These days, the cost of fuel rises almost as fast as concerns about global warming and funding for terrorists. Solar energy is becoming an attractive alternative to petroleum and coal, and you have probably even seen arrays of photovoltaic cells on large office buildings. Unfortunately, the trend is growing less rapidly in residential areas, largely because of the upfront cost, the aesthetics and the presumed hassle of installation. However, these disinclinations are generally misguided. While solar panels are certainly not cheap, there are a plethora of tax rebates available on state and federal levels, and the deduction -- or elimination -- of your electricity bill will pay you back and then some over time.
If you're particularly stingy and love breaking out the power tools, like my dad, you can lower the upfront cost of a panel even more by installing it yourself. Be advised that if you aren't an electrician or an avid do-it-yourselfer, this project probably isn't for you, and you will likely wind up saving yourself a lot of money, time and pain by simply calling in a professional. If you can use a ladder, a stud-finder and common sense, though, you can probably at least perform the basic setup.
The first step in setting up a solar panel is making sure you can legally install it. Check with your homeowner's association (HOA), unless you live in one of the following states, which have laws protecting solar access rights: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin.
The following states have have guidelines that offer homeowners some leeway in installing solar panels, but you should still check: Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Utah.
If you live in one of the other states, start pressuring your government to grant you solar access rights, and in the mean time, be sure to check with your HOA before you install anything.
No matter where you live, you'll also need to obtain a building permit, so contact your local building authority (county and city). In some states, you actually have to be licensed to install solar panels. You will also have to have your solar panel inspected, and you will have to obtain permission from the power company to connect. (If you hire professionals, they take care of all this.)
The second step is to select the optimal spot for a panel. You want to put it in the place that will receive the maximum amount of sunlight at noon. Typically, this is the south facing part of your roof, but if you have several trees or a large shadow-casting building on the south side, you may need to hunt for a better spot. Also, you need to make sure your roof is sturdy enough to hold a panel, or you're going to wind up with a costly hole. You certainly don't have to install a panel on the roof; you can also put it on a pole in the yard, but these take up more space and are easier to see from the road (if aesthetic appeal concerns you).
In addition to where you put your solar panel, you will have to determine the optimal angle for your panel. The basic formula for this is adding 15 degrees to your latitude in the winter and subtracting 15 in the summer (yes, this means you have to adjust your panel throughout the year). If you really want to maximize your solar energy output, multiply your latitude by .9 and add 30 degrees to your latitude in the winter; subtract 2.5 degrees in the spring and autumn; and subtract 52.5 degrees from the winter angle in the summer.
When you have optimized the setup location and angle, you are ready to begin installation. Most solar panel kits come with a mounting apparatus. Typically, this involves two metal rails and a metal piece that screws into the panel and slides in between the rails, kind of like the sliders for a drawer. EasyJack and Tile Trac are the most common brands.
For the installation, you will need a stud-finder or the blueprints of your house, a drill with a pilot bit, steel bolts, a ladder, roof flashing or caulk, and of course a solar panel kit.
1. Use the stud-finder to find the studs on your roof. You can also look at your blueprints, but this is less reliable. You need to drill into studs because they offer the sturdiest support and are less likely to splinter or break.
2. Measure how far apart the holes on the mounting rails are, and drill holes in the studs this far apart. Use a pilot bit so you don't split the wood.
3. Line up the holes in the mounting rails with the holes you drilled and insert steel bolts through them. Seal the area around the bolts with roof flashing or caulk so your roof doesn't leak.
4. Put the mounting interface on the solar panel (each kit has its own straightforward instructions) and slide the interface into the rails.
5. Make sure the solar panel is at least 6 inches from the roof: this will give it proper ventilation and keep it operating efficiently (and keep it from starting a fire). Adjust it to the angle you calculated.
6. If you have background in electric work, connect the conduit of the panel to the inverter. If you don't know what that means, call a professional electrician.
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