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No electricity is generated when the sunlight is not accessible at night or on overcast days. Batteries are used to store surplus electricity during sunny days, and electric power is obtained from the batteries when the sun is not accessible. An additional charge controller is required to ensure that the batteries are not overcharged or drained -- this helps to prolong the battery's life.
Click here for a vibrant Solar Energy Tutorial which provides you with the essential background knowledge on solar power as well as a top-notch guide on installing your own home made solar power system.
Your solar power installation can function with little maintenance or intervention after initial setup.
You can lower or even get rid of your monthly electricity accounts
The electricity from the solar panels flow in the form of direct current (DC) at a low voltage, however it most residence appliances need alternating current (AC) at a higher voltage. An inverter is needed to convert the DC (usually about 12 volts) to AC (110 volts or 220 volts, depending on where you live).
Is it viable to build your own house solar power system? Yes, it is viable, however it if you get an installation company to do the job, it is going to cost you a lot of cash. A larger thought is to research the growing number of DIY home solar power kits, or a fantastic professional solar power tutorial.
Did you know that the level of sunlight falling upon the earth's surface is more than adequate for our power needs - almost 6,000 times more than the general power consumed by humans. To boot, solar electric generation has the uppermost power density among renewable energies. People are starting to recognize this: photovoltaic (technology to convert sunshine into electricity) production has been doubling every two years, growing by an general of 48% each year since 2002, making it the world's fastest-growing power applied science.
Here are a few of the benefits for having your own residence solar power system:
Solar power permits electricity to be produced in the place where it is used (i.e. your house), also known as distributed generation. Since sunlight hours overlap nicely with peak demand, solar panels produce electricity when it is each most efficient pricey and most required
How does a residential solar power system work? Solar panels are placed in your yard or on your rooftop where they can get the most efficient amount of sun during daytime by adjusting the brain-set of the panels facing the sun. The solar panels comprise of a number of interconnected photovoltaic cells which convert power from direct sunshine into electricity. If you have enough of these solar panels, you're able to supply all your home's electricity requirements.
Your dependency upon the power utility becomes less, i.e. you're not so much affected by power outages
Using such a DIY home solar power kit and solar power tutorial
it is viable to do all the work on your own, therefore removing the worth of hiring a professional to perform the installation. However, if you're not technically minded, it is a fantastic idea to hire an electrician to check that all the wiring is done correctly (in some countries or states it may be needed by law to have an electrical job certified by a professional). A fantastic solar power tutorial will give you more tips on how to do the job properly.
You will add more value to your property
You will go green -- smaller greenhouse gasses are discharged by fossil fuel-driven power stations (if enough houses use solar power)
You may also get cash from the electric company for producing surplus electricity that they can distribute, or get a rebate from the power utility for installing a solar power system (depending on where you live)
