To build a complete solar electric generating system for your house, you will need to source ten generic parts. However, it doesn’t necessarily follow that you will have all the items built into your system. You can start off simple and add to it as your requirements change.

Just to emphasize that point. For example, if your home gets electricity from the national grid, it doesn’t mean you have to hook your system up to it if you don’t want to.

Solar Cells

Solar cells are placed in direct sunlight, and they transform daylight into electricity. It converts it into DC electricity. Go crazy and build loads of solar panels because you can connect an unlimited amount together. Follow this link find out more about how to build a solar panel.

The panels are linked together inline. One follows the next one, a bit like a string of fairy lights in contrast to being connected together on an adhoc basis. With this design, it is very easy to add more panels as and when you build them.

DC Disconnect

As the electricity flows from your panels, the first component it hits is the DC disconnect. This is a vital piece of kit as it switches off the electricity generated by your solar panels. This now allows to carryout maintenance on any other part of your system.

Battery Charge Controller

If you are using a battery bank to store any unused electricity then I strongly suggest you fit a charge controller to your system. If you have a charge controller, this will protect your batteries from becoming over charged. Over charging will reduce the life of your batteries.

Battery Bank

Read up on the different types of batteries and get familiar with them. You want to use deep cycle batteries like the ones they use in forklift trucks. Do not use car batteries.

Keep the batteries warm, that way they work better. If you don’t have room in the house for them, make them a shelter outside, never leave them exposed. Furthermore, consider investing in a battery box which will help keep them at the optimum temperature.

System Metering

Your solar system meter is, in effect, your dashboard. It tells you the amount of electricity you are generating, consuming and how much is stored in your batteries. You don’t want to work blind, they don’t cost very much are really worth their weight in gold.

Main Supply DC Disconnect

The main DC disconnect is used to turn off the power from your battery. You design the system so that it sits between your batteries and the AC DC inverter. This turns off the power from your batteries, which then allows you to undertake any preventative maintenance.

DC To AC Inverter

Solar panels and batteries produce a DC current. However, all your appliances in your home use AC current. We convert DC to AC using the inverter and so all your electrical home appliances work without any problems.

Generator

There are various types of electric generators to choose from. If you live in a house that does not have an electric utility supplier then this is a good option to add to your system. The electrical generator can provide a backup to your solar powered system should it be down for maintenance or if the batteries are low.

AC (Alternating Current) Breaker Panel

The AC breaker panel is where you feed the electricity you produced back to the national grid. Every house has one of these; however, you are not allowed to touch it. You have to get the electric company to come along and wire it up for you.

It makes sense really, if you get this bit wrong it can be very costly, and you don’t want to end up with the blame for anything.

KW per Hour Meter

As with the breaker panel, you will also have a KWH meter. This what the electricity company uses to record how much electricity you have used.

Video on Different Aspects Of Building Your Own Solar Panel

Learning to build a solar panel is the first step. The second step is to design a system that will work in your home. Visit build a solar panel and get full instructions on how to put it all together.