DIY Solar Panels – Your Very Own Energy Supply
DIY Solar Panels – Your Very Own Energy Supply
Ever tried building your own DIY Solar Panels? If you have, I am sure it was because having to purchase a commercial solar panel system is very impractical and expensive. DIY solar panels allow you to enjoy the same financial savings of mass market at a fraction of the price.
A normal solar panel system will cost you over $4000, DIY solar panels, in contrast, can be built for as low as a couple of hundred dollars. Add the considerable savings you will bring in by reducing your monthly power bill and it’s simple to see why lots of people are considering the choice of building their very own panels.
To ensure your DIY project will be a success, you must get a high quality guide or manual which clearly walks the user through the exact steps you have to do. Make sure the guide you choose offers video tutorials along with written and illustrated instructions.
Putting together your own DIY is not complicated at all and it is a project worth doing. It is also an outstanding learning tool for your children about green energy. Let them be involved with the process from afar and it will increase their understanding regarding the necessity for energy conservation and the current global warming crisis.
The only secret to have a successful homemade solar panel project is to get an excellent design manual or guide that can aid you all the way through the steps involved. Nowadays, building your own homemade solar panels has become a popular topic. Therefore, there have been plenty of guides which have sprouted up lately and unfortunately, not all of them are high are great. Truth be told, some are full of error and even confusing information. I can’t give too much weight on the importance of getting an excellent quality design guide.
However, if this is the first time putting together your own solar power system, it may be hard to differentiate between the good and bad. After finding a DIY guide, make sure to look for testimonials and reviews from other websites that can help validate what is being advertised. Look for forums from people who have previously built their own systems and are eager to tell you their experience and set you on the right track. Having someone who can give you an idea on where to start is very useful, particularly for your first DIY project.
Apart from the significant monetary savings, replacing your conventional energy supply with solar energy is an environment friendly option. Solar energy is a considerably lifetime source of energy which has no harmful greenhouse effect.…
A Look at Clean Energy and Solar Heating Tubes
A Look at Clean Energy and Solar Heating Tubes
When most people think of green or clean energy they picture rows of solar panels positioned on the roof, or a group of wind energy generators producing electricity from the wind. Although these are correct views of energy sources create clean energy, it leaves out one of the most efficient, and applicable of all alternative energy installations – solar heating tubes. This kind of of clean energy technology is used to provide hot water to homes and commercial buildings.
The scientific and technical knowledge supporting this kind of clean energy have already matured as to have commercial and industrial applications, as well as domestic ones. Millions of individual homes and residential buildings that depend on such systems for their hot water supply are able to significantly reduce their electric power costs. In fact, China is the leading user of solar heating tubes, and it has been reported that as much as 30 million homes (which covers homes or apartment units) derive from 60 to 70 percent of their hot water from solar heating tubes and not from traditional electric power sources.
Why only 60-70% and not their entire hot water requirement? This is the only glitch with clean energy that depends on the sun’s radiant energy, and it happens because of the patterns of nature. Keep in mind that, the sun goes up and down each day. As a result, solar heating tubes are only able to operate when sunlight is at its peak, which is usually from around 9 AM to 4-5 PM. However once the sun sets, it’s like the energy source of the hot water equipment has been turned-off. And yet, solar heating tubes still get around sixty percent efficiency because the large storage tanks it uses can stay hot for several hours after the sun has set. This is the reason why most renewable energy professionals place optimal energy savings at the sixty percent level.
So what does actually mean for the commercial or residential building owner or landlord? For the most part, it means that, they would still have to use some electric power from their utility company or fuel supplier, to maintain a steady supply of heated water. So what does it mean from a financial point of view? Let’s examine this topic more carefully.
You need to take into consideration that you will need to purchase the solar heating system and spend money for its installation. This can be substantial capital investment, and most property owners will use the equity in their building to put their equipment purchase on a type of payment plan, like a second mortgage or business loan to cover costs. But the solar power system is going to begin working as soon as it is set-up, which means that electric expenses are going to drop significantly immediately. This drop in electricity expenses generates money savings that can be applied to the repayment on the loan for installation. What makes this investment more beneficial to property owners is that, most solar power systems can be repaid in a period of two to five years;and after this period the financial savings will go straight into the owner’s wallet. And from then on, the building can be supplied with hot water at an incredibly lower cost.
Aside from the reduction in expenditures and shorter period to receive your return on investment for the equipment, there is also a wide array of tax benefits available through such an investment. These too can help the owner of the property to recover the purchase price of the solar equipment quickly.…
How to Store Solar Energy
How to Store Solar Energy
Deep Cycle Batteries
Batteries used in boats, recreational vehicles and electric golf carts are called deep cycle batteries. These differ from car batteries because they are made to provide continuous power rather than just a quick burst of starting power.
Deep cycle batteries, despite their name, wear out after many cycles of charging and discharging. They are the low end of your battery options and should be used only if you are on a very limited budget.
Industrial Strength Batteries
Also deep cycle, but much more resistant to deterioration over multiple charging/discharging cycles, industrial strength batteries include these types:
o Flooded
o Gel
o AGM
Flooded
These are similar in function to older kinds of car batteries, but much more robust. They are called flooded because there are caps on the top of the battery that you open and pour in distilled water in order to keep the internal lead and acid components wet.
The downside of using flooded batteries is that they emit a chemical gas discharge when in use. This is a caustic and potentially explosive emission, so these batteries are not safe to use inside an enclosed area such as your home, attic or garage,
If installed in an outside shed or weather-enclosure, you need to also install vents so the gas can be dispersed outside the enclosure.
Gel Batteries
Gel batteries belong to a category of batteries called valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA). Gel batteries aren’t really filled with gel at all. These are also lead-acid batteries, but are constructed in a way that you do not need to add water, and no hazardous fumes are vented during usage or storage. This makes gel batteries safe to use inside your home or in other enclosed areas.
These are a much better option than flooded batteries, but there is still one that is much better.
Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM)
Most experts, including me, agree that AGM batteries are the best for storing solar energy. A woven glass mat is placed between the plates inside the battery. This mat absorbs and holds the electrolyte making them both spill- and leak-proof.
They are as safe as Gel batteries, but they hold their charge longer, discharge slower, and survive well over extended charging and discharging cycles.
If you can afford them, AGM batteries are the preferred way to go.
Solar energy scientists are experimenting with other high-tech ways to store solar energy. But for now, batteries are your best option.…
Solar Energy to Electrical Energy Through Solar Panels
Solar Energy to Electrical Energy Through Solar Panels
You may be thinking of buying or even making your own solar panels in order to stay away from your monthly electric bills. How do solar panels work? This is the main question that you have to be able to answer before you get your tools and start working on your homemade solar panels.
It collects radiation from the sun and then convert this energy to electricity. The solar cells function just like how large semiconductors work. When the solar cells are exposed to the sunlight, its positive-negative or p-n junction diodes convert the energy into electrical energy. When the energy strikes the surface of the solar panel, electrons are knocked out from their orbits and are released. The electric fields of the solar cells pull these electrons in a directional current. This is where the metal contacts of the solar cell will be able to generate electricity. You should remember that the more solar cells with high qualities are there in the solar panels, the more total electrical output will be produced. The whole process of converting sunlight into usable electrical energy is called the Photovoltaic Effect.
There are certain factors that affect how it works. Solar insulation is the measurement of the amount of solar radiation received by the solar panel. Your solar panel efficiency greatly depends on weather conditions. If the location of your panels is shaded, the direct sunlight radiation will be obstructed. It is best to place your panels away from obstructions so that it can receive sufficient amount of sunlight. It is also recommended that you consider the hemisphere on where you are located. If you are at the northern hemisphere of the earth, it is recommended that you place your panels facing south to receive maximum amount of sunlight. On the other hand, you have to put your panels facing north if you are located in the southern portion. However, you can also use mounts that can follow the position of the sun in the sky. You can use this to rotate your panels to get the maximum amount of sunlight exposure as possible.…
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint – Learn How to Make Your Own Solar Panels
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint – Learn How to Make Your Own Solar Panels
Learn how to make your own solar panels and you will spend only a fraction of the retail cost of buying them! You will be protecting your environment because you will be reducing your carbon footprint and you will also be saving on energy bills.
Learn how to make a solar panel with an easy-to-follow guide that comes with pictures and diagrams. You can also build a DIY solar water heater!
Building your own solar energy system involves a small investment but promises big returns! Do you know that they can retail at thousands of dollars? In fact, the average system can cost $27,000 to buy and professionally installed!
You can easily recoup the costs of converting your home to a cleaner energy source from the savings you will make on your energy bills. Even those that spend the money on pre-fabricated solar panel kits and their installation will tell you the energy savings helps them recoup their costs, within a few years. But you will save more and recoup the costs quicker if you make your own panels.
If your local utility will allow you to sell your excess energy back to “the grid” with reverse-metering, you will cut your utility bills into a negligible expense. There could be energy rebates available from your local utility and there might be some tax breaks for you to consider. Most especially, you will enjoy the benefit of controlling your monthly utility costs, which are on the rise.
The environmental impact is the main consideration for many people, but you’ll find that your solar panel system, when properly built and implemented, can add to the resale value of your home. There are a number of financial benefits to consider, obviously.
Whether you build one panel or build an entire array of solar panels, you will be surprised at how simple it can be. You do not have to be a handyman or technically minded. Complete beginners and even a 12-year old can easily follow the step-by-step guide.
Many people are getting intimidated thinking that building your own source of solar power is a complicated task, but there are thousands who are making their own with success.
You can make a 60 to 120 watt solar panels for less than $200. Collect and connect recycled solar cells and they will cost you even a lot less!
Build your own solar panels – it’s easy and affordable, and you GO GREEN!…
Solar Roof Shingles – Reduce Your Power Bill Today
Solar Roof Shingles – Reduce Your Power Bill Today
The largest form of energy in the solar system comes from the sun. We have not been able to utilise this energy as electricity due to less concentration and inability to capture enough sunlight to convert it. It would be of great help to the world if this energy can be used for day to day activities reducing pressure on the other sources of energy. A step forward in this direction is the Solar Roof Shingles. These are solar panels fitted to your roof that absorb sunlight and convert it to small currents or sources of electrical energy. This energy can then be easily used in the day to day activities.
The roof shingles can be easily stapled on to the roof and are also aesthetically appealing. The shingles come in deep blue or purple colours and cover the roof effortlessly. The electricity generated from them is DC, and the once used at home is AC. Pone would need to buy an inverter along with the shingles to make use of the electricity generated.
The Solar Roof Shingles were commercially available since 2005 and were expected to generate a whopping $5 billion by 2010. Many new constructions already have the solar roof shingles on their roofs and is a good move considering the rapid developments in the field of alternate energy. If the shingles are able to produce a substantial deal of electricity they will drastically reduce the electricity bill thus reducing strain on the non-renewable sources of energy.
A great advantage that the shingles have is that they do not occupy any extra space like solar panels. The shingles care fitted on the roofs and do not need the space of some other equipment. The electricity generated by these shingles is maintenance free and also as good as a one-time investment that gives continued returns.
A problem with solar roof shingles or any equipment that uses solar energy is that it does not come cheap. The use of the solar panels or shingles is thus restricted to those who can afford it. However continuous efforts are being made to make the use of this energy economical and affordable. The scientists aim at making it available to everyone so that we can make use of this alternate source of energy thus doing our bit in keeping this planet green. Nature provides us with a tremendous source of energy, products like the solar roof shingles are an excellent way to utilise it.
The Solar roof shingles now come in different colours and blend in perfectly with the colour your roof. The brown colour is generally preferred as it suits the roof and does not stand out like the initial blue or purple.
The solar power users get an additional tax rebate in USA. This is another advantage one gets on installing the solar roof shingles. The government believes that using solar energy reduces the strain on existing resources and thus encourages it.
The roof traditionally was used to protect you from the different climatic conditions, but with the advent of the Solar roof shingles, the roof will keep producing electricity for you, and provide it to you in case of a power failure.…
Why Should a Roofer Install Your Solar Panels?
Why Should a Roofer Install Your Solar Panels?
Solar power is redefining the way homeowners think about their homes, their finances and ultimately their impact on the planet. Many industries are adopting solar energy into the products and services that they offer, and technologically advanced roofing companies across the nation are leading the movement.
Energy- and Eco-conscious individuals, families and businesses have begun to explore the advanced technology of solar power, which is infinite and which – properly harnessed – is an absolutely free resource that creates no pollutants or ozone destruction to the atmosphere.
For homeowners considering a transition into solar, there are a few good reasons to consider having a roofer administer the installation. This article will describe the benefits of turning to a roofing company for your solar power needs.
Why should home and business owners consider a roofing company to install their solar?
Knowledge and Familiarity of Roofs
It doesn’t take overt technical knowledge of solar energy to understand that – in nearly all structures – the ideal placement of a solar panel is on the roof. The roof is the part of the home that consistently absorbs the most sunlight and ultraviolet rays – and covering a portion of your roof with solar panels allows you to absorb and convert the energy provided naturally from the sun.
If we were talking about a technology that converted water from your sinks and showers into energy, perhaps we’d suggest a plumber – because they are familiar and have a deep knowledge of pipes, valves, drains and other plumber-specific knowledge. Because solar panels are placed on roofs, the best possible installation professional would need the same familiarity of roofing. Roofers have this unique expertise and will be more competent to install solar panels and energy systems in ways that work best for each particular home or business.
Structural Integrity
Solar panels are also highly valuable pieces of equipment and can range anywhere from $15,000 to $70,000 per household or business. It is a rather hefty investment for many people, and most people want the insurance of knowing the installation will be stable and secure. Wise investors and consumers wouldn’t make a purchase without having a secure place to store it. Roofers can ensure that your roof is strong enough to support the solar panels, and their acute knowledge of roofing structures enables them to install solar equipment on the strongest positions of the roof.
Specialization in Solar
As mentioned, many roofing companies are leading the solar movement by specializing in solar installations and partnering with developers of solar equipment. Because of this, they not only know roofing, but they understand the intricate specifications of solar panel placement and set up. More often than not, a roofer will be able to set up a solar installation more securely and more effectively than other solar power providers due to special training and accreditations – both in roofing AND solar energy.
Economics
And of course, one of the biggest draws towards solar panel installations is that it is a financially sound decision that will save every household and business thousands of dollars a year (tens and hundreds of thousands over time). Knowing this, the cost factor of an installation also comes into play, and typically, roofers are more economically priced than solar technology companies. The partnerships we mentioned also means that roofers get reduced and wholesale rates on the actual solar panels and equipment, so they can offer homeowners a better price.…
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy in Vehicles
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy in Vehicles
Can solar energy power a vehicle? The answer is “yes”, but because nothing is free in life, you will have to invest in some solar panels which (in time) will offer you the possibility of enjoying free rides. You will forget about visiting gas stations and you will not pay a single cent for fuel.
Benefits and shortcomings of using solar panels in cars
The advantages of using solar panels in cars are obvious. They function mostly like the panels placed on the roofs of houses that already benefit of this type of green energy. In fact, most of those that have enjoyed the use of solar power in their houses, would love to use the same type of system in their cars.
A plus for the solar panels used for cars is that they are lesser and are not used all the time. A house has all sorts of appliances that are powered all the time, like the fridge, TV set, media player, the security system and many others, so the panels have to provide energy permanently. In the case of a car, those panels have to provide energy only when the engine is running.
Solar panels harness the energy from the sun, converting them into electricity. That electricity fuels the battery, which further on, transmits the energy to the car’s motor. However, some changes have to be performed inside of your vehicle, because you have to connect the battery you already have or replace it with another one that is capable of connecting to solar panels. Keep in mind that this operation must not be performed under any circumstances by yourself; plus it is generally very expensive; you should visit an automotive center, where people specialized in such things will perform this operation. If you want to avoid the replacement of your car battery, you can ask the technician to make the connections necessary to transmit the power from the solar panels directly to an electric motor.
In other words, this means that you have to buy an electric car and use solar panels for powering the engine. The costs of buying an electric car nowadays may be high, but you have to think that your investment is going for the long haul.
An investment like this can be recovered in several years, especially if you use solar energy from the beginning. With the worlds oil supply running out, we will start to see more solar powered vehicles on the road.…
Advantages of Solar Energy
Advantages of Solar Energy
Are you interested in getting free electric power generation? Are you tired of letting the companies take all the money you have earned? Well you can save all your hard earned money by simply generating power from the natural resources. Using the natural resources will help you cut down on your electric bill and save you a lot of money.
One of the natural resources you can use to get electricity is the sun. Solar energy is considered the force for the future. Using solar to generate energy has its many advantages.
Advantages of using the sun
A� Solar energy is renewable. The sun is always there during the day and therefore we can never run out of it. With this constant supply of energy you can be sure that the next day you will still be able to use the solar energy. Unlike oil which is not renewable at all.
A� Using solar power is pollution free. When you use the sun to generate power for your home you will not cause any form of pollution to the environment that may result to global warming and many other pollution effects.
A� The sun is free and therefore this makes it the cheapest way of getting energy. All you need are solar panels and you will be enjoying the free given sun at your home.
A� If you live in a very remote location then this will been of great advantage to you. Solar power can be harness if you live in a place far from any town or urban center.
A� Some place can be hard to build power lines and therefore the only option you may have is using the sun for your daily home energy routine.
A� The solar cells are quite silent. The cells extract energy from the sun without making any noise at all. This would not be the same if you were using a big machine to drill oil from the ground so that you can use it.
A� The solar cells do not require a lot of maintenance. You do not need to keep checking them every time as they do not have any moving parts that may require regular checking and fixing.
A� The solar panels are quite easy to install. They will not also cost you a lot of money to do so.…
Roof Damaged By Solar Panels?
Roof Damaged By Solar Panels?
The best choice to reduce this so-called global warming as well as your carbon footprint on this environment, which keeps us healthy, would be to opt for solar panels. Solar panels not only reduce these things and make the environment we live in better, but also, it is a great way to trim down those energy costs. This advantage of these panels has let many companies and manufacturers in to developing various and innovative kind of technologies, with which homeowners are taking advantage and are making the environment greener.
But when they opt for panels, there is one question always hanging on their heads: if we opt for solar panels to heat our home, it wouldn’t do us good if the roof fell in would it?” This question that the significant weight of the panel increases the chance of damaging your roof, since roof is the place where the panels could catch the best and uninterrupted solar energy, is popping up in everyone’s minds. However, it’s a baseless question. If you have heard someone’s roof being damaged due to the panels, it is possibly because their roof was already damaged even before they installed the panels onto it.
The manufacturing companies take special care when installing the panels at your home and evenly divide the weight of the panels on the roof, so that no place is bearing more weight than it should. Different roofs are made in different ways, but most of the roofs can handle 8-10/sq. foot as it is. Also, with the increase of innovations in this field, companies are moving towards making lighter and sleeker panels so that they are easy to carry. But since this has just started, such panels would be more expensive. So, if you think your roof is withered, replace it or fix it before installing solar panels.…