There are now a lot of DIY or do it yourself solar panel kits available at your local hardware store or on the internet. You can order and have the materials delivered right to your doorstep in just a few days. You can even finish the entire project in just a matter of hours. Here are some things to learn first. Solar Thermal Systems Solar thermal systems, on the other hand, simply generate heat, and are well-suited for boilers, furnaces and water heaters, as this type of system allows you to make heat using direct solar energy at a much lower cost as compared to using conventional energy and electricity. However, if you want to retrofit your home with one of these solar thermal systems, you need to sacrifice a little bit of space in your home. This will ensure if the system is air-based or liquid-based. Solar energy storage can be done using thermal mass or water tanks for liquid based systems. Air-based systems will have to rely on rock bins to contain the heated air. Solar energy distribution is the third component which is based on the kind of system. The earliest application of solar cells considered to be very significant was being a back-up power source to the Vanguard satelilite back in 1958. The solar cells continued transmission for more than a year after the chemical battery exhaustion. The operation of solar cells during the mission was considered to be very successful and was duplicated in several American and Soviet satellites. The 3 common physical ways that heat moves include convection, conduction and radiation. Conduction is the transfer of heat via a solid material, or from a single material to another where the surfaces are in contact with each other. Heat is conducted quickly via a solid material compared to layers. Convection is the heat transfer by a moving fluid such as water or air. The Full Stand-Alone The complete or full stand-alone system is very useful for complete independence from electric utility companies and fossil fuels. The benefit of the system is the capacity to provide power away from the utility, as well as creating a measure of self independence. The complete stand-alone home solar system will usually have a couple of inverters to supply the AC house current needed to power very big loads like air conditioners.