Q: How does solar energy work?
A: Simply put, a solar cell captures a portion of the sunlight that strikes it, and through a series of electrical connectors in the cell, converts the sunlight into useable DC Power. From there, the energy can be used for charging batteries, powering DC appliances, or it can be ran through a DC to AC Power Inverter and then used to power AC appliances, or sent back out to the utility grid where the electric utility will use it and purchase the energy from you.

Q: What types of solar panels are available?
A: There are many different types of solar panels that are available commercially. DIY Solar Guide offers a wide variety of these panels to our customers, in an attempt to offer panels that fit every application and budget. There are Amorphous Solar Panels which are most commonly known as the type of solar panels that you find in solar powered calculators, Concentrator Solar Panels which are solar panels that magnify the sunlight much like a pair of glasses used to start a fire to increase the efficiency of the solar panel, Crystalline Solar Panels which are the traditional solar panels that you see on people’s homes that are made from visible blue solar cells inside an encapsulation, and Flexible Solar Panels which are the solar panels that are flexible and rollable and can be adapted to fit and attach nearly anywhere.

Q: If I want to use solar energy on my home, will I need anything other than the solar panels?
A: Chances are, yes, for most applications (large or small) you will need additional components than just the solar panels. Depending on your application, your additional components will vary, but the most common additional components are: Solar Charge Controllers which are used to ensure that your batteries are not overcharged by your solar system; DC to AC Power Inverters which are used to invert the DC Power from your solar panels into AC Power used by most appliances and utility grids; Solar Energy Batteries and Solar Panel Mounting Hardware.

Q: Do I have the right solar resources to make a solar energy system worthwhile?
A: This is a question that has to be answered on a site by site basis. For the most part, most sites are capable a certain size solar system. To determine if your site can, you have a couple of options. First, you can hire a solar energy professional to perform a site survey for you. Or, if you would rather not invest the money in a professional, you can try our DIY Solar Site Survey to do a site survey for yourself, free of charge. It is just as reliable as a professional site survey, at a much, much lower cost-- $0.00.

Q: If I want to provide the majority of my home’s electrical needs with solar power?
A: The answer to this that is no simple answer to this question. There are a number of factors that need to be addressed when answering this question. You will need to know how much of your home power you would like to operate with solar; 50%, 75% as much as possible. You will also need to know what your power usage is (this can be easily found on your monthly electric bill). And also, you will need to decide whether you will using a battery backup for your system or not, and whether your system will be grid-tied or off-grid. Also, a solar site survey will help you determine the solar resources at your location.

Q: How much can I expect a grid-tied solar system to cost?
A: This depends on the size of the system that you need, and the supplier of materials you use. Generally, grid-tie systems can run from under $10,000 for a smaller system to $70,000 + for larger solar systems. Of course, you will also need to invest in permits, installation fees, and additional system parts such as wiring, disconnects, and others that are typically not included in a prepackaged system.