Welcome to Solar Panels from AlphaSolar.com

 Did you know that by installing the right solar panels on your home that you will increase its value by over $5 per watt of installed power.

Considering that it costs only $2 per watt, and you will most likely qualify for a further 30% federal tax incentive it does not take long to figure out that even simple power systems are now very cost effective.

Spend $1.50 and make $5.00, nice. Not to mention the continuing reduction or elimination of your electric bill, it's easy to see why solar panels are now so popular. But how do you pick the right one for your home? Use this simple and effective 4 step process to compare the cost vs the value before you begin.

The process is pretty simple and will save you time and money in the long run, so let's get started. First, there is two popular choices of installations either off grid or grid tie. In the end this decision is usually made by 'where' you live, rather than how you want to live. Let's face it, the reason you are looking at installing solar panels is because you want to lower your electric bill.

That was the motivation of our family way back in 1993 when we made the jump to living off the grid. It was a big step for us, but one that we have not regretted, not once. We have not paid an electric bill in over 17 years. Learn more here > The basic premise behind off grid solar is that you can buy inexpensive land that is beyond the power lines. It is just cheaper (by a lot) to purchase a piece of land that has no grid power to it.

Instead of running power lines there, you install a renewable energy system to run your home with the money you save on buying the property. There are trade offs but in essence you will become your own power company. The other, and more popular choice is to stay in the home you now have and install a grid tie power system. Nothing really changes with your present setup except that you install some solar panels and produce your own power too, thereby supplementing or even eliminating your power bill.

There is even a very real possibility of selling power back to the power company and making money each month instead of paying that bill. Solar Panels produce power in direct relation to the amount of sunlight falling on them. They should therefore be placed in a very sunny location with not even any partial shade if possible.

Why are they a great choice? * there are no moving parts * solar panels come in many sizes * easy to install * easy to maintain This is a very good choice as there are no moving parts making them the very simplest form of renewable energy. Our own installation has been in place for over 17 years now, with only very minor adjustments and regular maintenance (cleaning). We have even seen installations that have been in place for over 30 years.

They are very long lasting. The second consideration you need to make is conserving energy. For every dollar that you save on your energy bill you will save over 5 dollar on your renewable energy install. Find every air leak, add more insulation, turn down your thermostat, and install energy efficient appliances.

All of these moves will save you a ton in the long run. The third step is to size the system you need. This is basically just a matter of getting out your power bill and figuring out how much energy you use each month and then figuring out your budget for replacing that bill with a renewable energy system. Let's take a minute first and learn how solar energy is produced.

How does the sun produce electricity? Simply put, the cells inside of solar panels convert the sun’s energy into electricity. PV (or photovoltaic) cells are the building blocks of the panels. They are usually about 6 inches square or a similar size rectangle. They are normally fabricated using special semiconductor materials that allow electrons, which are energized when the material is exposed to sunlight, to be freed from their atoms.

They are shook loose and are free to travel. These electrons form DC power by flowing in only one direction, you will need an inverter to turn that power into the same form AC that runs in your home. Types of Solar Panels The most obviously recognized one are monocrystalline panels. For many years monocrystalline solar modules have been the workhorses of the solar market.

Those iridescent blue faced panels you have been seeing on rooftops are probably of this type of panels. This type is produced from a single silicon crystal. Manufacturing costs are very high making them the most expensive solar modules on the market. Monocrystalline cells have a life expectancy of over 25 years, probably over 50 years.

The only real problem with this type of cell is it’s fragile nature making it a requirement that it be mounted in a very rigid frame. This is not really a problem as great mounting equipment exists that can really do the job right. Polycrystalline modules are manufactured from a block of multi-crystalline silicon, not the solid material used in making the monocrystalline models. They are usually square and have a varied, almost mosaic-like appearance.

It is like they are painted after with light streaks of blue shades runnng through them. These solar panels are only slightly less efficient than monocrystalline modules and they are cheaper to manufacture and thus are less expensive to install. You can expect the same great lifespan as monocrystalline cells too, upwards of 50 years, this is a real lifetime investment.

Recently there has been a new product enter the marketplace, and it is hoped that it will provide some much needed answers for solar power users. Amorphous silicon PV or thin film technology could make rigid solar panels obsolete if some better research is done in the coming years. The fourth step is to pick your components based on your budget and needs.

We are more than happy to help you at this point to make your decisions. It is our aim to provide you with enough information on this website so you can make your decisions much more easily. We have, in that regard tested every component you see in our solar panels catalog. Test to find the best - and chuck the rest is our main aim in testing. You can rest assured that not one part is not tested an approved by us personally. The very last point to make is that solar panels are here to stay and are a great choice for the homeowner wanting to save money on their electric bills.