Looking for DIYer in the Inland Empire, SoCal

[SunEagle]

but about lowering my carbon footprint. Just one individual, but I'll make that difference if and when I can. I'm excited about the path toward renewable energy and the new paradigm of energy independence (democratization) on individual levels.

WTF?

russ

It comes down to what each individual feels they want and can do to help reduce carbon. For some people it matters, for others it doesn't.

I have switched from driving my Tundra @ 15mpg to a Chevy @ 25mpg. But my reason is saving on my fuel costs. I really don't believe (or care) my reduction in carbon emissions will make a difference on climate change.

But for some people, I guess what I am doing is helping.

[russ]

but about lowering my carbon footprint. Just one individual, but I'll make that difference if and when I can. I'm excited about the path toward renewable energy and the new paradigm of energy independence (democratization) on individual levels.

WTF?

[bcroe]

I do have to put NUMBERS together, as you say, for the simple reason that I'm not wealthy. But for me the bottom line is not so much about breaking even, but about lowering my carbon footprint. Just one individual, but I'll make that difference if and when I can. I'm excited about the path toward renewable energy and the new paradigm of energy independence (democratization) on individual levels. I believe the grid needs to be in place and paid for (by everyone tied into it), but even that may take new form as storage technology continues to develop.

btw, I'm in SoCal. Very low electrical usage—bill is <$40/mo including charging elec car—save the really hot months when I do use air conditioning. The panel array I would need to meet my usage will not be large.

I heat the house with solar PV in northern IL. Purchased 0 KWH in the last 12 months; $15.95
a month for connection. PV generation is about 28,000 KWH a year. Bruce Roe

[Pawl]

Keep reading and researching. Understand your energy use, possible conservation, and
potential PV generation. Until you can put NUMBERS on these, you're not ready to think
about specific equipment. PV solar is expensive, breaking even can be a distant event.
A good DIYer may find opportunities to reduce cost, an engineering degree helps.

Some of us greatly favor PV ground mounts, when there is space available. In the
east & midwest the weather will dominate how efficiently your system operates.
Bruce Roe

I do have to put NUMBERS together, as you say, for the simple reason that I'm not wealthy. But for me the bottom line is not so much about breaking even, but about lowering my carbon footprint. Just one individual, but I'll make that difference if and when I can. I'm excited about the path toward renewable energy and the new paradigm of energy independence (democratization) on individual levels. I believe the grid needs to be in place and paid for (by everyone tied into it), but even that may take new form as storage technology continues to develop.

btw, I'm in SoCal. Very low electrical usage—bill is <$40/mo including charging elec car—save the really hot months when I do use air conditioning. The panel array I would need to meet my usage will not be large.

[bcroe]

Thank you bcroe, Samsolar, Suneagle, et al.

I'm in the research phase only—with limited free time/capital to put towards a solar project. My small house is not positioned to capture full sun, but the back of my yard would have full sun all day, so I've been thinking of a pedestal mount of panels, perhaps in 2016. I figured I could learn from folks who have installed their own system, and then decide whether it was feasible for me, and if so, how much help (and what kind) I would need.

I'll read through more threads, and glean what I can along the way.

Keep reading and researching. Understand your energy use, possible conservation, and
potential PV generation. Until you can put NUMBERS on these, you're not ready to think
about specific equipment. PV solar is expensive, breaking even can be a distant event.
A good DIYer may find opportunities to reduce cost, an engineering degree helps.

Some of us greatly favor PV ground mounts, when there is space available. In the
east & midwest the weather will dominate how efficiently your system operates.
Bruce Roe

[Pawl]

Thank you bcroe, Samsolar, Suneagle, et al.

I'm in the research phase only—with limited free time/capital to put towards a solar project. My small house is not positioned to capture full sun, but the back of my yard would have full sun all day, so I've been thinking of a pedestal mount of panels, perhaps in 2016. I figured I could learn from folks who have installed their own system, and then decide whether it was feasible for me, and if so, how much help (and what kind) I would need.

I'll read through more threads, and glean what I can along the way.

[bcroe]

SolarPanelTalk is a community with various forums, which in turn
contain any number of threads. At least, this is how I understand it (and how it appears).

I would welcome some edification here. If not DIY build your own solar panels, as defined
by the website, and not DIY installing, what are the website's owners' intentions for this
area of the community discussion board?

Is your immediate goal to build panels, or to set up a system with panels you have built?
I spent considerable resources trying to figure out how to build panels that would actually
work. After very many failures, and discarding about everything you see on the internet,
a real panel was produced. Meanwhile the price of commercial panels nosedived. I
concluded that to get something economical & effective going, in my lifetime, commercial
is the way to go.

For installation, you can go off grid, usually involving batteries, or grid tie. What is
your plan/idea? Bruce Roe

[SunEagle]

I get that.

Pawl.

There are many threads on this forum including those where people have performed up to 100% of their own install of a grid tie PV system.

There is also a section on building your own solar panels which has been tried and will continue to be performed by people wanting to learn the basics of how solar pv works.

Unfortunately while there is some structure to the threads you will have to review a number to find what you are looking for. You can learn a lot about solar pv here so hang around and check out the threads and enjoy.

[Samsolar]

Pawl,

Check out the thread "Central Valley Solar Need". You'll get some good info from those that have completed DIY installs as well as those that say it is only for a select group of exceptionally brilliant individuals.

Good luck with your project.

SAM

[Pawl]

There are a number of prolific posters here who are very anti-DIY.

I get that.

[Pawl]

SolarPanelTalk is a community with various forums, which in turn contain any number of threads. At least, this is how I understand it (and how it appears).

I would welcome some edification here. If not DIY build your own solar panels, as defined by the website, and not DIY installing, what are the website's owners' intentions for this area of the community discussion board?

[russ]

Russ, I quote from this website that you help to moderate:

Forum: DIY solar panels
DIYers, this is the solar forum you have been looking for to learn how to make your own solar panels!

Correcting the website language would be better than chastising a member, imho.

Get a life - This is not opinion but copy/paste from the home page

Solar Forum - Solar Energy Discussion Board on Solar Panels and Products

The thread is DIY panels

[Pawl]

The forum is Solar Panel Talk - the thread is DIY

No one in their right mind is building their own panels today - it costs more to build a poor quality panel than to buy a factory made one with a guarantee.

Russ, I quote from this website that you help to moderate:

Forum: DIY solar panels
DIYers, this is the solar forum you have been looking for to learn how to make your own solar panels!

Correcting the website language would be better than chastising a member, imho.

[russ]

'The name of this forum is "DIY solar panels."'

The forum is Solar Panel Talk - the thread is DIY

No one in their right mind is building their own panels today - it costs more to build a poor quality panel than to buy a factory made one with a guarantee.

[foo1bar]

Yes, thanks for that. Does building one's own solar panels take less intelligence than installing them? Should I assume that all the DIY solar panel builders then hire professional installers to install them? Professional installers [should] have nothing to fear from the very, very few who would venture to install their own solar panels. At least it seems that way to me, but I'm open to learning otherwise.

Thanks.

DIY solar panel building is I think essentially non-existant. It doesn't make sense economically at this point.