It can cost anything from $20,000 to $40,000 to get a contractor to install new solar panels in the average American home (price includes panels and installation). This is a lot of money in anyone's books, but there is a way to save on solar panel cost by building them yourself. With the correct instructions and tools you can build a single panel or enough panels to serve your whole house. You may be surprised, but this method can bring the cost per panel way below $200. According to various DIY guides and different types of panels, they can be built for between $27 up to $100 each. This translates into major savings. You might be asking: Why not install used panels? The answer is that they are quite costly and many people say they don't work very well. Before starting the job, join one of the many discussion forums on the internet. You can join one that focuses on DIY solar panels. Here you can pose questions, pick people's brains and get to know the ins and outs of the challenge that lies ahead. You can also find out where to get the best prices on your materials and parts. You can buy software online that gives clear concise step-by-step instructions, as well as clear graphics, about how to construct solar panels. These guides will take you through the entire process and show you how to make 60-120 watt panels for under $200 a panel. If you are prepared to spend time tracking down certain materials, you can even do it for $100 a panel. If you are prepared to rebuild broken solar cells, you can construct your panels for under $27 each. Apparently the rebuilding of broken cells is not that difficult. You don't need to have any building or construction experience, so even an amateur can do the job. Further more you don't need to be technically inclined. The guide will give complete instructions about methods and calculations written in easy-to-understand text. Some programs have voice instructions. Many also have instruction videos. These are great because you don't have to visualize the construction. You can actually see it as it is being done. Some instruction packages also throw in extra bonuses like wind turbines (DIY) or plans for the solar panels. The guide will also tell you what parts and materials to buy. You can also buy these online. This will result in further savings because online shopping puts you in direct contact with suppliers. Your local hardware shop will have to put a mark-up on products to get his piece of the pie, so by cutting him out, you will score. According to one of the reviews online, one homeowner managed to buy all the parts and materials online for a total of $150. As soon as he received the parts he got to work immediately and was able to construct an entire panel in a single day. After a few weeks he had completed all the panels and his house is now running exclusively on solar power. This proves that you can save on solar panel cost.
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