Question by omo Baba-Agba: How do I build a solar system to power my house? I would like to DIY it.?
Best answer:
Answer by hound9_4
I am not sure what you are talking about. The source of power in the solar system is the sun, which operates by fusion. No one knows how to produce controlled fusion yet, although people have been studying this problem for decades.
Add your own answer in the comments!
3 comments
No ping yet
Cautiously Optimistic says:
April 10, 2014 at 5:44 pm (UTC 0)
I don’t have an answer for you, but you might want to clarify that you are discussing a solar ENERGY system for your home. Not FUSION. Good luck to you.
BubbaGump says:
April 10, 2014 at 5:46 pm (UTC 0)
One assumes that you are speaking about a house that is powered by solar source energy, and not a proper solar system, with a star and attendant gases and planets. However, this questions is under physics for some reason.
If that is so, I wouldn’t advise a DIY project unless you are an electrician. There are several ways to convert a house to solar-source power. First of all, you want to do an assessment of your geographic location and the number of average solar access hours per year. If you are in Minnesota, for example, it might be very difficult to get enough exposure. You also will want to check the exposure to sunlight that you housing lot has and any obstacles caused by vegetation or buildings. There are just some things you can’t change, like your neighbors 50-foot tall eucalyptus trees that are between your lot and the path of the sun.
Some people use passive solar design to achieve lower energy bills, rather than go to the expense and trouble of buying and installing a solar-powered system. This can mean insulating your house more efficiently, improving R factors through the intelligent use of batting, windows, materials, etc. You can also try installing zone HVAC systems. Additionally, using any local winds or planting vegetation to help cool your house helps.
Passive solar can lower your dependence on electrical or gas source powered, but you will still need electricity. IF you get enough sun, or have enough acreage and money, you can install photovoltaic solar panels (think sky lab) to capture energy which you would store in fixed batteries (a lot of them, even today). For example, a 20W flexible solar panel costs about 300 dollars (you can charge a 12V battery or use some minor DC appliances (as long as you have sunlight). So to run a stereo, you might need about 20 of these, and while the fleixble kind are more expensive (but portable), you are looking at 6000 dollars. Of course, accumulated in batteries, this might not be so bad. There are also low-light panels available, too.
There are all kinds of different ways to do what you have in mind. The type of method will depend on the desired outcome. Heating water, for example, will be different.
Good luck, while there are DIY kits for mobile homes (which are plug and play) I don’t advise messing with your wiring system unless you know what you are doing.
Mick says:
April 10, 2014 at 5:55 pm (UTC 0)
On my website you can read my story of how my dad made solar panels at home for a little over $ 200, and now he pays nothing to the electric company.