Show of hands who would like to see me do this.
I got the following email from Mike. The email below got me thinking that there might be a void for training for the DIY do-it-yourself-er. I am guessing many people can’t travel to some workshop in some remote Colorado town (Carbondale) for 5 days in the classroom and 5 days of hands-on installation sessions. Or spend a ton of time and money taking a course at a local community college.
Hey Dave, good idea doing it yourself, but can you tell me why there are not as many training facilities to help homeowners to save on contractors cost, as well as being able to get the most for you money, in providing course in setting up your own solar panel, and where should i look, ( i have looked for many night,) I’m interested in solar panel, and ECO friendly home building supplies.
Perhaps there is a market for a DVD or downloadable video training series where people can watch me install an entire solar PV system and describe what I am doing along the way.
Perhaps I would have around 100 short 2 or 3 minute videos for each step of the way:
- Perhaps starting with a video me going down to the town hall and applying for a permit – covering topics like how to fill out the forms and how to save on permit fees.
- Perhaps ending with a video showing the utility company coming out to install the meter and watching it being activated.
- The videos would include me screwing up and showing you how not to my mistakes.
It would take a ton of work to assemble and edit all the videos during the install process so it would be a large undertaking for me so I would not be giving it away for free – actually I would give away the first 3 or 4 videos for free so people could see the quality of the videos and the information presented.
Would people pay $99 for something like this?
Please comment below if this is something that you might be interest in. Below is a mock up of what it might look like.
Yes, I would be interested in a solar self-installation guide.
Count me in too!Yes, I would be interested in a solar self-installation guide.
I would be interested in a course like this.
I would be interested, providing it covered everthing in detail from permits to the anchoring of the panels, tie in to inverter/s and tie in to the grid and/or battery banks.
Hi from Canada – all of us up here would be interested
Great idea. Right time and the right price – I’ll help you sell it! Cheers.
Nice site and cool idea, when you do and have an spare extra copy maybe you can send me a copy of your course I know you will have great success!
Dave, this is a GREAT idea…with only one minor glitch: To get a rebate from most states (and maybe even Uncle Sam), the entire system has to be installed by a trained and industry-certified installer. Just having it inspected by your town building and electrical inspectors won’t hack it in some places IF you need that rebate. And I understand there CAN be issues relative to homeowner’s insurance (a panel blows off and lands on your neighbor’s chihuahua) or roofing guarantees (you improperly penetrate it and create a lot of leaks).
I am not for a minute saying YOU or I could not do these things properly, I am certain I could, having renovated a house and worked for an electrical contractor, and anyone can read a book (or watch a DVD). I think the problem comes down to unions protecting jobs and big brother preventing Joe Tenthumbs from creating an eyesore that is a hazard to the neighborhood and the next guy who works on a power pole on his street!
I would check the regs for all states and the Gov’t and do a chart of where your DVD can still get the rebates.
Thanks Don for you comment, I wasn’t aware if you did it yourself that you would not qualify for the rebate.
hi, i am interested in the DIY solar course. thanks, mike
Dave,
I’m a DIY guy in Fla and am intrested in your video. Thanks, Bernie
am interested in the video on solar
Having worked in the Solar PV industry for the last 3 years, I realize there’s no single source book for the DIYer. I did a search and came up with nothing more than “Dummies” books that told you nothing.
I then went and started to outline what a “real” DIY Solar PV book would look like and realized this is a major project to do it right.
My guesstimate is it would take a professional writer, a person experienced in Solar PV installation and a financial expert well over a year and 300 plus pages to write a DIY book that would be worth buying.
The best book I found is titled “Planning & Installing Photovoltaic System” written for Architects and Engineers by a German company. That book, although very good, doesn’t tell how to install a system. The book cost around $125.
Certainly videos are great way to go, but I think you need the videos and a book to do it right. A DIY Solar project is not like building a fence or deck, its level of difficulty is magnitudes greater when you factor in the financial justification, site survey requirements, rebate paperwork, equipment selection, as well as a host of other considerations that have to be accounted for before get up on a roof!
BigVolt, you are right it works like a lot of work to do it right – perhaps that is why I haven’t started it yet.
I think it shouldn’t be a how to video series, more of a ‘this is how I did it and these are the mistakes I made a long the way’. Just a video of how I did it and then have the experts give review of what I did.
Sounds like a good idea, I like that you would keep all the mistakes and pitfalls along the way and show how to get the permit, rebates, etc. That is real important that I do not see anybody doing.
I’m waiting for the DVD to come out will buy it in a heart beat