Solar Power
System Design
How to use solar panels
to supplement your
home or workshop
electricity needs.
By Parker Jardine
In the first part of my solar power Primer,
I showed how to make inexpensive photovoltaic
(PV) panels (see MAKE, Volume 12, page 158,
“20-Watt Solar Panel”).
Here, I’ll explain how I incorporated them into
a complete solar PV power system. While this
article provides installation tips and general
how-to information, it’s not a step-by-step guide
to building the complete system. Rather, it’s an
introduction to a complex project that could
easily fill a book. »
Photography by Gunnar Conrad
WARNING: I’m not a certified solar PV installer or certified electrician, nor do I know every detail pertaining to electrical codes. If you decide
to make your own PV system, take the proper safety precautions and adhere to
the electrical codes for your area. Failure to do so could result in serious injury or
death by electrocution.
Make: 161
