Capturing energy from the sun and converting it into a usable source of power for the Home is a fairly simple task for people wishing to take on a DIY home solar power project.  It can be as simple as black plastic hoses coiled in a sunny spot on the roof or in the garden, to capture the heat energy from the sun, bringing the water to a nice temperature for a shower, or even to heat a swimming pool.

Not a technologically advanced option.

However a box lined with Aluminum foil will also make a great, albeit slow grill or broiler for the Barbecue also.  Try it in the summertime and amaze the neighbors with your ingenuity.

The next step is nearly as simple.  An old car radiator, or series of old car radiators,  painted black and angled at 30˚ towards the sun will make your solar water heating just that little bit better.
Attach some copper tubes and a pump system to slowly trickle the water through the radiators, then send it to a well insulated storage tank, also painted black, for use within the home.
Showers, kitchen taps and for most washing purposes can be supplied on a continual basis even if the sun hasn’t been very strong for a day or so.

FIND PLANS FOR SOLAR PROJECTS HERE

An even more effective model for the DIY home solar power enthusiast is the

evacuated tube collection system, quite

easy to attempt as a project also.  Quite similar to the flat plate collector to look at, however the vacuum tube has a heat conductor attached to more efficiently trap in the heat of the sun.  Then water moves through this system similar to a heat exchange system  Certainly more expensive a project, energy or heat to the water can be stored and used more freely and effectively.

The ultimate of course is to actually provide energy to the home, weather that be to power the lights or to heat water using electricity etc,.. This is done using a photo voltaic cell, or PV cell.  This is certinaly one of the cleanest energy capture systems of alternate energy around the home.

There are many simple systems using little technical expertise that will provide substantial levels of power to adequately supplement your power supply.   The bigger the cells and the more that are linked together, then the greater potential for supply of a home’s needs.  These are available from many suppliers in kit form that to suit your power needs.

Homemade solar energy will demand little alteration to the look or structure of the home.

PLANS FOR SOLAR PANELS AVAILABLE HERE

Installation on the roof is the most common location, and strengthening is usually not required.  Primarily, it needs to be in the sun, avoid shade at all costs!!

Some people become so proud of the look and use of solar panels in their home they actually incorporate them into designs around the home as well.

The DIY home solar power options have become quite expansive over the last few years.  No longer are these expensive toys for the rich and famous, but the backyard enthusiast can also now afford  many convenient ways to save on their energy bills.

Using coils and pipes is an older method that could only harness the sun on the hotter days.  With PV technology now however we can harness the power of the sun, even on colder, winter overcast days.  That makes the power available all year round now, so long as some light is shining.
What an achievement!

Tags: Business, diy home solar power, Electricity, Energy, Renewable, Solar, Solar cell, Swimming pool, Technology