DIY Solar Power System Information and Installation Guides
Many people are interested in DIY solar panels for their homes but don’t know how to go about doing it. Well, there’s no need to worry. In this article, you’ll learn some DIY solar panels information that will help you make this project a success.
Safety warning & disclaimer: I am not a qualified anything. And I’m not qualified to explain how to hook up electrical systems. The following may well be very factually corrupt, misleading, or just nonsense. Continue at your own risk.
Potential legal issues
There are many legal issues with DIY electrical works, especially where the electrical work is done in areas where there’s strict electrical safety legislation.
There are also electrical hazards that may arise if the electrical work is done without the necessary safety precautions. If this is done, there is a good chance that there may be dangerous electrical health and safety problems with the electrical work, and this could result in electrical injuries and even death.
This is why individuals who wish to do their electrical work must take the time to become educated about the dangers of electrical health, safety, and legal issues with un-licensed electrical works.
There are so many electrical laws and electrical safety issues with the DIY solar panels that it might take your breath away! The first step that you need to take is to make sure that you have a licensed electrician with the experience that you need to complete your electrical safety and health and safety assessment and electrical works.
Planning on doing the solar panel install yourself?
If so, you need to know that there are electrical health and safety risks with the do it yourself solar panels. You need to take action and protect yourself from this danger by knowing what you need and using your common sense. Do not take chances and protect yourself, your family, and friends around you.
Australian Standards
As of 2020, there are now more standards that apply to solar and extra-low voltage- electrical installations.
The standards are:
- AS 4509 Stand-alone Power Systems
- Part 1 Safety requirements
- Part 2 Design guidelines
- Part 3 Installation and maintenance
- AS / NZS 5033: 2005; Installation of photovoltaic (PV) arrays
- AS 4086 Secondary batteries for SPS Part 2 Installation and maintenance
Other relevant standards:
- AS 3000 Electrical Wiring Rules
- AS 1768 Lightning Protection
- AS 1170.2 Wind Loads
- AS 4777 Grid Connections of Energy Systems via Inverters
- AS 3001 Electrical wiring rules for mobile applications
What are the Pros and Cons of DIY Solar?
Learning how to install solar panels requires extensive research and plenty of hard work. We know it’s not for everyone, so we want to highlight the pros and cons of the DIY Solar approach and decide for yourself.
Some DIY solar panels pros and cons to consider:
Pros:
- Save on most labor costs (which can account for over 50% of a traditional solar panel installation cost). For an average-sized system, you could pocket more than $12,000 by installing it yourself
- Design your solar electric system from scratch to suit your specific needs. Choose from a more extensive selection of brands and only buy as much as you need (no “one-size-fits-all” packages).
- Fewer unexpected costs and surprises along the way. You’re in control of everything.
Cons:
- It’s hard work. You have to put in a lot of sweat equity to make your DIY solar dreams a reality. Finishing your build is immensely rewarding, but some homeowners may not have the time to commit to a project like this.
- Some local building departments may not allow DIY solar projects. Especially for off-grid systems, certain jurisdictions require solar systems to be built by a certified professional.
- Professionals typically offer a 5-10 year labor warranty when they install a system. If you go DIY, you’re solely accountable for the quality of your work.
- Unless your a licensed installer you could be breaking the law
DIY Solar Panel Kit Installation Guide. https://www.wholesalesolar.com/solar-information/diy-solar
Assuming you haven’t done the ‘Illegal’ solar panel install yet…
If you’re installing solar panels for the first time and want advice, ask your local electrician, and they’ll point you in the right direction.
However, if you are not comfortable with them, you can go to a lawyer specialising in solar panel installations.
If you are not comfortable with them either, you can go to a company that will act as your proxy when dealing with legal advice and fines.
However, this can become expensive, and it’s not always easy to find a proxy. Make sure that you find out the laws about installing solar panels in Australia. It could be illegal, and ignorance is the only defence that works every time.
Ok, so are planning on installing a solar panel system DIY anyway?
If you are planning to install a solar panel system on your home, make a cost comparison to make sure you are getting the best deal. If you can get more solar panels for your money, then you will end up saving a lot of money over time.
The energy created from the sun is so powerful that it can run your whole house, including the heating and cooling system, with very little use of standard electricity.
To install a solar panel system on your own, the first thing you need to do is find out how large the system is your building – which is determined by how much electricity your household requires.
Once you have determined what size system you need, it is time to use the resources of information about installing a solar panel system I have curated.
So, if you are looking for DIY solar panel installation guides, you should check these guides below.
Curated List of Resources:
..coming soon..
Solar panel installation guides, why?
I know you’re thinking, why should I bother reading a solar panel installation guide – when I could just wing it?
First, I’ll explain why these solar panel installation guides are so important. You need to get it right the first time.
The guides also come with an easy to follow step by step DIY solar panel installation guide. Walking you through the process step by step, so you know exactly what you’re doing and where to get all the parts that you need. This is important for those of you that are getting ready to build your first solar panel.
The solar panel installation guides are well written and easy to understand. They also include a lot of good ideas and tips on keeping your panels in good working order. Theses guides also cover a lot of different topics like energy costs, how to wire the panels (they don’t come off), when you need to change the battery pack.
The Top Pick ‘DIY Solar:Your Ultimate Guide’
The best DIY solar panel guide that I could find would be this DIY solar panel installation guide. The publisher, Wholesale Solar, have been in the solar panel installation business for a long time. They know what their talking about, and it shows. A lot of hard work into the guide and has taken the time to create a great guide to help guide you through the process.
The publisher also has a lot of experience working with solar panel installation, so he has written the guide with beginners to experts in mind. It’s easy to understand, and you’ll learn a lot by reading through it. The publisher is also a member of the National Electricians Association, and makes sure that you are getting all the information that you need for your solar panel installation.
Here is the ‘The 5 step process to DIY solar panels guide’ outline:
- Design and size your system based on energy needs
- Purchase your solar equipment (solar panels, inverters, racking)
- Install the racking or mounts for the panels
- Connect the solar panels to your racking equipment
- Install a solar inverter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB8q20QX6bA
1. Solar panel system design and size
The right solar panel system choice is a crucial one for your home, and you will be glad that you have researched it. Many people do not have a clue what to look out for when they are buying one, which is a big mistake. It doesn’t matter if you buy one from a retail store or a company online.
There are several different things that you need to consider when choosing the right solar panel system choice.
Solar panel kits
Solar panel kits are made up of a wide variety of components that are all used to make up the solar panels. When purchasing these solar panel kits online, you will find that these kits are made up of a wide variety of components, and some kits may even be constructed from many different components.
With the help of the internet and a useful guide on DIY solar panel kits, even beginners can do this. The guides available online can give an excellent explanation to people, explaining the technicalities of the DIY solar panel. The guides are well written, detailed, and easy to understand.
If you want to assemble your solar panel system, there are several ways that you can go about it. One of the best ways is to buy from China. However, you will want to be careful because it is a very competitive market, and there are some horrible people out there that will take advantage of your ignorance and start ripping you off. It is best to do your research and find out what you are getting yourself into before you do any of this.
The best place to purchase solar panels, solar mounts, and DIY solar panel kits online is online, as many different companies can provide you with all the information you need.
The other way is to go to the government-owned outlet in China and buy directly from them. It might save you a lot of money in the end.
2. Purchase solar equipment
The first thing you must-do if you are planning to purchase solar equipment is to have it checked by a professional before you spend your money on it. You must get your system checked by someone who has a good understanding of solar cells and how they function, so you know you are doing your part in saving the environment.
If you don’t have someone to check it, you might make some costly mistakes that could even get you in serious trouble with the authorities.
If you haven’t already done so, you should also get an inverter, a rack, and an inverter tower. All three are extremely important, and all three are very important to the functioning of your solar system. The racking is used to put all the solar cells on top of one another, and the inverters are used to regulate the electricity. Having all of these things checked is the best way to ensure your solar equipment is doing its job right. If it is not performing the way it should be, you should have all three checked and replaced before you go out and purchase more solar panels.
DIY Solar panel racking system – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP9qN6oh5aI
3. Solar Racking System
If you decide to install the racking on your own, you will need to determine if you are using a prefabricated system or a ready to assemble a racking system. The ready to assemble system is more comfortable to install; all you will need to do is the drilling and routing the cables for the solar power system.
4. Solar Mount System
Roof-mounted systems are a great choice – there is a wide range of components and systems out there to custom-fit almost any module configuration to almost any roof – flat or pitched, building heights of up to 200m.
Source: Mounting Equipment – GEM Energy.
The best way to connect the solar panels to your racking can be used to mount the solar panels to be positioned in the most convenient location for you to begin with.
Ideally, a fixed, roof-mounted solar energy system should be at an angle equal to the latitude of the location where it is installed. However, pitch angles between 30 and 45 degrees will work well in most situations.
Source: What is the Best Roof Angle for Solar Panels? | EnergySage.
5. Install a solar inverter
Once the solar panels are securely mounted, it’s time to connect it to your electrical supply.
Installing solar inverters is something many folks are hesitant to do, especially if you don’t have a lot of electrical experience. If you have a sound understanding of electrical wiring, you should be able to wire a solar inverter correctly. A permit may be needed.
You can install a solar inverter yourself and save quite a bit of money. I will give you a couple of tips and tricks to help you along your way.
The first thing you should do before installing a solar inverter on your own is to find a quality manual that explains the process in layman’s terms. The manual should be easy to understand and easy to follow. There are several great manuals available online.
Once you find the manual, the next step is to find a qualified electrician with the qualifications you need to install a solar system for your home or business. Once you have your electrician, you will need to schedule an appointment to help you install the solar inverter, and you will want to bring along the correct tools that you will need.
DIY Solar Panels Installation FAQ’s
Is it cheaper to build or buy solar panels?
The question is often asked as to whether it is cheaper to build or buy solar panels. The short answer to that question is that it depends. If you are building your solar panels, you will save more money, but they will also be much more challenging to build than a kit.
The cost to purchase a solar panel kit online in 2020 is approximately $2.80 per watt. This figure is based on average kit prices. Be warned though some of the kits use very low-quality components.
How do you ground a solar panel?
If you’re looking for ways to build your solar power system, one of the most important questions you have to ask yourself is, how do you ground a solar panel? You don’t want to have a bad experience when you’re trying to wire up the solar panel.
All exposed metal parts (e.g., racking, conduit, enclosures) of PV systems (regardless of voltage) must also be grounded (690.43). This equipment ground is accomplished through the electrical interconnection (or bonding) of all those metal parts with the earth.
When installing a solar photovoltaic system (PV), all the equipment must be grounded correctly. Failure to ground the entire system to include all the individual pieces can be devastating, especially in an area that experiences lightning regularly.
Key takeaways concerning ‘Do it Yourself’ solar panel installations.
- Installing a DIY or solar panel kit system is technically possible and maybe cheaper than using an accredited solar installer.
- Going with a DIY setup requires much more work on the homeowner’s end.
- It’s probably illegal in most parts of Australia.