How to Power a House Off of Solar Panels

Mount the three solar panels on the roof of the house according to the instructions provided with the cells. It is important to mount the solar cells where they will receive the most sunlight for the longest time, so south-facing roofs are ideal. Connect the solar panels to one another in a parallel circuit using the outdoor electrical wire cut to the right lengths with the wire cutters.

Place the charge controller in the attic or roof space of the house, to keep the wires going to the solar panels short. Connect the positive and negative wires from the circuit of photovoltaic cells to the positive and negative input terminals of the 12-volt charge controller. The charge controller regulates battery charging, ensuring that the battery does not overcharge. Attach wires to the positive and negative output terminals of the charge connector.

Attach the wires from the positive and negative terminals on the charge connector to the positive and negative input terminals on the deep cycle gel battery. For best results and ease of use, use wing nuts to wire up the circuit and connect one wire at a time.

Turn off the main electric power at the circuit breakers. Wire the battery into the household electrical system. If you do not know how to do this, do not attempt it yourself, as it is extremely dangerous. Hire a local electrician to wire in your solar power for you if you are unsure about what you are doing.