The top pros and cons of green power

When you install solar panels, your home produces clean, zero-emissions electricity. If you're DIY-minded, you can build your own solar power system. In some cases, you can even build your own solar panels, although the amount you can effectively DIY home solar depends on how much you want to power.

Making your own solar panel is time-consuming and requires some electrical skills. However, it can also be gratifying – learning to build your own PV panel is a great way to understand how solar electricity is generated.

Before building your own solar panels, you must understand how solar cells generate electricity. Most solar panels today are made of crystalline silicon wafers, typically six inches square. When the sun shines on those wafers, their electrons start to move. This flow of electrons is an electrical current.

A single full-sized solar panel, like those used in rooftop solar power systems, will have 60 silicon wafers. You can also make smaller panels if your electricity needs are low. Once you've bought individual solar cells (they can be purchased online), the basic process for building your own solar panel goes like this:

1. Prepare the backing for your panel. Many DIY solar panel builders use a wooden board as the base for their solar cells. You'll need to drill holes in the board so that the wires for each cell can pass through.

2. Wire your solar cells together. This requires some experience with electrical work. Use a soldering iron to attach wire to the solar cells and then link each of the cells together.

3. Attach cells to your backing. If possible, affix each solar cell to the backing individually. This makes it easier to replace a single cell if it becomes damaged or stops operating correctly. 

A functional solar panel can produce electricity when the sun shines. However, a solar panel by itself is not useful. Suppose you are trying to generate electricity to power devices in your home. In that case, you need to pair your panel with an inverter that will turn direct current (DC) power from the sun into the alternating current (AC) power used in most modern electronic devices.

For a standalone off-grid system, you will also need to include a battery pack and charge controller in your DIY solar setup. The battery pack stores excess energy, and the charge controller manages the amount of electricity that flows through the battery.

The process is significantly more complicated if you want to build a solar panel system that will power your home. A standard grid-connected solar PV system that can power your home will have around 20 solar panels, each of which must be wired together and mounted to your roof (or in an unshaded ground location on your property). Most importantly, a qualified electrician has to confirm your system has been built correctly before your utility will allow you to connect your panels to the electric grid.

Whether you DIY your solar panel system with a solar kit or work with an experienced installer depends on why you want to install solar.

For small-scale off-grid installations, you can DIY it.

Solar panels are portable and convenient for a variety of off-grid uses. You don't have to build solar panels if you don't want to – there are inexpensive solar panel kits for sale that include each component you'll need for a DIY solar installation. Building a solar panel system is a good option if you want to construct a small off-grid system to power a cabin, RV, boat, or tiny home.

For a whole-home solar panel system, work with a solar installer.

When it comes to installing a full-scale solar power system on your property, working with a solar installer with significant experience can save you both time and money in the long run. Some of the top solar companies have been installing solar energy systems for decades – an experience that no amount of online research or DIY guides can replicate. Your solar installer can also help you find the financial incentives available in your area and complete the permits and applications necessary to get your solar energy system up and running.

To get a sense of how much you can save by installing a solar panel system for your home, review an instant solar estimate from EnergySage's Solar Calculator. If you're debating between building a solar power system and working with an installer, get quotes from local solar companies to see what it would cost. You can easily compare options from qualified installers in your area for free by joining the EnergySage Solar Marketplace.

This post originally appeared on Mother Earth News.