DIY SOLAR COULD BE THE BEST INVESTMENT EVER
TO BUILD OR TO BUY THAT IS THE QUESTION
My name is Dan and I am a Solarman. I have been a licensed contractor in the state of California since 1986. In addition I posess a NABCEP solar certificate and a degree in electronic technology. I am also a passionate do it your selfer and will tackle just about anything if I can save a dollar or two in the process. I have thoroughly researched the DIY solar market and have come to the conclusion that for the do it yourself-er it could be one of the best financial decisions ever!However, that being said there seem to be a whole lot of inaccurate or incomplete information out there on the web in regards to DIY solar systems. So much so that I have felt compelled to begin this blog and hopefully bring clarity and common sense to the DIY solar cyber world.
This week I will address DIY solar panels. There are literally hundreds of sites that want to show you how to build your own panel. Most claim that this can be done for under 200.00 per panel. I do not dispute the validity of that claim what so ever. Here is where I take issue:
- Your home built panel is not certified by Underwriter Lavatories, which means it can never be interconnected with your electric utility company. And never pass a building inspection.
- This completely takes a grid tied solar system out of the equation and limits you to a battery backup stand alone system. This means you now have to buy and maintain a bank of batteries and a charge controller thus increasing the overall cost and maintenance of your solar system.
- Pre built solar panels come from major solar manufactures such as Sanyo, Sharp, and Hitatachi to name a few. They come with the Underwriter Lavatory certification and a 25 to 30 yr warranty.
- The cost of manufactured solar panels has recently come down and most can now be purchased for around 400.00. You can then apply the state and federal credits and incentives to your purchase price (average around 50%) thus reducing your overall manufactured panel price to 200.00. If you take the batteries and the charge controller out of the equation the price gets even better yet.
Grid tied solar systems hands down are the way to go. Not only will your utility company pay you a lump sum upon the completion of your system (around 20%) , the federal give will also give you an additional 30% tax credit. In addition your utility company will pay you for any electricity that your system generates above and beyond your daily usage. The neat thing about grid interaction is it allows for a smaller system (fewer panels) to produce the same result (which is of course to eliminate your electric bill). Plus you can say bye bye to those nasty batteries. The end result is a return of investment in 4 yrs or less, no additional out of pocket money, and a net profit in the tens of thousands of dollars. I know of a web site comming in late feburary www.energyeducationalproducts.com that does an excellent job of explaining this scenario. Click on THE FORMULA link, the results are pretty impressive. Stay tuned next week when I will again attempt to bring clarity to the DIY solar world.. My name is Dan and I am A Solarman,
.
My name is Dan and I am a Solar man. I have been a licensed contractor in the state of California since 1986. In addition I possess a NABCEP solar certificate and a degree in electronic technology. I am also a passionate do it your selfer. I have felt compelled to begin this blog and hopefully bring clarity and common sense to the DIY solar cyber world. 
Dan
Thank you for the answer on Yahoo, and I must tell you how relieved I am to have an expert in California set out the correct position on DIY solar panels.
If you add to you comment on cost, the $50.00 the home owner has to pay for the scam plans, which is where the worst of the issue sits, you see why we are being so aggressive on this topic.
The complete list of all energy saving scams is at:
http://open4energy.com/forum/home/scam/energy_saving_scams
Also, please can you email me at bischoff.alex (at) open4energy.com – or use the contact us from on our site.
Yes to exchange links, but I would like to discuss how we can help each other get this scam put to rest.
Alex
I am currently reading it on my Blackberry and will scan it once I get home. I love your site and marketing strategy. Check out my website if you get a chance.
I am glad that I stumbled upon your site on Bing. I really enjoyed your post. If you are interested in swapping links with each other’s sites, let me know. I’d be happy to get on each other’s blogrolls. Here is my site: Lose The Back Pain Scam.
Hi, I’m Julie and I’m kind of new to blogging. I still have an AOL email if that tells you anything:) My question is this, do you use a free blog template (or is it called a theme?) or did you buy it somewhere? Lots of stuff to learn
Thanks, Julie
Hi, I found your blog on google. I’m pretty gladto have found your websitebecause I think it is informative! Really good teaching material for my students. Ruth
You blog entry surely was one of the best parts of my Saturday. I was on Google searching for something totally unrelated when the post caught my attention. I’m glad I took the time to read your blog! Feel free to check out my blog at Acne Free In 3 Days Review!
Hi – really great website you have made. I enjoyed reading this posting. I did want to publish a comment to tell you that the design of this site is very aesthetically pleasing. I used to be a graphic designer, now I am a copy editor for a merchandising firm. I have always enjoyed playing with computers and am attempting to learn computer code in my spare time (which there is never enough of lol).
Very good text. I’ve found your site via Yahoo and I’m really happy about the information you provide in your articles. Btw your sites layout is really messed up on the Kmelon browser. Would be great if you could fix that. Anyhow keep up the good work!
I had been looking at something else about this at a different site. Useful. Your opinion about it is really diametrically opposed to what I heard originally. I am still deliberating about the contrary opinions, but I
Rather great post, really beneficial information. Never ever considered I would find the tips I need in this article. I have been scouring throughout the internet for some time now and was starting to get frustrated. Luckily, I happened across your site and acquired exactly what I had been hunting for.
We were scanning something else about this on another blog. Fascinating. Your own angle on it is very much diametrically different to what That i learned at first. I’m even now deliberating about the different points of view, nevertheless I am leaning to some extent toward yours. And regardless, that
I started reading something similar about this over at a different journal. Intriguing. Your own angle about it is actually diametrically opposed to everything that We understood in the first place. I am nonetheless wondering over the reverse ideas, but I am leaning to a great extent towards yours. And no matter, that’s exactly what’s so amazing regarding modern-day democracy and also the marketplace of thoughts on the internet.
I was checking some other information about this on another site. Intriguing. Your own perspective on it happens to be diametrically different to just what That i read earlier. I’m even now wondering over the opposite opinions, but I am leaning to some extent toward yours. And importantly, that’s exactly what exactly is so great about modern-day democracy along with the marketplace regarding choices on-line.
Hi there I like your post
I am to a great extent impressed with the article I have just read. I wish the writer of solarmandan.com can continue to provide so much practical information and unforgettable experience to solarmandan.com readers. There is not much to state except the following universal truth: When in somebody else?s house you only realise that they have ran out of toilet paper after you have used the toilet I will be back.
It’s a blessing that I found your article on the internet, I’ll try it and see how it goes, saved me time and headache trying to figure it out by myself. thanks
It’s a blessing that I found your article on the net, I’ll try it and see how it goes, saved me time and headache trying to figure it out by myself. thanks
Just wanted to say that you have some awesome content on your website. If it’s OK I would like to use some of it on my webiste. If I link back to your website would it be OK to do so?
Greetings Daniel
yes, by all means. Feel free to use what you need.
Definitely agree with what you stated. Your explanation was certainly the easiest to understand. I tell you, I usually get irked when folks discuss issues that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail right on the head and explained out everything without complication. Maybe, people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
Thanks for the info… I truly like this blog. I bookmarked this post and will unquestionably be making a return visit.
Hi just thought i would tell you something.. This is twice now i’ve landed on your blog in the last 3 days looking for completely unrelated things. Spooky or what?
i’m constantly bouncing all over the online world just about all of the week so I tend to browse a whole lot, which unfortunately isn’t always a good thing as many of the internet sites I visit are constructed of unnecessary trash copied from similar internet sites a zillion times, however I have to give you credit this blog is frankly decent and also consists of some original information, therefore thanks for splitting the phenomena of exactly duplicating other folks’ websites, if you ever wanna have fun with playing a couple of hands of facebook poker with me just shout out – you have my e mail
i might not have contemplated this had been useful a few years ago nonetheless it’s amusing just how time shifts the method by which you respond to contrasting ideas, many thanks regarding the article it happens to be nice to browse something intelligent now and then in lieu of the typical garbage mascarading as blogs and forums on the web, cheers
Hi. I treasured to drop you a quick note to verbalize my thanks. I’ve been observing your blog for a month or so and have plucked up a heap of fabulous information as well as enjoyed the way you’ve structured your site. I am seeking to run my own blog however I think its too general and I would like to focus more on smaller topics.
Great post, I really enjoy your blog and i will definitely be stopping by again. Would you be interested in exchanging blogroll links? Please let me know, thanks!
Wow, really great info. This blog is really cool. I bookmarked this and will return once again.
Thanks!
Very nice article I like your website keep up the good posts
I have to admit I am very impressed with the quality of your blog. It is certainly a pleasure to read as I do enjoy your posts.
I’m really glad I found this post. I’ve been scouring the web for information on solar energy for awhile.Looking forward to reading through more posts about energy.