This is a short review of the Sunforce 50044 home solar kit for those who are planning to use solar energy to reduce their home electricity consumption.

Firstly, the 50044 kit comes with 4 solar panels capable of producing 15 watts each. Hence, the total power output you’ll get is 60 watts.

The solar kit also comes with a 200 watt power inverter, a 7 amp charge controller and wiring accessories. The only thing that is left out are the batteries.

The number of battery will depend on your personal power requirement. It is best to go for deep cycle battery because it generates a steady power output and can be discharged to a very low level without damaging the internal parts.

Here’s a tip, do not use car battery for a home solar power system. Car battery is designed to generate a high energy spike in order to crank the internal combustion engine. A residential solar system needs a steady power output over a long period of time. Therefore, always go for deep cycle battery.

What type of equipment can you power with the Sunforce 50044 solar kit?

With a 200 watt power inverter, you can plug in most of your home electrical appliances such as laptop, television, Ipod, light fixtures etc. You may not have sufficient power to run all the equipment simultaneously, nonetheless, you can power the appliances with free energy from the sun.

If you have a small room, cabin or RV, the Sunforce 50044 is great as a remote and portable power generator unit.

The kit is available from Amazon.com at $289.99 inclusive of shipping charges.

One of the key components of a home solar power system is the power inverter. The Photovoltaic (PV) cells on the roof will convert the sun energy into Direct Current (DC). The current will then be stored in deep cycle battery.

Since most of our home appliances use Alternate Current (AC), the power inverter will be used to convert the DC to AC.

So how do we choose the best power inverter for our residential solar power system?

If you need some really clean power similar to the type of power you will get from the grid, you will need an inverter which is capable of producing a sine wave with the same characteristics.

Why do you need an inverter which can create similar sine wave from the power grid?

The reason is because you’ll need clean power to effective operate the electrical appliances at home.

Let me explain.

The sine wave from the power grid has very low harmonic distortion. If you are using inductive load such as microwave oven or any devices that use a motor, good sine wave will let it running faster, quieter and cooler. It will also reduce audible and electrical noise on fans, florescent light, amplifier, TV etc.

An inverter capable of matching the sine wave from the grid will let your electrical devices run as if it is getting power from the grid.

The process of setting up the power inverter is actually quite easy. At one end of the device, you will see the terminal that will be connected to the batteries.

Most power inverter will generate heat when converting DC to AC. That’s why, most inverter comes with built in exhaust fans. Make sure there are no obstructions on the fan or it will affect heat dispersion.

On the other end of the inverter, usually there will be a 110 or 120 volt output. This is where you can connect a power outlet extension adapter where your electrical devices can be plugged in. You will also find the on and off switch on the side of the inverter and the grounding point.

Power Inverter For Solar System

If you are looking for a reliable power inverter for your home solar power system, check out the Solar Solpi 10000X.

It is capable of delivering 1000 watts of continuous power and up to 2000 watts peak power. The inverter will be sufficient to meet the demand of a medium size home.

The Solar Solpi inverter is available from Amazon.com. Click on the link below for more information.

After you have built the Do It Yourself (DIY) solar panel, the next step is to install it on the roof of your house and start to connect all the components together.

What type of wire should you use for the solar panel?

The type of wire recommended is the BX wire which is really just 12 gauge wire with a wrapping of sturdy aluminum to protect it from the harsh external environment.

BX wires are typically used in household wiring and it is very common in any hardware store. Using a 12 gauge wire is adequate for a small home solar power system.

When wiring the solar panel, remember, the black wire is for the positive run of the solder Photovoltaic (PV) cells. The white wire will be negative and to be connected to the negative run.

Finally, the green wire is the neutral and will be connected to the solar panel and acts at the grounding wire.

To begin the wiring process, start by stripping about an inch off its end. Next, connect the positive and negative run wire from the solar panel to the respective wire on the BX wire.

Use a pair of pliers on the ends and give it a good solid twist on the exposed copper wire. Finish it off by placing a wire nut on the connections.

Here’s a tip. Be very careful when installing the solar panel. Even though it is just producing about 18 volt of electricity, it still can give you a nasty shock. The shock will not kill you but it might just unbalance your footing and cause you to fall off the roof!

The final stage of installing your homemade solar panel is to connect the wire to the charge controller and let it run.

Home Solar Panel Installation Guide

Do you need some help installing the solar panel on the roof?

If you do, check out John Peyton’s Solar Installation Video Course.

The course comes with step by step instructional videos for installing solar panel on rooftop, ground and also pole mounting.

With over 90 minutes of High Definition (HD) video instructions, you’ll be able to see how a professional installation is done and what steps are involved.

==> Click here to visit the Solar Installation Video Course now!