-
Step 1
Determine whether you will need to tie your solar electric system into the existing power grid or you wish to design it for use off the grid. This will depend on your precise location and how near you are to a power line.
-
Step 2
Calculate how much sun your area gets, and whether there are any obstructions which may cast shadows on your solar panels.
-
Step 3
Perform a power load analysis to determine what your electric needs will be. The table provided at SolarSense.com can help you calculate your requirements (see Resources below.)
-
Step 4
Determine the output of the panels you wish to use (based on their capacity and how much sun they will receive), the battery you have in mind, and the inverter your home will require.
-
Step 5
Compare your expected panel output with the amount of space your solar panels will require, and then compare that to the amount of space you have available. This will determine how much energy you can reasonably produce with your solar electric system, and should be incorporated into your design.
-
Step 6
Prepare a contingency for those times when the sun does not shine enough to produce adequate power. If you are on the grid, it will mean paying for electricity through the power company. If you are off the grid, it will mean using alternate forms of electric power such as generators.
-
Step 7
Choose your components based on what you require. These will vary widely depending upon your circumstances, but will include the solar panels themselves, mountings and means of securing the panels, conduits and wiring, an appropriate battery or generator, and an inverter to convert the panel's DC power to AC use.
