Use Your Laptop Where the Sun Shines
Use Your Laptop Where the Sun Shines
There is no doubt in saying that computers have been making our works a lot easier than before they were invented because it is too easy to work with and it is really conducive. However, the working life of a battery pack is really short and could not keep up with your working time. It can be dead in the middle of your activity and lose your unsaved files. Most of the computer users have surely encountered such problem working with this gadget. It really pisses you off especially when there is no plug or source of energy where you can recharge it, right? So, to resolve that issue, why don’t you start utilizing the solar energy which is available everywhere where the sun comes out and shine your day?
Believe it or not, with the use of solar power you can now recharge your battery packs even when you are outside and have nothing to plug your laptop but the sunlight. The question now is how will you be able to do it?
Of course, you need to buy a solar panel that produces power enough for the need of your laptop. For small computers, use forty five to sixty watts power but if you are using a gaming computer laptop then you will probably need up to ninety watts.
To identify the amount of power needed for your laptop, check on the power adapter. If the list does not include the watts then multiply volts and amps. Buy the solar panel that is rated more than 20 percent of what you need.
Aside from the panel, you will also need to buy a solar charge controller to help keep the panels from putting too little or too much energy into your battery and to keep your laptop working until night time or in cloudy times.
You will also need a type of battery that can work well like those in cars and boats; it should be 12-volt battery. But if you can’t find one of these kinds, you can start with a small battery intended for garden use for the meantime.
In addition to that, you will also need to purchase an inverter AC-to-DC to have a standard wall socket where you can plug your laptop into.
Get your charge controller connected to the solar provided that the male and female plugs are combined on each of them.
Connect the battery to the charge controller then the inverter using the battery clips and finally turn the inverter on and plug the computer cord to the outlet. Now, turn on your computer.…
Understanding the Advantages Of Using Solar Energy For The Home
Understanding the Advantages Of Using Solar Energy For The Home
Harnessing the power of the sun to produce useable electricity has been touted as a future energy source. With the massive use of non-renewable energy sources, it is only a matter of time before humankind empties the bowels of the earth with these resources. Proponents of widespread adoption of solar energy are saying that it is clean and that it is sustainable. While both are true, the ordinary person would not use those two factors in deciding whether it is practical to have a system that would generate electricity from sunlight.
For the people who are still on the fence whether they should invest in solar energy or not, the right information should be supplied so that they would be able to clearly make the best decision. With its popularity, many people can cite the advantages of harnessing solar power. By going through the details though, supporters of solar energy use can convince more people to jump into the solar energy bandwagon.
Since practicality is what many people are looking for before they make a decision, it is good to know that solar energy can save them money. The initial payment for a system that can produce enough energy to power a home for a long period of time can make a dent in one’s budget. But by crunching the numbers, one can find that the savings made from not using power from the grid would pay for the system.
Then, after getting back your investment in the components used to set up the system, what you will be getting is literally free energy. The fact that you can sell the generated power from your solar power setup to the power company can make getting back your investment faster. Furthermore, the government offers incentives to individuals who use green energy for their homes or businesses.
Another clear advantage of using solar energy to power your home is the fact that you will be running the system independently. No one would be able to tell you when to use it or for how long. In case of power outages, you can easily supply your home with needed electrical power. You no longer have to wait for the power company to come around and fix whatever is wrong with the system. This independence also highlights another advantage of using solar energy for the home.
The next point is that people who use solar energy are well schooled in how the system works. Even if you chose to work with a company that installs solar panels and everything needed in the setup to work, they would be able to talk you through what they have done and what you can do to self-service the system in case something happens. Of course, things like typhoons and hurricanes can damage the system but since you are educated on how it works, you can make simple repairs that would get the system going again in no time.
With these clear advantages in mind, you can make a better decision whether having a solar energy setup for your home or business is a practical decision or not. Countless individuals though have proven that using solar energy is indeed the future and the future is already here.…
How in the World Can a Little Solar Cell Make Electricity?
How in the World Can a Little Solar Cell Make Electricity?
Generating your own electricity from sunlight is a marvelous thing. We hear so much about the damaging effects and rising costs of the fossil fuel industry. One has to wonder why more people aren’t buzzing about the cleanness and simplicity of converting sunlight to electricity.
In 7th grade I had a great science teacher. He was great because he thoroughly understood his subject. He knew it so well he could explain it in the most basic understandable terms. When Mr. Bielski taught us something, there was no child left behind. As a result, our love for science grew.
Now I’m a grown-up student, learning from hands on experience. Solar power has been part of my life for the past 16 years and I wouldn’t trade it for all the electric bills that never came. I started with one of the most basic systems. It cost me only a couple of hundred dollars since some components were second-hand. It wasn’t what you’d call a power-house, but it helped me to understand solar power from the ground up. My old science teacher would be proud.
I must confess that at the beginning I really didn’t understand how the solar cell itself was working. I only knew that if I put my used solar panel array face front to the sun, it would put electricity into my cheap-o batteries and I could run DC lights, a radio, my computer and a few other things that made our new home in the middle of nowhere more homey.
Now I realize that knowing how those little solar cells have been cranking out the juice all these years is worthwhile. I’m building my own solar panels now so handling these little wafers has made me curious about how they keep working their magic.
It turns out that every solar cell is like a sandwich. In the center is a thin slice of highly purified silicon. The silicon sandwich has two types of bread. On one side is boron and on the other side is phosphorus. Sounds yummy.
It just so happens that when this sandwich is bombarded by sunlight, some of the excess electrons are knocked off the side facing the sun. This creates a voltage difference between the two sides of the sandwich, which makes the electron very unhappy. They like to be balanced. So, the excess electrons try to go through the silicon to get to the side of the sandwich where there are fewer electrons. Unfortunately for them, that’s not easy because the silicon puts up resistance.
When we construct a solar panel, we string the solar cells together (usually 36 of them) with a type of metal ribbon, which acts like a wire. The unhappy crowded electrons find it easier to move down the metal ribbon than to fight their way through the silicon. When we attach a DC electrical device, such as a 12-volt light, to the wires coming off these metal ribbons, the electrons flow happily around the circuit and voila — there is light!
Does this matter? I think it does. When we realize how simple the solar cell is and how it makes electricity in such an uncomplicated way, we tend to think that the rest of the solar electric system can be understood, too… And it can.…
Installing a Solar Power System
Installing a Solar Power System
In time of crisis like these you can accomplish two things at once, save money for yourself and save power for the rest of the world… You can choose an alternative solution and make the right thing for the environment and the future generations.
The two most popular alternate power systems are solar panels and windmills, but they are subjected to the place you are living in. The solar power system is effective if you live in zones with abundant sun light, while the wind power system is more difficult to install, because you need not only a windy zone, but a wind speed of at least 11 miles per hour.
Many people use the solar power only for some of their energy needs, like hot water or lighting, however a complete solar system is made of the following elements:
The Solar Cooker Component: This is the most popular solar power device you can find today in many homes. Here are the main benefits of this alternative energy system:
Health Advantage: If you cook your food with a solar cooker is very healthy. Solar cooking is a delightful alternative to conventional cooking methods.
Variety Advantage: You can boil, roast, and bake using the same system!
Saving Fuel Advantage: In areas where sunshine is plentiful and conventional fuels are expensive, the solar cooker is an ideal substitute to a regular stove.
No emissions Advantage: with this method of cooking you avoid to emit any gas and to leave any residue. This is a cooking system that is really environment friendly.
The Solar Lighting Component: Stop and consider for a moment how much money would you save if you could runs all your electrical appliances using the solar energy. A solar generator will convert the solar energy into electric power through using photovoltaic cells. More electrical energy will be stored in cells and you will use it later, saving so much more money.
The Solar Heating Component: if you want to have a system that allows you to have the temperature you like, this is the way to go. A solar thermal system can make this without make your electricity bill soar. You won’t have to worry about bills anymore. Nowadays you can build heating system very effective in term of cost/benefits and with a nice looking too.…
How to Make Solar Panels on Houses
How to Make Solar Panels on Houses
There is no doubt that more and more people are thrilled over the use of the sun to generate clean electricity that is potent enough to power up the whole house. For this reason, even the government is working its way to allow people to realize that they should do the shift right at this very moment. This is seen through the fact that a lot of grants and rebates are given by the government just to persuade people to opt for solar energy rather than stay using the fossil energy. If ever you are one of those fellows who would like to start the change then this article will lead you through the process on the ways to know how to make solar panels.
The internet is your best resource when it comes to knowing the process to build solar energy system within your backyard. If you try to look around, you will see that there are wide ranges of guides which will open up the way for you to attain your own solar panels. These guides may come in the following forms:
• Books- One of the most famous option to know more about the process on how to make solar panels is to buy books available in a form of hard copy or soft copy like ebooks. This is the cheapest manner that these guides are available with and this is the thing that those people who are looking for a detailed step-by-step guide should try. There are so many resources online that it is possible for you to look for one in just a blink of an eye.
• DVD- Another option is to go for DVD lessons. The process on how to make solar panels are available in a video format which makes it more understandable by people who don’t like to waste much of their time in browsing books just to know about the process. Be sure though that the DVD you will get is created clearly so you don’t end up getting something which you won’t be understand in the end.
• Professional Help- It is possible for a professional to be eager to teach other people about the ways on how to build these solar panels. Just be sure that the professional won’t charge you with an escalating fee in exchange of his or her service, particularly if you don’t have much cash to spare.…
How to Eliminate Your Monthly Electric Bill
How to Eliminate Your Monthly Electric Bill
If you are interested in learning exactly how to generate free electricity and eliminate your electricity completely then this article is a perfect resource for you! In this short article, I will introduce you two alternative energy solutions for Home projects.
1. Make using of solar energy
In nowadays, many families in the US are using solar energy system. Solar systems work by capturing sunlight and convert it in to electricity. By utilizing solar power, you can largely reduce your monthly electricity bill. In addition, you can even start receiving tax credits from the government for using green energy.
However, not everyone can afford commercial grade solar panels which could cost up to $3,000 – $10,000 to install. The good news is that you can build a cheap system yourself for $200! Earth 4 Energy is a DIY free energy kit. It provides you complete step by step instructions on how to build your own solar panels for less than $200. However, there are a lot of disadvantages of using solar energy system. For example, solar energy installation requires a large area to provide electricity efficiently. What’s more, it can not work properly in cloudy days.
2. Make use of Magnetic power
Instead of using solar energy systems, you can also make use of magnetic power system. The magnetic generator uses magnets and the force from them to create electricity. Unlike other alternative energy solutions, a magnetic generator only takes a small space, you can install it anywhere. What’s more, it doesn’t need wind or sunlight in order to function. It is safe and works in all weather conditions!
Do you want to have one? Magniwork free energy kit is the most popular guide which teaches you how to build your own magnetic generator step by step, for less than $100. With such a generator, you can easily eliminate your monthly electricity bills. In summary, you can easily eliminate your monthly electric bill by making use of one of these two alternative energy solutions!…
Solar Cell Efficiency VS Cost
Solar Cell Efficiency VS Cost
When it comes to selecting solar cells for your do-it-yourself projects, one question many have is does solar cell efficiency matter? Answering that is actually quite simple.
The answer is yes, solar cell efficiency does matter. The important thing to note here is that it may not be for the same reasons you would think. It isn’t choosing the most efficient cells that matters the most, it’s balancing cost versus efficiency that will make all of the difference to the final price of your residential solar energy system.
Without getting into the different grades of solar cells, or talking about how you can save money by choosing grade B cells, let’s discuss how to correctly balance these two aspects of building a solar panel (or a number of them).
Solar Cell Efficiency in a Nutshell.
When it comes to choosing the right solar cells, my suggestion is always to stick with your standard polycrystalline cell. These types of cells are readily available on the do-it-yourself markets, and as far as efficiency is concerned most are rated at 16% – 20% efficiency. To translate that into a number that is more usable. A single 3″ x 6″ (80 mm by 150 mm) will produce 1.6 Watts to 2.0 Watts of power.
These are the best cells to use when building solar panels for one simple reason – cost. Your standard polycrystalline cell can be found for as little as $1.50 each (even less if you choose grade B cells) and they usually average around $1.80 on sites like eBay. Using this type of cell you can build a complete 100 Watt panel with about $85 worth of cells.
Where some confusion is beginning to appear is with the availability of 30% to 35% efficient solar cells. Although these aren’t yet as common on the do-it-yourself markets, they are becoming available and some people are looking to increase the efficiency of their residential solar power system using these cells.
The problem isn’t that high-efficiency monocrystalline, or thin-film, cells don’t work. You can just as easily build a solar panel using this technology as you could with the older standard cells. The problem is the cost. With the new 30% efficient cells costing as much as five times more than a standard cell, they simply aren’t worth it. You pay five times more for only a 10% gain in power production.
If you had determined that you needed 10, 100Watt, solar panels to run your home, with the standard cells you could feasibly expect to build your panels with about $850 worth of cells. To build the same system in the with high-efficiency cells you’d still need 9 panels, and the cost of the cells would suddenly increase to about $3825.
So to answer our original question, yes solar cell efficiency matters. but not for the reason you probably thought; it’s balancing cost versus efficiency that will really make the difference when you convert your home to solar energy.…
Is Solar Power Really Better Than Fossil Fuel?
Is Solar Power Really Better Than Fossil Fuel?
Solar power is definitely a practical solution that can solve our energy dilemmas today. The world still hangs on to fossil fuel simply because it is cheaper. What they do not know is fossil fuel such as coal is slowly destroying the environment. Their widespread use has also put our future generations at risk of losing a safe habitat to live in.
Even though we are aware of this, there is nothing much we can do as individuals. Here are some facts to demonstrate how dependent we are on using fossil fuel in our nation alone:
1. The United States do not have enough fossil fuel of our own. We need to import more than half of our supply from beyond our shores. And this trend is on the rise. We are expected to import more than 60% of our fossil fuel in the future. Everybody talks about using renewable energy, but almost nobody wants to spend the money to install solar panels.
2. Of all the energy we consume as a nation, only about 1% are generated from renewable sources such as solar power. We depend heavily on oil, gas and coal. Why do we not all switch to solar energy? The reason is the same — cost.
Perhaps we are all too short-sighted, being concerned about issues that immediately concerns us while neglecting future (important) issues that can threaten our basic needs such as air and water.
The fact is solar power is indeed much better than fossil fuel.
First, solar energy is clean and is everlasting. It does not aggravate the balance of nature. It requires no human intervention whatsoever to mitigate any ill effects as a result of its use. Thus it is environmentally friendly to use solar panels on a massive scale.
Second, even though solar panels are expensive to install, their price is paid for in the form of savings in your monthly energy bills. Sooner or later, your solar power hardware will be completely paid for and all you have are pure monetary returns.
Third, installing solar panels at your home helps your property to appreciate in value. The value, of course, depends on the size of your solar panels, their age and the type of solar panels you use. This alone can help to defray your cost of owning solar panels. Other than this, there are rebates that you may be qualified for. Thus your solar panels can essentially be totally paid for sooner than you think.
If every household is convinced about the benefits of using solar power rather than fossil fuel, we have a good chance of living in a clean environment. This is true not just for our generation, but also for many generations to come.…
Real Value Homemade Solar Panels
Real Value Homemade Solar Panels
The sun’s heat and light can be harnessed with the use of solar panels and stored for later use. The technology is simple and extremely cost effective, especially when you opt for the real value make-it-at-home option. The pales not only attract the heat and light of the sun but also route and store them in special batteries for use at a later stage – through the night and in the case of a grid failure. Power generation companies are now actively investing in ways and means of going green. Thanks to the way we have abused our non-renewable resources.A�
Making the investment in energy conservation real value
Across the globe people are now researching on methods and looking for alternative energy sources. This head hunt is to primarily meet the ever increasing demand for power by an every growing world population. Solar panels help harness this electricity so badly needed. You can now sit at home and harness the energy released by the sun and grasped by our atmosphere via the solar radiation that makes its way to the planet. Today, without a doubt, the sun has emerged as a major contributor of one of the leanest energy forms on the planet.
You can go green with an installation that is as cost effective as it is satiating to your role as a global citizen. The most potent and reliable source of inexhaustible energy, the sun now empowers each and every home owner to use solar panels and take control of the solar energy that the earth receives. The conversion results in a usable form like electricity, day and night, and satiation of the power hungry lifestyles we live. The installation takes the fitting of a cell (photovoltaic cell) for the conversion of the energy harnessed in the form of photons into what we used as electrical energy.A�
Becoming a green engineer
The solar panels are but an array of solar cells. You can reap good dividends in long term with your investment in the conservation of the environment. The aim of engineering this project should always first be trapping the abundantly available renewable energy from the sun and then selling power to a grid! The high cost of installation is a myth. Within any budget you can now get down to buying a DIY kit that saves you on labor costs. What you need is an investment in time and energy and voila!
The construction equipment includes:A�
A� Wafer-based crystalline silicon solar cells
A� Plywood with suitable dimensions
A� Thermoplastic or Plexiglas
A� Wood molding
A� Fiberboard
A� Zener diode
A� Silicone caulk
A� Copper wireA�
Installing solar panels for long term benefits involves some knowledge of wiring and carpentry. All the help and guidance you need for the project is available online and all the construction material is available at the local hardware store. Once you get the array of solar cells and framework (wooden or plastic) ready, you are sorted thorough phase one. The wafer- crystalline silicon cell is used as the semi-conductor and the unit as a whole helps you to harness the solar power.…
Solar Pool Heaters For an Unending Pool Fun
Solar Pool Heaters For an Unending Pool Fun
We all love to take a splash in the pool. In fact, your kids may always ask if they can spend their weekends just playing on the pool while you are cooking barbecue in the background. Because of this, you might be bothered sometimes that the water in the pool might just be so cold for them hence what you need in your house are efficient Solar Pool Heaters that can help big time in making sure that your pool water comes at the right temperature while giving you the benefit of not spending a lot for the heaters that would normally call for a very expensive fuels or electricity bills.
In most Solar Pool Heaters, you will need the following parts:
o solar collector – this will be the device wherein the pool water is circulated so they can be heated by the powerful rays of the sun
o filter – this is the one that helps in removing debris just before the water is pumped into the collector
o pump – tool that helps to circulates water into the filter and the collector then back again to the pool
o flow control valve – this may either be an automatic or manual device which will divert the water of the pool water into the solar collector.
Before you decide to get the service of someone or a company that will install the Solar Pool Heaters for you, be aware of the few considerations to make before you allow them to build the heater on your place.
First of all, you have to understand whether the company possesses any experience in the installation and maintenance of the heating systems. As a rule, it will help a lot if you can choose a company that already shares a wide experience in installing the kind of system you that you desire. On the other hand, although the company has an experience already in getting this kind of job done, you may want to be sure in advance by means of asking how many years of experience they have when it comes to Solar Pool Heaters. If they have more years of experience then that would be better. To clear up everything, you may ask a list of their past customers in order to serve as your reference. Lastly, you can do your little search to know whether the company is licensed. Going for a legit plumber that has a contractor’s license is necessary in some states. In view of this, contact your city and county to obtain the information that you need regarding the law behind installing Solar Pool Heaters. On the other hand, the licensing board can further instruct about cases of any complaints against the state-licensed contractors that you are eying on. By going for the best contractor, you can be sure to get only the best heaters you can probably have.
Now that you know some facts regarding Solar Pool Heaters, it is time to install them up in your house the soonest.…