In researching my article about solar power for the October issue of the magazine, I’ve been running into some really interesting websites chock-full of everything you could possibly want to know about installing a photovoltaic (PV) system for your home.

Obviously, powering a home with solar energy is a huge undertaking in terms of time and resources. But there are a lot of folks doing interesting things with PV systems on a much smaller scale. These smaller DIY projects can be a great way to learn about PV. They include things like a solar-powered model car (check out the kits at hobbyplace.com) and self-charging electric cars with solar panels , solar phone and battery chargers, solar pool heaters, solar attic vent fans and solar fountains (all of these can be found at solar-for-energy.com).

One of my favorite websites is builditsolar.com, a renewable energy site for DIYers. It’s an excellent source of information about large grid-tied and off-grid PV systems. And it’s a fascinating compendium of links to articles, free plans and Web sites of DIYers who are using smaller-scale PV systems to power their imaginations along with many other things such as:

— A solar scooter that’s street legal
solar scooter

— DIY solar panels

DIY solar panels

Or…

— Solar trash compactor
— Solar streetlights
— Solar electric boat
— Solar DIY workshop (portable and stationary)
— PV systems for RVs
— Truck- and trailer-mounted PV systems

There are a few fringier projects on the site (wood-fired clothes dryer, anyone?), but mostly it’s a very well researched site that includes a diverse group of PV-powered projects that are definitely worth checking out.

— Elisa Bernick, Associate Editor

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