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DIY photovoltaics

14 Dec 09 | Solar Electric

I saw this article on MSNBC:

Solar technology is going where it has never gone before: onto the shelves at retail stores where do-it-yourselfers can now plunk a panel into a shopping cart and bring it home to install.

I suppose this was inevitable.  However, before a homeowner simply plugs a solar panel into a house, a agreement is needed with the servicing utility company.  Not doing the proper paper work can result in having the electric service disconnected.  Something the article touches on briefly.

Installing one solar panel will generate about 160-175 watts of power, depending on the temperature.  This is enough to run a desktop computer, a few lights and a flat panel TV.  Obviously, if the homeowner is serious about solar electric, a larger system is needed.

One other thing the article noted:

If you want more solar power, you can snap another panel to the first, kind of like Legos.

However, each time you snap another panel on the system, the entire system needs to be re-permitted by the utility, at least in New York State.

It will be interesting to see how this idea develops.

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14 Dec 09 | Solar Electric
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Reader's Comments

  1. Eric | December 14th, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    I have predicted this for a while. In fact, I see the mass availability of Plug and Play modules as the downfall of the residential PV installation market. A few reasons:

    1. How long before you see a crew of roofers or painters, for that matter, with electrical trainee cards and one electrician installing this equipment? (IE; easier technology, cheap labor = saturated install market)

    2. Will we see a reoccurance of the 1970’s “Solar Black-Eye”. (Meaning: will cheap prices, good incentives and easy to install technology lead to poor siting and pissed customers?)

    Its a tough one to call but personally, I don’t plan on being in the residential market after 2 years>>>>at least I don;t think I will. Time will tell.

    I have installed the Andalay system before… Not bad, has drawbacks too.

  2. Paul | December 14th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    I helped a friend install an Andalay system on his house, it was okay, although I though the racking was a little cumbersome.

    Right now, the prices are still high enough that most potential customers don’t want to DIY. Our utilities are also pretty restrictive in what they will allow interconnected, e.g. electrical inspections and permits required.



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