If you are planning to power your home with solar energy, the simplest way to get started is to purchase solar integrated components such as solar panel, solar gazebo lights, solar air ventilation fan etc.

To install the solar components are quite simple. Taking the solar panel as an example, the entire unit can be installed on the deck of your roof quite easily. Some solar panel manufacturers also include accessories or attachment which fits your roof tiles or frame.

Installing the solar panel is straight forward, but it does require some strength. Although the entire solar module is quite light, but carrying it to the top of your roof can be a challenge. You will need a sturdy ladder and safety gear when you are doing the installation process.

Personally, I will do the installation myself for smaller solar component. However, if I need a complete solar system which will generate power for my house, most probably I will engage the service of a professional solar contractor.

How safe is it when we engage a solar contractor? What if they make a mistake and our house burns down?

If you are in the process of choosing a contractor to install the solar system, it is best to look at their history and precious track records.

There are not a lot of barriers for anyone to start a solar system installation business. The only thing we can use to judge the contractor’s capability is from their previous work.

It is a pain to go through all the list of contractors to find the one you like. Nonetheless, it is a necessity which will save you a lot of time, money and headache later.

To get started on using solar energy for your home, download a free copy of the 30 Solar and Wind Power For Homes Videos e-book. Just fill in the form on the top right for instant download.

When you are doing your own Do It Yourself (DIY) home solar power system, there are a lot of challenges you have to face. One particular problem is damaged solar panel.

If you are using new solar panel, a damaged panel is covered by the warranty. You can simply send it back to the manufacturer and get a new one. What if you want to use a damaged Photovoltaic (PV) panel?

But why would anyone want to use damaged solar components? Reason being, damaged goods are cheaper. Some faulty solar panels can still be used but the power output may be lesser. The tricky part is to test the solar panel to make sure it is within its working capacity.

To check the solar panel, begin by having a quick look at the specification of the module. Next, get a multi-meter ready.

Position the panel in such a way so that the sun light is shining on the PV cells. The first process is to test the voltage.

Inside the junction box of the PV panel, you will see a “+” and a “-” sign. But be careful when you are doing this. Some PV modules are live and there is a risk of you being electrocuted. Use caution and make sure you do things appropriately.

Get your multi-meter set to DC volt at the 200 volts marking. Make sure you switch the leads from amps to volt. This is a very common mistake people do and that will give you incorrect readings.

Now, stick the positive lead on the positive terminal and then do the same with the negative leads. Looking at the specs, you will expect to see about 22 volts. If you were to change the angle of the solar panel towards the sun, you may see some increase or decrease of the readings.

The next thing you have to do is test the amperage readings. Set your multi-meter to read current and place the leads on the positive and negative terminals respectively. If the readings are within the factory specification, the solar panel is good to go.

Homemade Solar Power Guide

Do you need help to make your own DIY home solar power system? If you do, check out John Russel’s Power4Home guide. The manual comes with pdf files and step by step High Definition (HD) instructional videos. For more information, click on the link below.

In this post, l thought of doing a quick review on the Brunton Solaris 26 that I found on Amazon.com. The 26 is actually a full foldable solar panel array. The unit has a total power output of about 15.4 volts and 1.6 amps, assuming you take it out on a clear sunny day. That is not a lot of power, but if you are out in the wilderness, it is pretty much the only choice you have to get power.

The best part about the Brunton 26 is its weight…or lack of it. The 26 weights only 1.7 pounds and it is also very flexible. The unit is made of some kind of rubberized nylon material.

The Brunton 26 is very portable because it comes with a carry bag and also several different kind of power connectors so you can use it to charge a lead acid battery or your electronic gadgets.

When the 26 is folded, it measure about 8 inches x 12 inches x 1 inch thick and it will fit nicely in your bag pack. The solar array is pretty much indestructible. You can drop it, throw it on the group, drop stuff on it and not having to worry too much about it getting damaged.

When the 26 is unfolded, it measure 26 inches x 38 inches, which is fairly large. This is good because it gives you a greater space to collect the energy from the sun.

To use the Brunton 26, you can simply unfold it, lay it out on a flat surface making sure there are no shadows cast over it. Next, connect the charging cable to the panel and then connect the device you want to charge to the cable. It is that simple.

DIY Home Solar Power Guide

Want to know how you can reduce your home electricity bill with solar power. If you do, check out Michael Harvey’s Earth 4 Energy guide. It comes with pdf e-books and step by step High Definition (HD) instructional videos. Read the Earth4Energy reviews on this blog for more information.