owners to go solar.
When buying home solar power kits, buy one manufactured by a recognized brand such as Sunforce or Sharp to ensure high efficiency, product quality, and a strong warranty. Also, buy it from a reputable vendor who offers affordable prices and quality service, and you'll soon find yourself reducing your monthly power bill along with your carbon footprint.
Solar Power Kit Choices
Kits offer the basic concept of solar panel assembly, mounting hardware, and wiring designed for specific applications. Whether it's for your home, barn, RV, boat, or log cabin in the woods, there's an affordable, ready-made system available to supply electrical power from the sun's energy. The quickest way to find your kit is to shop online and compare cost, features, and warranty.
For example, you'll find a turnkey solar starter kit available for almost any residential, business, or recreational use that you can simply buy, hook up, and begin to use.
The most popular solar starter kits sold are those that can supply a portion of the electricity needs of a household. DIY solar kits can greatly lower the cost of solar power, bringing it within the reach of most households.
Such kits come in various sizes based on their output; for example, 15 Watt, 60 Watt, 160 Watt, 260 Watt, 390 Watt, 650 Watt, 800 Watt, and larger. The smallest home solar kits are designed for powering led lighting, small garden pumps and electronic items, but they are mostly used for 12-volt battery charging.
The larger solar kits can supplement your household electrical needs. An example of the most affordable and popular kits of its kind is the Sunforce 260 Watt Solar Kit with Sharp modules, for around $2000 USD. A DIY solar kit of this size is big enough to power lighting, television, computer, home electronics, and kitchen appliances. The PV cells in the two 130 Watt high efficiency polycrystalline solar panels can generate power even on cloudy days.
At the time of writing, this solar power kit includes the quality solar PV panels, a 30 Amp digital charge controller, a 200 Watt inverter, mounting hardware, wiring with brackets and screws, and even a handy voltage tester. Everything you need for easy hookup and installation. The only thing you would need to purchase separately is a
solar power battery
should you want to store electricity for use at night.
The included digital
solar charge controller
regulates the flow of electricity to and from your solar storage battery to prevent its overcharging and discharging below the designed-in level. This protection greatly increases the lifespan of your solar batteries.
The inverter is a necessary component that converts the direct current (DC) generated by the solar PV panels into alternating current (AC) that can be used by your household appliances. Plus, converting the DC to AC enables you to send any excess power you don't need back to the utility company.
One great joy of generating your own solar electricity is to watch the utility meter run backwards as it charges the power company instead of the home owner. The quantity of excess power available for sale will depend on the size of your solar panel system compared to the electrical needs of your household.
There are small solar energy kits featuring high efficiency solar panels designed to supply limited power for cabin lighting and small electronic appliances. Larger kits might require a pole mounted solar panel array, so the power system can be located in a nearby clearing away from shade trees. If the cabin will be off the electrical grid, then the kit will also need to include a solar battery backup system.
A simple solar kit for RVs will provide enough power for lights and to trickle charge the vehicle battery. However, if you enjoy a luxury RV loaded with electrical needs ranging from a home theater system to a whirlpool bath, you will require a larger, more complex solar power system rivaling that of an off grid home. Such kits are available, but they aren't cheap.
Solar Kits For Boats
PV panel kits designed for boats feature waterproof panels for the solar array, and mounting hardware manufactured from stainless steel or suitable quality materials that can stand prolonged exposure to water, especially saltwater. A small solar tracking device to align the panels to the sun's position might also be included.
Solar Power Kit Cost
Although turnkey solar power kits offer one of the cheapest ways to advantage solar energy, they can be somewhat expensive depending on their size. The cost is often worth it in the long run, though, and PV panels do tend to pay for themselves in time.
Solar power kits allow you to ease into the expense of solar gradually. Install one solar energy kit now and connect a second kit to it later when time and income permit.
Besides being considered a home improvement adding resale value to the home, sometimes there are federal and local tax incentives for adding solar power systems to residences. Check online for the tax incentive programs available in your location.
Special manufacturer rebates are sometimes offered, and some power utility companies also offer incentives to go solar. Rebates and tax incentives can help to offset panel installation costs, and the electrical hookup charges when a licensed electrician is required.
The size of the solar power kit installed based on the size of your house will determine the electrical power you can allot for the use of your household. It's very likely that a solar starter kit won't be able to provide the power requirements for your household, but it will help to supplement its energy needs and reduce your utility bill.
When you add up monthly energy savings, tax incentives, and the property value increase, your entry into the solar era could amount to considerable savings in the long run.
My name is Don, and my goal with this site is to introduce solar power as the best available option for alternative, renewable energy.
The solar information on this site is freely given to assist you in your journey to an affordable green energy future.
Solar Power Ontario
Heiko Liebethal, Flagstone CEO
If you live in Ontario, Canada, and qualify for the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) microFIT program, you could sell all the electrical power that your solar panels produce back to the OPA, and they will pay you up to 80.2 cents per kWh. Guaranteed.
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