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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 solar initiatives! I decided to do some digging and came up with a handy solution to help reduce the cost:

Find used solar panels. Maybe you can get them for free.

If you’ve ever passed highway construction or remote weather sensors, perhaps you can see where I’m going. Solar panels are ideal for electric equipment without access the power grid. Being in “the field” can be rough on rigid silicon wafers. Any time a solar panel gets chipped or cracked it becomes “unsafe” and must be replaced. Fortunately for us, “unsafe” is relative to rough road-side or wilderness conditions, not a cozy rooftop. Those panels have to go somewhere and they can be expensive to dispose of. Some companies would rather give them away to greenies. Sound too good to be true? Well consider that some of that damage, cracks or chips, also degrade the efficiency of the panels - anywhere from 10%-60%. It’s not going to generate as much energy as a swanky new panel. But if you buy it for a song, or even convince them to give it to you for free, who’s complaining? Subtract 10% off a 22-watt panel and you still get 19 watts. That panel will still reduce your electricity bill.

So where do you find used solar panels?

Step 1: Collect Contact Info.

Next time you spot a panel in “the field”, there should be a sign on or near it with a contractor’s name and contact information. These are the people who provide solar panels for “in field” use. Just be careful: it is dangerous and sometimes illegal to stop on the side of a highway just to jot down a name and number. Instead look for weather sensors or portable electric signs on local roads. If that fails, try scouring your local phone book for contractors who provide equipment for road construction. Make a list of these names, phone numbers and their addresses.

Step 2: Go see them.

Convincing someone to sell/ give you an expensive piece of hardware is less likely to happen over the phone. You’ll want to talk to the mechanics or the maintenance department: gentlemen who are probably very busy. Be friendly and always offer to pay for the damaged panels - they’ll appreciate the offer even if they don’t intend to charge you. If they do want cash, bargain. Keep in mind that they are doing you a favor by selling/giving something to you. Forging a good relationship will help in the long run. They wear out panels regularly; if they give to you once, they’re more likely to do it again. Remember to call back every few weeks to check if they’ve “received” (i.e. broken) any more 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!

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’s 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)