Do it yourself activities are really worthwhile and is a self satisfying activity that you can share with your family or with a friend. You get to improve your motor skills and your cognitive skills and problem solving skills that are required to get it done, and the satisfaction of achievement. By not all projects lend themselves to DIY;

Are Do it Yourself solar panels really as good as the commercial solar panels available in the market? Well let us make a clear statement first, if you are into clean and renewable energy, then good for you. You are not only contributing to the global carbon footprint reduction but also being wise to reduce your electric bills. Going back to DIY's there are many guide books and articles to explain to you how to go about it, but since you are dealing with electricity a lot of safety issues must be taken into account, and if not done properly disaster is lurking around the corner, in addition to heavy inconvenience& greater cost.

First of all, the wiring system must be installed properly to prevent short circuits and constant tripping off of your fuse box - you wouldn't want that right?

Second, you cannot connect to the Grid; your DIY solar panels must either be Off Grid or fully independent system, or you should have a separate line for the system ( a dedicated outlet). If you choose to go Off Grid and fully independent then your renewable energy system might not be sufficient for your electrical needs. You should have a generator to compensate for the fluxes between times of high supply and high usage demand. And be aware that your DIY system has no guarantee that it will work as efficiently as expected because of possible design and manufacturing flaws. So you just might end up discarding your system and it's a terrible loss of money for you.

Third, since it is DIY you cannot enjoy the benefits that the Australian government is offering. Rebates and incentives are only offered to qualified systems and installers. Why? It is more economical reasons as well as the obvious safety concerns, the government must be sure that your system will work properly and be of high standards of output otherwise the funds will just be put to waste.

Fourth, the feed in tariff scheme will also not be applicable in your system. Since you cannot connect to the grid you cannot sell or export what you produce. The government and electrical companies only allows qualified systems to tap their grids for safety reasons.

All the above drawbacks are eliminated by purchasing commercially available solar panel systems or solar hot water systems. Qualified companies under the standards of the Clean Energy Council of Australia produces quality products as well as qualified installers that will pass the all the schemes of the federal government. You can enjoy the full potential of growing green, and you are eligible for all economic benefits of the rebates and incentives and the feed in tariff.