Habitat for Health | Resources

Building do-it-yourself panels can be a great and rewarding experience. However, without the right knowledge upfront, it can literally turn your project into a nightmare.

A good plan is key to everything in a do-it-yourself project, such as this one. In order to build your own solar panel array, you need to be able to see how you can get to your end goal.

But before you start building your own solar panels, you need to find out some important information, such as how much power is needed, what materials are needed, or even the legal ramifications of building the panels, in the first place.

The following are a few questions you should ask yourself, before beginning:

1. How much electricity do you currently produce? In order to understand how many panels you will need to start building, you need to know how much power you currently consume. Building do-it-yourself panels with the right power requirements upfront, can save headaches down the line.

2. What direction does your roof point? One of the most common items that people miss is the direction that their panel is facing to the sun. You should check which portions of your roof get the most sunlight in the morning, middle, and afternoon. Also as the seasons pass, you should note which areas seem to get the most exposure all year long.

3. Is your roof strong enough for solar panels? Face it, building do-it-yourself solar panels and mounting them on your roof is going to put it through tremendous loads. If it is not structurally sound to support them, you should check into other options such as installing them on the ground or on an external structure.

4. Do you have all the tools & materials you need? Starting with a good solar guide is probably the first step, before purchasing all of your materials involved. Sure, you can buy all recycled parts and build a system for less than $200. But if you want to build a system big enough for your house, you’ll need to shop for a few extra tools & parts.

5. Are there local laws & regulations governing solar panel construction? Although federal and state laws may protect you from local harassment when building your panel project, it is best to check first. Depending on the city you live in, you may need a permit to begin, since you are working with electricity. Or, you may need to work with your local association, to ensure neighborhood compliance.

Once you have discovered the answers to all these questions, you will be ready to ask some more. When building do-it-yourself solar panels, it is important to remove all your doubts about fears about building solar panels.