Want to put solar panels on the house? Start saving… solar power is a great investment, but it is an investment… often a hefty one. If you’d like to get started with something a little less ambitious (but more affordable), you’ll find a number of good sources out there for a whole range of solar DIY projects. Voltaic, best known for its solar backpack, has joined more well-known sites such as Gary Reysa‘s Build It Solar and Mother Earth News with its own collection of do-it-yourself projects.

So far, the collection is small… but there are already some really cool projects available:

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Want to charge your phone while you’re on your bike? Check out the solar bike panniers.

Check out the solar bike panniers. How about keeping your garden watered? Luke Iseman’s Garduino monitors soil moisture, and waters when needed.

Luke Iseman’s Garduino monitors soil moisture, and waters when needed. Need wireless access? Build your own mobile solar hotspot.

Not only is does this look like a promising source of DIY projects, but it’s also a smart move by Voltaic: you can buy many of the parts you’ll need for projects through their site. Projects include prices of parts, so you’ll have a good idea of the cost upfront…They’ll definitely need more projects available to compete with some of the bigger sites in this space, but they’re already off to a good start.

What do you think, do-it-yourselfers? Know of other good sites for solar diy? Share ’em below…

Image credit: Voltaic

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