Cheap Solar Panels

Powering a building with solar power is one of the cleanest ways to get electricity. As solar technology gets better, it’s becoming more reliable and efficient. Solar power pays for itself in the long run, but there are ways to get cheap solar panels to offset upfront costs. DIY is the lowest-cost route to cheap solar panels, but it takes some skills to get the job done. There are several manuals out there, and some quite good ones too. Earth4energy.com is an established web destination specialized in DIY cheap solar panels, but a quick online search will produce several other returns. Check out Amazon as well.

If DIY is not your thing, buying solar panels straight from the manufacturer or their main supplier is also a good option. That’s a good way to skip the middlemen. Besides, the customer gets a more reliable warranty and better after sales support. Cheap solar panels can also mean second hand panels - head to eBay to browse through a wide range of options. Make sure the panels are not too old, especially when they are thin film panels, as the efficiency goes down with age. Other panels such as monocrystalline or polycrystalline types do not suffer with age as much. Also check whether the panel is structurally sound. One tip is to look out for moisture condensation on the inside of the glass or plastic cover as this can affect performance. Avoid panels that have been used on a boat as they don’t age well. Watch out for corrosion and any type of damage to the internal circuitry as this well make voltage fluctuate or drop during the brightest part of the day.

Another tip: some companies may offer discounts to bulk purchases. If several homeowners in the neighborhood are interested in solar power, they may want to get together to get cheaper solar panels. This type of scheme will also be attractive to the installation companies as they will be able to get more work done in a shorter period of time. It is estimated that solar companies can pass discounts of 15% to customers who buy bulk.

Finally, it’s good to remember that these days there are tax incentives for homeowners to go solar. They can claim up to 30% of the cost of the system. Local and state government sometimes offer their own rebate programs, so it’s worth looking into that before buying solar panels.