It is all fine reading about the theory of solar power but how do home solar power systems actually work. Is installing them a difficult task and are they cost effective?

There are basically two types of solar power systems for use in the home.

1: Solar Water Heating Systems.

These systems take the rays from the sun and heat a tank of water that can be used for showers and baths to help reduce your power bills. There are many ways to heat water either by electricity, gas, oil or other type of furnace. All of these systems require fuel and that costs money.

My installing a solar powered water heater you can help reduce the amount of fuel you need to use. Even in winter, when the sun’s rays are not so strong, the solar heater can raise the temperature of the water tank sufficiently so that less fuel is required to heat it to the desired temperature.

2: Solar Electrical Systems.

These are very popular systems, now that the price of reliable solar cells has come down considerably. Once only used by the space program, solar cells can now be mounted on the roof of your home for a very reasonable cost.

Made from semi-conductor wafers of silicon, solar cells react with the sunlight to produce a voltage which drives an electrical current. While each small cell only produces a small voltage and current, combining them in larger arrays does produce significant amounts of electricity.

The efficiency of solar cells has increased dramatically over the years and the costs of production has also fallen making them an affordable option for many homes.

Commercial installations are still rather expensive, mostly due to labor costs, but it is quite possible to do you own installation thereby saving a great deal of money. Often it is possible to obtain second hand pieces of equipment that can be assembled by anyone with average DIY skills.

While having a professionally installed system would take a considerable time to pay for itself, home made systems that are much cheaper, do work out to be cost effective in a much shorter period of time.