How To: Cheap or Free Solar Panels
Once you’ve secured a source, it’s time to figure out if they’re worth your time and money. Buy or borrow a multimeter that can measure amps and watts. This will tell you if the solar panel can produce electricity in the sun, or if it’s beyond repair. It should have (+) and (-) contact points, like a big battery, on the sides. Set it in the sun and hook up the multimeter to see if it makes a charge. Even the oldest, brownest, most poorly solar panels can still generate energy. No one knows how long solar panels last and they have no moving parts. That means they’re also relatively easy to repair, if you’re the DIY type.
If you’re not up for that much time and effort, just take the most-intact solar panels and pat yourself on the back for finding a great deal. Even if you paid for them, you’ve just saved hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Well done!
Of course, if this sounds particularly onerous, you can always check out the group buying option. It’s easy to get a large discount on solar panels when you get enough people together. Learn more about the ‘bargaining power of the collective‘ from 1BOG’s video:
-1 Block Off the Grid’s solar group discount buying program.
So now what? You can lean them against your house if you want, but you might want to put them on the roof. You can to hire someone else to do it, but just in case here are a few DIY links:
- http://www.energyefficienthomearticles.com/Article/Considering-To-Install-a-Do-It-Yourself-Solar-Power-System—Saving-Resources–Saving-Money/5770
- http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/he_diagnostics/article/0,,DIY_13893_2277457,00.html
- http://www.solarexpert.com/instroof5.html
- http://www.yourgreendream.com/diy_panel_position.php
Used Solar Resources:
- http://www.drillingfab.com/solarpanels
- http://www.wiselivingjournal.com/energy-project-solar-panels-for-free/
- http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_solar_used.html
(Image courtesy of WiseLivingJournal.com)
Full Disclosure: Both CleanTechnica and 1BOG are owned by Virgance, Inc.
DIY: How to find free (or cheap) solar panels…
My cousin mentioned to me that her family wanted to install solar panels on their roof. She said it was a huge disappointment because it was far too expensive. It would take twenty years for them to regain the cost in energy savings, even with state so…
As for the batteries you’ll need I have a friend that gets batteries from the power company they periodically replace back up batteries that are just simply scheduled to be replaced as part of routine, but still have lots of life left in them. Maybe talk to your local power company and see if they have any deep cell solar batteries they are getting rid of.
Good post. I know I will looking into this more when I build my own house.
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I like how the “author” of this article essentially reworded the same thing from Wise Living Journal from almost 3 weeks ago.
I wonder why they are giving them away.
They should sell them on eBay or at least contract a reseller company to do so !
Natalay:
But if they did that they wouldn’t sell or give them to us!
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James:
I used WiseLiving as one resource (and credited them)but drew information from sources that they didn’t link/ include. If you think the “author” could have done more, please let me know how and include your resources.
[...] in states with incentives to support renewable energy, it’s expensive. His view echoed my cousin’s frustration. Yet despite the initial cost, renewables are still an attractive option. As expensive as it may be [...]