What I am going to suggest is that if you are checking out the viability of using solar power, listen up! We have all seen the ads on TV that tell us not to leave the TV on standby because of the amount of cash it's going to cost you. And that's just the TV standby light.

If you don't feel you want to change your home to 'go off the grid', consider this. What have you got that's electrical in your garage / workshop? Afreezer maybe? A Fridge? Power tools? Lighting? Lawnmower? and who knows what else? Imagine the cost of running all these items, if we're being told not to leave the TV on standby!

It's very easy to disconnect the power from your garage if the sun is supplying all you need anyway. The little guide I'm asking you to look at will give you detailed instructions to build your own solar panels to provide the power you need and will also give advice on what you'll need to produce sufficient for your needs.

There are several options looked at in the guide, but perhaps the simplest to explain is where one or more solar panels provide current to one (or more) deep cycle leisure batteries. These batteries are connected to an inverter which produces the mains power you require to run your equipment. It's easy enough to match the power your solar panel(s) provide to your battery(s) and the size of the inverter, to deal with the current required during the day plus the lesser current required during the night.

Solar power is a tool in your arsenal that will help defend you in your battle against rising energy charges. Do your garage first, you can always do the house later!