If you want to put together a solar power system yourself this DVD is for you. Although it covers an off-grid system it is just as helpful for someone who wants to be partially on grid but would rather set up the system themselves. This is not an overview but rather programmed instruction. This DVD shows, step-by-step, how a 650-watt, off-grid, do-it-yourself solar-panel system was set up. The system partially replaced a 2-gallon-a-day gasoline-driven generator system and was estimated to pay for itself (based on the price of gas) in about 2-3 years. Starting from the ground up, it explains the importance of grounding and explains how to ground your system as you go along. Topics include: How to calculate you overall energy needs and how to reconcile them with what you have space for and what you can afford. Solar panel math is explained simply so that you can calculate your needs in terms of: batteries, inverters, panels and wiring. How to re-evaluate and reshape your energy usage to fit what you can realistically afford with solar. Choosing inverters and charge controllers. Safety issues. What wire to use and why. How to set up your battery and inverter system first, and test them as a working unit before adding solar. What to consider when choosing solar panels. The difference between setting up panels and batteries in series or parallel. Using a combiner box to add additional panels later. Choosing a generator for backup and how-to equalize your batteries. How to test the specific gravity of your batteries. How to wire your panels. Lightning grounding. As well as system layout, washing your panels once they are setup, etc. The focus here is an easy to understand explanation of how to set up and independent, self-sustaining energy system that can support most of the needs of a small off-grid home.

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