Before you buy....Built a solar panel system from scratch for alternative energy use and have first hand experience, I feel before you put the hard earned money into the solar system to save energy, there are some things worth considering.My system has not been running at full capacity so far, but I have learned something that might be good for those who are considering using solar energy.I intend to reduce and/or cancel my small bill.The more I save, the less money I have to mail to light companies every month.I try to break this addiction.First, there are four main components that make up the solar system.They are solar panels, controllers, batteries and inverters.The chart on the right shows my actual kilowatt usage.In July 20, I started my solar project.1.-The solar panel consists of photovoltaic cells arranged in series, totaling 18 volts.Charge correctly 12-Volt battery, the voltage must be at least 18 volts.These cells are approximately produced.5 volts each.These cells were then welded in series (negative to positive) for a total of 36 cells ).36 x .5 = 18 volts.Each added solar panel will be wired in parallel (positive and negative ).This will increase the power while keeping the voltage constant.Solar panels only generate electricity and do not store it.Battery will be required for storage.a.Purchase or manufacture of solar panels..--The main benefit of building your own solar panels is the saving of a lot of dollars.I have a 4 \ 'x8' solar panel on my system.Similar solar panels on the Internet cost $1100.00-$1300.00.I built my house for a total of 315.00.You can see the huge economic benefits of savings.You can find ads on the Internet for $100 to build your own panel.00 or less.When they list the items they need, they always have "on hand" items with no cost.I soon found out that I didn't have these things at home.My expenses went up to 315.00.Specific plans for making panels can be purchased for $20.00 and up.By reducing costs, I found that my break-even time was shortened to months rather than years.--Welding these batteries together is very tedious and time consuming work.I think this is because of the labor involved in the panel production process and why panels are so expensive in the market.In my 4 \ 'x8' panel, I have 144 cells.There are eight welding points per battery.There are two at the top and six at the bottom.They do provide pre-The option of a higher price card battery means less soldering.They are very fragile and easily broken.I believe I only broke two pieces when I made the panel.In order to keep my startup cost at the lowest level, I chose my own startup cost.I used to do very little welding, but I made rapid progress.In my personal opinion, I believe that ordinary people can do it with a little practice.2.Controller--Dual use of the controller.It adjusts the charge of the battery and displays the voltage and current from the solar panel.I have a 30 amp controller on my system.About 70.00.When it feels that the battery is fully charged, it reduces the charge to the battery to prevent overcharging.The controller also shows that the battery is insufficient/overcharged.I know I have to replace it with a larger amplifier when my capacity is over 30 amps.3.--The battery stores electricity generated by solar panels.It is recommended to use marine or deep circulating batteries in solar systems.You can pay around $85.00 per battery.The number of batteries required depends on the power and power usage generated by the solar panel.4.--The inverter converts the 12 v battery voltage to a 120 v AC voltage.The size of the inverter will depend on your power usage requirements.In my case, I have a 3,000 W Inverter with a peak load of 6,000 W.The price is around $300.00-$400.00.It will handle small appliances, ceiling fans, lights and refrigerators.I have to upgrade in the future, but I haven't upgraded yet.If you decide to make your own solar panels, you can buy solar cells on EBay.There is a Class B battery for sale.It has small chips on the edge of the cell.It is cheaper than A class A battery without chips, which can further save costs.My solar system has classes A and B.The voltage output of Class B batteries is not affected by the chip.It's more beautiful than anything.This may be a consideration for those who want to reduce costs further.I started my project and am not sure if I can do it.After the experience of building my first panel, I am now full of confidence in my solar system and very happy with the way it works.The system works fine.I did see my light bill reduced.This is the real money I saved by investing in time and money in return.I would like to provide some tips that I have learned.When the output exceeds the input of the solar panel, you start to drop.You will have no electricity sooner or later.Only the real skill gained from experience is to know how much you can use while keeping the battery well charged.There are several factors that affect the charging rate.Direct sunlight time, cloud cover, angle of solar panel relative to sun, etc.Find the middleIn the summer, I used my barn to power the building outside.I have two 20-A 24-hour mile electric fence controller.My solar system is almost free.I don't need to do anything when the system is running.I installed it last spring.We are now entering the autumn, and the time of day is decreasing.Coupled with long rainfall and cloud coverage, it remains to be seen how much it will affect power generation.If you encounter an ice storm, it will also be beneficial to have a solar system.With ten battery arrays, I can do it for 2-3 days, power the lights at home when the switch is flipped.This is an important benefit for me.Having said that, I'm sure you can make a more informed decision about your solar project