In the latest version of the Resources page we have interesting reference to information on UL listing of solar equipment.

SolarByTheWatt.com

Begin by establishing exactly how much of your home’s total energy usage you want to be run on solar power. Do you want solar power merely to heat the water and the water-heating system? Do you want to go completely off-grid and power the whole house by solar power? Either way, you’ll need to know how much energy your home is consuming per month on average.

Using your monthly utility bills, calculate your home’s average energy usage. Note any peak times when you use radically more energy. The Christmas period can cause surprisingly heavy energy demands. In essence, you need to design your solar power system to cope with your home’s maximum energy demand.

Once you have these figures, I recommend multiplying the amount by at least 1.5. This will give you a working leeway for any extra appliances you might add to your home over time. Now you know how much solar energy you need to pull in from the sun, you also have an idea of the amount of solar panels you will need to buy.

I would advise you to buy solar panels online. Go to Ebay and input the words “solar panel pallet”. You’ll probably get an amazing bargain there. Prices have dropped dramatically recently. For an average family house, you can probably buy enough panels to power your home for less than $15,000.

Get good quality skilled and experienced tradesmen to do the job. Again, look online or check your local phone book. Always get at least three quotations. Cost is central, but it is very important that they have previous experience in installing solar power for homes.

Once you have someone you can trust at a good price, discuss with them which inverter to get and how much that will cost. Solar panels harness the power from the sun and turn it into direct current (aka DC power). The inverter converts this DC current into alternating current, (aka AC power). Everyone who installs solar power for homes needs to buy an inverter. Just about everything in your home runs off AC so your inverter is essential.

A good inverter will cost about $2,000. Add another $500 or thereabouts for installation. Inverters have a lifespan of about 10 years, while solar panels, if looked after, will last 25-30 years. So you’ll probably need to replace your inverter over time.

If you want to go completely off-grid, you’ll need to store your excess energy in good quality batteries to store excess solar power harnessed on sunny days. That way, you’ll have a reserve of power to run your household appliances on darker days and at night-time. They cost about $50 – $100 each for the deep-cycle types. You’ll need about 10 of them. New batteries generally need replacing every 3-5 years.

Typically, your installation costs shouldn’t be much more than $10,000. However, installation costs depend on a variety of factors. How is your roof constructed? Steep roofs or Spanish tiles cost more to install as the panels need to be properly secured. Yet further cost goes into ensuring leak-proof seals in these roofing systems.

Installing solar power normally doesn’t need much electrical work to set up. Older houses may require additional rewiring, though this is rarely extensive. Nevertheless, have a qualified, experienced electrician check all the wiring.

Don’t forget to look for government support. Most local governments around the world are offering major tax credits. Your utility company might also have incentives to offer. These can all add up to as much as 50% of the total cost.

Final point – if you are investing in solar power for homes, it makes sense to protect your new asset. Ask your insurance advisor to add this to your homes and contents policy. Adding your new solar power system to your homeowner insurance policy won’t cost you more than $100 per annum. This will protect the investment you’ve made on your house. An additional $100 per year to cover your $40,000 solar system against any disaster really is an absolute bargain!

Look on your solar power system as a long-term investment. Each step of the installation process should be taken carefully. To remind yourself of the value of your investment, ask yourself, “What is the payback time?” Of course, after it’s all paid off, you have free electricity for years to come.

Consider if you were to take a loan to finance your solar power for homes system. Although it may seem like a hefty initial outlay, the monthly payments will probably be less than your current utility bill. So all ways up you’re saving money.

Of course saving money is not the only reason it makes good sense to install solar power for homes. It’s good to know that you are reducing your carbon footprint. Thereby your children and their children can inherit a planet worth living in. That’s the very least you can do for them, don’t you agree?

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As a travel magazine editor and publisher, a life coach and trainer, Sam Deane has seen the world. Nowadays, he dedicates most of his free time to maintaining the well-being of this precious, miraculous planet on which we live. Sam runs an important and lively blog about solar power. http://www.gosolarpowerforhomes.com

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_766371_27.html

Author: samdeane author www.articlealley.com

RV solar panels are a component of an electrical system which converts light from the sun to electricity. This electricity is used to charge the RV batteries and are capable of running all the basics in your RV, including the lighting and appliances. On great advantage of using RV solar panels is that you can travel to a wider variety of locations. No longer will you have to worry about finding a source of power for your vehicles when you travel. As long as the sun is shining, you will be taking your power with you.

Thousands of companies in countries around the world now offer different RV solar panels for your convenience. When you decide to make the purchase, spend time researching which options are available to you so you can buy the best system and the lowest possible price.

Silicon Solar

Silicon Solar have a wide range of RV solar panel kits and can cater with providing anything from a single 15W amorphous solar panel up to the top of the range RVMaxx 330W RV Solar Power Kit.

This can provide enough power to run most of your small appliances.

Alpine Survival

Alpine Survival is one of the top choices for people looking to purchase RV solar panels. The RV solar panels that they sell are durable, lightweight, and easy to transport. One of the benefits of these and other top of the line solar panels is that they continue to generate electricity even if they are in partial shade.

Even the clumsy need not worry about the durability of Alpine Survival RV solar panels. You can pack them up and transport them without worrying about breaking them. They are so durable that it has been reported that dropping them and stepping on them still does not cause them to be ruined (although I would not recommend trying)! These RV solar panels have a unique design with lightweight construction and a nylon fabric covering which allows the entire unit to be folded into the size of a book. This makes them perfect to store and transport.

Mr. Solar

Another brand to consider when purchasing RV solar panels is Mr. Solar. They sell many of the most high efficiency brand names and kits, including such reliable names as Sharp, Sanyo, Photowatt, Mitsubishi, BP, GE, and more. This selection of RV solar panels and kits will ensure that you can find the exact one you want for your RV.

If you love to travel, RV solar panels are the perfect option. Your trips will be more convenient because you will no longer have to base your destination on where you can find a power source. Not only that, but you will save money by reducing your use of a traditional gas generator. With rising fuel prices, RV solar panels make practical sense for any traveler.