installing solar panels on roof?

Question

What is a good sight that I could go to about installing solar panels and all of the considerations of it?

Answer 1

That depends on what type of solar you are talking about. There is PV (photo voltaic) and Thermal solar which uses the sun's warmth to heat water run through your home.

People still think that PV solar is the only kind and yet Thermal solar is actually the more efficient and most benefical solar power for the enviroment.

Here are some links for you...

This site has all sorts of alternate power options for the home, I linked it to the grid-tied home solar systems.
http://www.wholesalesolar.com/Gridtie.html

This site is for Thermal Solar heat systems
http://www.solarroofs.com/purchase/index.html#C

In both cases I would recommend you call to get specifics before ordering anything.

Answer 2

Just do a search for "Solar Panels". There are many. Be careful of claims made by many sales companies. A typical "On Grid" system that works along with your normal power source will cost $15,000-$20,000 installed. It will produce about 3000 Watts peak power. This is 3 Kilowatts. An average cost of power in the U. S. is about $.10 /Kilowatt hour. This typical system will save about 30 cents / hour during the peak sunshiny hours of the day. You only get a few peak hours/day, so figure about 6-8 hours and about 1/2 the days due to cloudy days. If the interest lost is at 5%, you will never pay for it.

Get a non biased professional to calculate your actual savings before purchasing any system. Most systems will either lose money or take many years to pay back. It has a lot to do with where you live.

Another option is to "Lease" your system and only pay for electricity produced. This way you get a good professional system completely installed with little or no money up front. Look at citizenre.com

Answer 3

Go have a look at the web site
http://www.homepower.com

This is the web site for the magazine Homepower. You should probably get a copy of the magazine and have a look (there is a Free Sample Issue botton on the site). It contains articles about real people and their solar collectors. It usually details what kind of system they have and provides an illustration of the different parts.

These articles and illustrations are very helpful to people who are new to the topic.

They also have articles on things are far ranging as the national electrical codes for solar electric panels, building your own electric car and solar ovens for cooking.

Check the site out and then request a free magazine.

Answer 4

I don't think renting is a good way to go. In the end you have nothing to show for it. Solar electric will pay for it's self just has a high startup cost.

You know if you buy a house you have to pay $20,000 up front and make payments about the same as renting a home.

I guess I don't understand why someone would buy a home and put all that money out up front? And then pay $900 plus a month for the next 30 years when they could rent for the same price?

Whats the dif?

If you think about it people will spend $40,000 on a new car or SUV when it will never pay for it's self at all or ever. When they could get a $9,000 car that would do the same thing for just as long. ?????

Check out this web page http://www.oynot.com/solar-info.html to understand how to buy and setup a solar electric system. Then check out this page http://www.oynot.com/how-solar.html to see how the cost adds up for you.

Answer 5

Biggest problem is availability of sunshine in the UK. Do you get enough to warrant the fuss or financial layout? Another problem is the orientation of your roof. Facing directly south, with a slope (in degrees) equal to your longitude would be ideal. As far as electricity goes, you have to be tied into the grid to take care of the times you are not generating all the power you need. When you are generating more than you need, you sell it but get paid at the rate the utility normally pays, a lot less than you would pay to buy from them. Still, it's something.

Answer 6

I didn't research this.
I do know that you must install them on the side or area of the roof that receives the most Sun all day.

You can get information at stores like Lowes or HomeDepot.

Answer 7

Check out this page:

http://solarcentral.org/drupal/?q=node/603

It has both text description and video clips for solar installation process.

Answer 8

Homemade Solar Power Videos : http://Solar.eudko.com/?mYL

Answer 9

I did research this. There are so many sites.

Here is one http://www.genself.com/cost_return.htm#
I will get you more if you like

Thanks for your question