Residential Solar Energy
Residential Solar Energy and Its Uses
Residential solar energy is becoming a more popular as our world continues to look for new sustainable and renewable energy sources. Solar energy is abundant and free, and new technologies are being developed that are making it more affordable and practical to harness this clean energy source for our daily lives.
Residential solar power is simply energy from the sun that has been converted into electricity to run your home. Not only can it replace your existing power sources, but in can get you completely off the grid, so that you never have to worry about a power bill ever again. In some cases, if your solar power system produces more electricity than you require, you can even sell it back to your power company!
How does residential solar energy work? There are several different ways it can operate in your home. One is with photovoltaic cells. These cells are connected together in a solar panel. The more panels you have, the higher the output. These panels collect solar energy and convert it into low voltage electricity.
Solar power isn't the alternating current, or AC that is found coming off of your power box, it is direct current, or DC power. You convert it to AC with a solar inverter. Another challenge with DC power from the sun is that there are going to be times when there isn't a lot of sunlight available. This problem can be solved in different ways. One of them is to have battery back up. When the sun is out, and producing more energy than you can use, it is stored in the batteries until you need it.
Depending on where you live, you can also use the sun's energy for heating your home's water. Water can be heated by the sun, up to sixty degrees or more. While this may not be comfortable enough for bathing, it is certainly warm enough for doing laundry and other applications, and it can save you up to 40% on your heating bill. How this works is instead of solar panels with light absorbing cells, these are panels that have a series of tubes running through them. As the water passes through the tubing, the heat of the sun warms up the water.
Even if your home is not ready for using solar power systems yet, there are many other ways that you can save electricity. If you can go through your home and replace as many energy wasting appliances as possible with higher efficiency products, you will see a significant reduction in your power usage.
One perfect example is your hot water heater. Many people think that they need a tank water heater in order to have enough hot water. No matter how energy efficient a tank heater is, it uses excess energy because the tank has to be maintained at a certain temperature constantly. Instead, try installing a tank less water heater! These heaters only heat up the water during usage, and when you aren't using it, there is no power consumption.
Another way you can save on electricity is by replacing all of your conventional lights with compact fluorescent bulbs. These not only use half the electricity of a standard bulb, and depending on where they are located, they may only need to be replaced every three years.
There are many other ways you can save electricity, and the new solar technologies that are being developed are making daily life both simpler and more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Try using a solar power battery charger, a solar backpack, or solar power roof vents to start saving energy and choosing a greener and more environmentally friendly lifestyle!
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Which company provides Residential Solar Energy Systems in California with solar panel installation?
HiI am living in California.I want to install Residential Solar Energy Systems.Please anyone guide me about which company provides solar energy systems in California, USA.
Thanks
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ANSWER:
HiHot solar manages everything you need to power your home with solar energy, from your solar system design and financing to installation and ongoing system monitoring.Hot Solar company also provides solar energy systems in California, San Jose, Los Angeles,USA with Residential Solar Energy Systems.
Thanks
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QUESTION:
Is it hard installing a residential solar energy system? A simple one.?
I was wondering if I can build a residential solar energy system easily? I am pretty good in using tools and everything.-
ANSWER:
Depending on the rules in your area, you may be able to install at least part of it. You should, or may be required by law to, hire an installer to connect the AC side of it.Do not get fooled by the build your own scams on the web. Most of them don't work, and those that do are not allowed to be connected to a home. You must get UL listed panels and inverter.
You can see some residential packages here, http://www.altestore.com/store/Kits-and-Package-Deals/Grid-Tied-Systems/Alt-E-Designed-Grid-Tie-Packages/c1087/.
To determine the size of the system you need, go to a grid-tied calculator like http://www.altestore.com/store/calculators/on_grid_calculator/.
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QUESTION:
What is the least expensive and efficient residential solar energy system one can install?
I just got an estimate of about ,000, and that was after rebates and tax credits. And I would still have a sizeable PG&E bill. And would it save to install yourself?-
ANSWER:
You know I bought 3 small security lights that run on light and they did not work so I am holding off on the big system. Plus PG&E is so expensive compaired to other companies.
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QUESTION:
Can a person make residential active solar energy a positive return on investment in Boston area?
I am as green lov'n as the next guy but can a solar panel system pay for itself in <10 years in Boston area even if electric rates increase 3% per year?-
ANSWER:
No. Not enough sunlight to be practical or cost effective. Wind generator might work better there.
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QUESTION:
What is residential and commercial solar energy?
i have to do an essay and i dont even know what it is-
ANSWER:
I'm not sure if this is what they mean, but I think of "residential and commercial" as the same thing. The first is installed on a home, and the second is installed on a place of business. The commercial one can be larger if the business is large, but it's the same concept.When a power conmpany constructs a solar plant to generate electricity to sell to to others, I think of that as Utility solar energy. I'm not aware of any such plants in the USA, except on an experiemntal basis.
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Solar Energy Cost
Solar Powered Battery Charger And Other Equipment You May Need
When making the step toward pv power there are several various bits of equipment you'll need. To power up your home first you're going to need solar panels. They are the crucial component to any solar energy system, simply because it's these solar panels that are going to be the primary component, that are going to take the energy from the sun so that you can then take it and turn it into thermal or electrical energy.
That is probably the most important equipment necessary for solar power, but you will find others that you are going to need as well.
You are also going to require a photo voltaic module that is going to be really important here, and there are a few types to select from and you also must ensure that you simply pick the best one for your system. You'll require to pick a battery as well, and ensure that you refer to the sizing sheet to see what size of power supply you might be going to require, to ensure that you get the proper size battery pack. Otherwise you could really turn out blowing a fuse and your system won’t work.
Solar technology is the cool new method to power every thing it seems. It certainly is a versatile power source but like anything it does have disadvantages. Before you go out and get solar energy equipment you'll want to know precisely what you will be getting and just how it is going to perform.
How Much time Does A Solar Powered Battery Charger Take?
Lots of people anticipate nearly instantaneous outcomes with their pv powered battery chargers. The logic behind this way of thinking is the fact that simply because the battery pack charger is converting sunlight into electrical energy then it must be charging the appliance with a lot of electrical power.
The quantity of electrical power that does get converted is dependent on the type of pv powered battery charger that you are making use of and also the appliance that needs charging. In case you are using a little solar panel for instance a 30-watt panel then you definitely cannot assume it to power up your dead 100-watt power supply inside a matter of hours.
Weather conditions will also have an effect on the amount of time taken to recharge your power supply. When the day is overcast as well as the proceeding days are also overcast then expect the process to take longer. The time given on the packaging for the pv driven battery charger is calculated using average sunny days with normal lighting conditions.
Is a Pv Powered Battery Charger Worth The Time And Expense?
Considering the time that charging takes using a photo voltaic run battery pack charger you may believe that this just isn't well worth it. Well it truly would depend on what you really are using your charger for. In case you are regularly on the go and in no way have time to charge your telephone or other gadgets then investing in a good pv powered battery charger that functions in the car is an excellent idea. You'll have the ability to charge your battery wherever you're going.
If you're an outdoors sort of person then this can be something really worth looking at. It could be extremely handy on the camping trip or over a holiday in a remote location with few or no electrical outlets in sight. The main thing isn't to assume miracles out of one's battery pack charger. Select the best sort and you may have a more quickly charging procedure though it might cost you more.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
How Much Does Solar Energy cost in The UK?
How much does solar energy cost, using pounds, in the Uk? How much does it cost to set up and does it cause a lot of hassle?
Peter J I know its expensive, I want an actual figure!
No best answer!-
ANSWER:
The energy costs nothing. The equipment required to make it go, is really expensive. The equipment required to make it practical is obscenely expensive.
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QUESTION:
How much money does solar energy cost?
How much would it cost to run a household on solar energy?-
ANSWER:
The cost depends on a variety of factors, including the lifestyle the residents have, and where the household is located. An area with less sun needs larger solar panels.If the house has air conditioning, heating, and cooking all running off of electricity, the energy usage will be high, and it may take hundreds of thousands of dollars to supply everything from solar. It would be more efficient to run heating and cooking directly from the sun, rather than making electricity first, but the air conditioning would remain a huge energy eater.
On the other hand, someone who lives a third-world lifestyle in a warm area may have no need for electricity or heat at all.
But let's say that all we need to supply are a modest home in the USA, and we are only supplying electricity. No air conditioning, and heat and cooking are from gas. This kind of house might use 15-20 kWh a day, and a system to supply that would be about ,000 up front in California, considering the amount of sun, and local rebates.
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QUESTION:
how much does solar energy cost in BC?
im doing a research paper about solar energy, concentrating on BC mainly.
how much does it cost to install solar energy for a family?
please include: material, installation, power supply etc..
if you can show the resources that you used that would be awesome!-
ANSWER:
Prices vary!
Also, different families require a different amount of solar energy. So, the cost will change depending on who is using this solar energy.
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QUESTION:
How much does solar energy cost per watt?
This is for a science project and i'm comparing wind energy to solar energy. wind energy only costs /watt and [FAQ-QUESTION].03-[FAQ-QUESTION].05/kWh in average windspeeds of 6m/s-
ANSWER:
well your estimate for wind turbines is a little low in practical applications.
the 1 billion dollar 500 megawatt wind farm being built in Washington Iowa hopes to have a production cost of .093 per kwh.
here are some production costs for various types of plants.
costs are given as cents per kwh.
nuclear= 7.5 kwh
super critical pulverized coal=6.5 per kwh.
integrated gasification combined cycle coal(clean coal) =7.2 kwh
same IGCC plant with carbon capture=7.9 to 9.3 kwh
bio mass burning plants=7.5 to 8.8 kwh
solar thermal plants= 17.9 kwh
silicon photovoltaic plants=33.5 to 39.4 cents per kwh
thin film photovoltaic plants=24.6 to 31.5 cents per kwh.BTW the biomass plants currently in operation burn agricultural & industrial wastes ranging from saw dust to turkey manure
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QUESTION:
how much does home solar energy cost in california?
i would like to know how much do i have to pay in order to installed the solar power system in my house. i live in california.-
ANSWER:
It will depend on a variety of things. Since you live in CA you should get a great rebate through your utility. The size of system will depend on your location, any shade, roof orientation and usage. I can tell you a little about my system.I have a 2000sf tri level home in No. CA, I got a 3.74 kwdc system which cost K, I got a K rebate and a K fed tax credit (would have been 00 if I waited till this year). I am generating about 90% of my summer energy and 75% of my winter energy (shorter days, less light). It took my summer bill from around 0 to under . I should break even no later than 6 years, most likely sooner with the rate increases they are proposing.
There are programs in some areas that lease panels, but I advise you get a no cost no obligation quote from a licensed contractor. They should be able to advise a system that is right for you, let you know about local rebates, net metering (buying back excess energy) etc.
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Solar Shingles Cost
Solar Shingle Technology is ..." width="200" height="200" style="padding-right: 5px;"/>Solar Panels For Home, Solar Panels For Home Cost, Solar Shingles
The utilization of solar panels for home is a terrific way to generate neat and renewable electricity that's able to running remote home appliances as well as partly running your house or place of work.
Photo voltaic (or solar) cells really are a very helpful method of supplying electricity to remote places that using electricity might be essential the lounging of high current cable might not be viable. The very best illustration of the significance of solar panels for home to supply electricity in remote locations is available in space.
You will find several benefits of utilizing a photo voltaic cell array with assorted sections fitted along a mounting system. Among the primary advantages is the fact that we could mix various amounts of cells use a greater creation of electricity which method makes photo voltaic electricity a possible option to lead to running small houses and companies.
The growing efficiency of solar panels for home technologies means we could purchase and install sections knowing we will probably receive an efficient way of utilizing energy in the sun's sun rays in becoming electricity to be used within our houses.
Solar panels for home systems which are associated with the power grid are made to feed Solar panels for Home Bonny Doon to the utility system once they generate more energy than may be used. Consequently, the great you need to do for that atmosphere does not stop at your house or office. Even neighbors without solar panels for home systems can draw upon the alternative energy from the sun - when you bank credit from the utility-produced energy you utilize during the night.
Solar panel for home in optimal conditions, the loan you get by feeding energy to the power grid will offset the price of the power you utilize once the sun stands out less often. This arrangement together with your utility clients is known as "internet metering." In California, power companies are needed to supply clients with internet electricity consumption information every month. Every 12 several weeks the credits and debits are reconciled, or "trued up."
Obviously solar panel for home systems don't need to offset all of your energy. They may also be used for "peak load shaving." That's, you are able to offset your usage throughout the greatest rate tiers, in which the payback is better. Solar panels for home systems generally won't operate once the power grid is lower. That disadvantage is offset considering these solar panels for home systems tend to be more effective and fewer costly than individuals which include backup batteries. Unless of course you reside within an area susceptible to frequent black outs, it'll generally be in your favor to not stress about the periodic outage.
However, we all do provide a stand-alone battery backup module that may be installed anytime and also hardwearing. Energy on while every building who are around you is dark; this backup module may be used whether you've photo voltaic energy for you personally home or small office.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
How much do Solar shingles cost?
I need to know how much solar shingles cost for my uni report. I know that it will depend on the building but roughly how much does a one shingle cost?-
ANSWER:
Hey Chris, to my knowledge, they aren't for sale yet. I've been looking for a price and seller for a while on these products. There are two places that are making them experimentally, OK Solar and Uni-Solar. You can go to their websites and get all kinds of technical info on them, how they connect to the homes electrical system, under roof decking wiring schematics, and so forth, but they don't list any dealers, and I can't find a single place that actually sells them yet. The short answer is they will cost more for the same power outbput than if you put regular shingles on a roof, then added regular panels, partly because that's how marketing works, and also because they are highly engineered devices.We live in a home that has been powered by the wind and sun for over 10 years now. Most of the work we did ourselves. We made plenty of mistakes, and learned a great deal along the way. Now I find myself in the local schools each year teaching the kids about solar power, and one school even brings kids to our home on a field trip each year to see a working solar/wind powered home as part of their course work. But even with that exposure, and talking to the people I know in the business, nobody can find a seller of those shingles yet. They will one day be commonplace in new construction, but I think the manufacturers are till working out bugs in the process.
There are some pretty good websites for solar power in general, I will list them below if you want to learn more about solar power. Good luck Chris, and take care, Rudydoo
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QUESTION:
How much do Solar Shingles cost?-
ANSWER:
I think it depends on where you are and what your installation will be. They won't be cheap, I did see a new technology coming on line that they said will cut the cost by something like 3/4s, which is a pretty big chunk.
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QUESTION:
what is the start up cost for pool solar heating systems?
I am curious to know if anyone can give me a ballpark figure on what the start up cost to install a solar heating system for my 30'x17' inground pool? If new shingles are required in a few years on the roof, does having solar panels on it add significant cost to this job?-
ANSWER:
Most pool solar heating systems on the market are glorified black air mattress-like water bags that are plumbed directly to your existing pool plumbing. Basically, the sun heats the water filled bags (usually 4'x20' or similar size). For your pool size, one water bag should be enough.You can lay them down anywhere but if they're going to be mounted on the roof you'll need the extra piping and pump power to pump water up to the height of the roof.
Keeping in mind that there are many different brands available, expect to pay about 0 for the water bag. If extra piping is required plus the professionals to plumb the heater into your existing system then you will be paying more for materials and labour (maybe 00 more depending on how evil the installation is).
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QUESTION:
Can you buy solar panels?
I was wondering if you could but flexible solar shingles to like put on the roof of a house.
How much is the average cost of solar shingles and where can you purchase them?-
ANSWER:
Yes you can, solar panels can be purchased at Canadian Tire and on-line.
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QUESTION:
What Would The Cost of A Renovation Be?
We are currently looking to buy this wonderfully crappy home around the corner from us for around ,000. It is a 3 bed, 2 bath ranch style house that is a total of 1100 sq. ft. Prior to purchasing we are trying to figure out what a gut and redo of this place will cost. We know the following has to be done:- Gut of all walls
- New plumbing
- Update wiring
- New kitchen
- New baths
- New floors (hardwood)
- Some carpet
- New roof
- Redo siding & front fasciaHere are some items that we are trying to figure out that I have not found a ton of reliable data on:
- Tank less water heater cost & install
- Bamboo hardwood cost and install
- Foam/blue jean insulation cost
- Green shingles
- Solar install
- Gray water system installHas anyone done something similar in their area? We are looking to budget about ,000 for all of the items needed, and need to know if this is reasonable or just plain crazy.
Thanks for anyone's help. We are in the burbs of Chicago if anyone has good contacts as well.
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ANSWER:
I would estimate at least ,000-100,000 to have it all done. I think it will be the higher, judging by my previous experience. It could be more if you are installing solar...solar alone will run you minimum ,000 for an average family of four usage and all the panels, batteries, inverter..etc needed. I would skip this part or add it on top of the hundred thousand.
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Off Grid Solar
An Introduction To Battery Chargers
Battery Chargers are devices which is used to input electrical energy into another electrical cell, or rechargeable battery. A battery charger will do this by pushing an electric current through it. Various types of rechargeable batteries will require different charge currents, which are supplied from the battery charger, therefore many different kinds of battery chargers are manufactured to supply this need. For example a battery from a motorcycle, will require a different current than a mobile phone battery.
Battery chargers vary a great deal in intelligence, the types of batteries they can charge, how they maintain batteries, and how long they take to charge. As batteries are such a big investment when it comes to off grid solar power systems, it's important to get the right one for your off grid solar power system.
A general rule of thumb is to charge a battery at about 10% of its amp hour capacity. For example, and 80Ah deep cycle battery should be changed at a rate of about 8A.
Different types of batteries require different charging regimes. For example, SLA (sealed lead acid), AGM (absorbent glass matt) and gel batteries are traditionally charged at a lower voltage than flooded lead acid batteries. This varies depending on the manufacturer and you should always check what charging voltage is required before you buy batteries and a battery charger.
There are many different types of chargers and some of these can include:
o Trickle charger
o Fast charger
o Inductive charger
o Solar charger
o Pulse charger
o Intelligent charger
A trickle charger is a device that charges a battery slowly at the self discharge rate, and is the slowest type of battery charger. A battery can be left on a trickle charger indefinitely, and by doing so it keeps the battery topped up but never over-charges it.
Solar chargers use solar energy and they are usually portable. Many portable chargers can only take energy from the sun.
Inductive chargers make use of electromagnetic induction to charge batteries. This is achieved by a charging station sending electromagnetic energy through inductive coupling to an electrical device, which stores the energy in the batteries. This is achieved without the need for metal contacts between the charger and the battery.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
How much power is consumed by a illuminating switch light in the off position? I wired a off-grid solar cabin.?
Wondering how much extra solar power I need to calculate. Or, should I use non-lighted switches. Thanks, Rick-
ANSWER:
Don't have an exact number, I'd guess at 20mA at 60 volts (half wave to drive a LED) or about 1 watt.I'd use non-lighted switches, unless you already have them installed.
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QUESTION:
How do I figure out how many solar panels are needed for off grid solar system?-
ANSWER:
look at your electric bill and see how many kilowatt hours ( kWh) you use a monthdivide by 30 for daily use. Most people are in the 20kW a day range
So you need to put that much into a battery bank each day
the Dept of Energy has a calculator for how much usable sun a day you have where you live ( like say 8 hours a day year round in Key West, 3 hours a day average in Seattle)
4 hours a day? you need a 5 kW system...more is better for there are various losses and inefficiencies to deal with.......
panels: this would mean about 30 2x3 foot 175 watt panels; add wire, battery bank, inverters to take the 14 volt of the battery system back up to 1120 volt home use......add 10% for "stuff".......and then the labor for the carpenters roofers and electricians to put it all in, plans permits and gov regulations.....
and time and again the number always comes out to about .00 a Watt installed..
so for a 5,000 Watt system plan on ,000.00
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QUESTION:
Off grid solar system wire connection?
I have 4 50watt solar panels connected in parallel and my batteries also connected in parallel. Mppt controller. My question is can I connect my panels in series and batteries in parallel? What's the most efficient way to maximum power?-
ANSWER:
Why not to get connected to the grid instead? You don't have to store anything and instead of spending money on batteries get en extra panel to your 4 50watt system. Perhaps this is not answer to your question but definitely its a way round your problem.
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QUESTION:
Do you have an off-grid home in a cloudy, rainy climate? Would solar panels be worth it?
I've been doing a lot of research on places to live when I finish school, and I really think Oregon is the perfect place for me. Me and my boyfriend want to build an off-the-grid house. The thing is, he says we can't live in Oregon because it's not sunny enough, and if we relied on solar panels it wouldn't work out. Is there some other off-grid solution besides solar panels we could use as backup? I don't know much about wind turbines and how much they would cost. Does anyone living in a rainy, cloudy climate make much use of solar panels? Or should I move to a state that has more days of sunshine (I've been considering Colorado)? Suggestions? Thanks.-
ANSWER:
There are a lot of off-grid houses in Oregon, and many sell their power back during the sunny days to balance the rest of the time. Just do a search on green houses in Oregon to find some of the projects listed. There are also cob houses in Coquille that are quite interesting. But at present. it costs more to get these off grid houses built than they recover. Most folks just starting out can't afford to do it.I'm looking for ways and colaborators to take an existing house and pull it off the grid - affordably. Have lots of ideas, but little free time to play with doing them. Would love to share ideas.
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QUESTION:
how to select a suitable battery for a off grid solar PV system and which is suitable tubular or flat plate?
I know that we have use lead acid batteries-
ANSWER:
The battery capacity is determined by the load and the number of days it will work without the sun.Battery capacity is usually determined in ampere hours. First determine what load you have in Watt hours or kilowatt hours over a selected 24 hour period. If you have 800W and it is on for 4 hours a day, that is 3200Wh. Allow a figure for the losses between the battery and the load. This is cables and inverter. Maybe 20%. So now the battery has to supply 4000Wh.
Now what is the nominal battery voltage, under load, and not under charge. Lets say it is a 24V battery which is more suitable for this load than a 12V battery. The capacity is 4000Wh/24V = 167Ah. That is a battery large enough to carry the load for a single day. Now allow for a number of days without charging (no sun). This might end up being a compromise. Perhaps 5 days. The total capacity is then 5 x 167 = 835Ah. Perhaps the next nearest size is 1000Ah capacity at 24 Volts.
Checking the maximum load current...
The peak load is at least 800W (we started with that) but maybe there are short term peaks that are larger while the fridge starts etc. Let's say 1600W. This represents a current of 67A with a 24V battery. A 1000Ah battery should easily handle that, as it is less than 1/10 of its capacity. Cables and circuit breakers and inverter must be sized for the 800W load, but also capable of handling this surge. Usually the voltage drop determines what size cable, rather than the current carrying capability of the cable, so it will be bigger than the 33A cable expected to carry 800W. Use the 67A figure to calculate voltage drop.At this size I doubt there are any tubular types of batteries. I think that is more a personal choice than anything else. I am not a fan of sealed lead acid batteries. I would tend to use a flooded electrolyte type intended for deep cycle usage, especially in a hot climate. Note that batteries need to be well ventilated (hydrogen).
The solar panels themselves are a separate issue, used to recharge the batteries. There is a loss due to the battery chemistry. Consider using a Maximum Power Point (MPP) charger for efficiency. The panels have to charge the 24V battery with 1.4 x 167Ah = 234Ah per day minimum. This charge has to occur during the equivalent full sun hours in your location. It is a good idea to allow more, for aging, losses, rainy days etc. This tends to be all about the cost in the end. For this case you need at least 234Ah per day, so if there is 5 equivalent hours that is 46.8A from the panels for 5h per day. This is 4 sets of 12A panels in parallel.
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Solar Generators
Cheap Home Solar Panels: Reuse & Recycle To Save Money
While it's not difficult to find information on how to put together a cheap home solar energy system, many experts forget to mention an easy way to save even more money when you do it yourself. Salvaging used solar panels is a great way to build an eco-friendly home while recycling perfectly good solar equipment in the process.
Used solar panels can be found on auction sites like eBay and classified ad sites like Craigslist or Kijiji - be warned, you should most definitely ask the seller questions about the condition and location of materials to avoid scammers. Also, don't forget to factor shipping into the cost of recycling solar panel parts!
Refitting used solar equipment to build low cost panels doesn't require as much skill as one might think. With basic do-it-yourself skills and common tools, most people will easily be able to repair and reuse components from pre-owned and even broken solar generators.
As always, do first things first. After you've purchased your used solar panels you will need to free the photovoltaic cells from the base which they are mounted to. Next you can inspect the solar cells for any loose connectors, cracked panels and moisture damage. These issues are quite common and usually the reasons why most homeowners deem their solar panels to be defective. This equipment can usually be repaired quite easily with a little re-soldering of the joints to strengthen the connections.
Replacing broken PV cells require a little more effort as you will need to replace them with similar or exact components as the original. It is important to note that if a solar cell is broken, and this is the only problem, most will still work though the overall power output will be reduced.
If cheap home solar panels are what you desire, then harvesting used parts is a great way to save money on your DIY solar panel project. Used panels can often be picked up for next to nothing, and if you're lucky you might find a local contractor who is willing to unload a lot of used parts and panels for free!
Whether you're paying for used panels or they were given to you, identifying the problems is where most of your time will be spent. As long as you know this going into it, cheap home solar panels are often right around the corner! If you run into problems finding good used parts, consider contacting contractors who specialize in solar panel installation. Most will be willing to cheaply sell or even give you used panels just to get rid of unneeded inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Is the usage of Wind Powered Generators & Solar Generators Illegal in Singapore?
I'm planning to buy either a Wind Powered Generators, Solar Generators or a Hybrid Generator to be more "Green" & at the same time save on electric bills... I'm able to install such a generator on my home...-
ANSWER:
Its sad that Singaporeans should ask such questions. We are so timid. At the very worst you get a fine for installing green equipments. Take a MRT ride where you can see many terrace houses. You will find many with solar roofs.Their owners are not languishing in Changi prison. As for wind power, Singapore is not windy whole year round. Best stick with solar panels.
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QUESTION:
Does anyone have any leads on backup solar generators?
I want to purchase a solar powered backup generator in the event that we have a power outage. I don't want a gas/diesel generator as I don't want to have to fight everyone else to get gas for a generator. I've been only able to find one solar generator that would seem to work for my home. Any suggestions?-
ANSWER:
I've just started looking at solar myself, here's a link to a site that seems to have some reasonably priced systems:http://www.sunenergyusa.com/index.html
Maybe there will be information that will help, I'm a novice myself so I'm not sure what exactly you are looking for.
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QUESTION:
What companies are the best in supplying Alternative Energy Generators(Solar, Wind...)?
Hello,I was wondering if one day I wanted to buy good products for generating energy from alternative resources like the Wind power and the Solar power, which companies are the best in supplying those kinds of generators?
I'm not just thinking of small generators for homes, I'm thinking of a bigger level too. Like for big industrial companies or even National level!
Thanks a lot for your expertise exchange
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ANSWER:
Mr. Solar
Specializes in renewable energy products including solar panels, batteries, solar kits, and other items.
www.mrsolar.com
Kyocera Solar
Network of solar energy companies answering the growing worldwide demand for reliable, economical, solar-generated electrical power.
www.kyocerasolar.com
Big Frog Mountain
Manufacturer of solar panels, wind generators, inverters, batteries, and other renewable energy equipment.
www.bigfrogmountain.com
Sierra Solar Systems
Engineers solar electric and solar pumping systems worldwide.
www.sierrasolar.com
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QUESTION:
What is the negative environmental impact of solar generators?
With respect to tsolar towers, what are the negative impacts to the environment from these systems?-
ANSWER:
A solar tower uses a field of heliostat mirrors to concentrate solar energy on a boiler to produce steam to run a steam turbine and generate electricity. Unfortunately, you have to have water in the boiler in order to produce steam and that water has to come from somewhere. Many of the solar tower projects in California have been blocked due to a lack of water. It is possible to have a closed system whereby the steam is cooled back down into water but that is very inefficient unless you gasp use water to cool it down. Aside from the amount of land such solar towers occupy and hence the displacement of natural habitat, the biggest negative environmental impact is water consumption.
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QUESTION:
What is your experience with the solar generators that are advertised on the web?
They cost about 00 to 00 depending on power. A panel, a charge controller, huge lithium battery, inverter.I'm not asking if the price is right. They sound so sensible I'm wondering why they aren't being offered by the larger manufacturers?
Anyone have any experience?
Thanks!
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ANSWER:
Without a link to the products you are talking about, it's hard to give an accurate review. My guess is they are either kits that have been put together from the basic components, the few I saw from a Google search were just all of the components available at any solar equipment provider or an all-in-one device that combines battery, charge controller, and inverter that you plug a solar panel into. They are off-grid systems, which means you can only power the equipment from that battery, if the battery runs out (during a rainy stretch of weather), then you would need to unplug from it and plug into your regular electric. Duracell is rebranding an all-in-one device, except for the solar panel, that is made by Xantrex, and selling it as their own, so the big companies are starting to get into the game.Something that size is probably just good enough to either provide emergency backup power in the event of an outage or enough for a cabin. A one-size-fits-all system is hard to make to work for most people. We put together kits that are a good starting point, but are often customized to meet the customers particular needs.
http://www.altestore.com/store/Portable-Power-Systems/Xantrex-X1500-Backup-Power-System-802-1500/p2066/
http://www.altestore.com/store/Kits-and-Package-Deals/Off-Grid-Cabin-Systems/Off-Grid-Cabin-package-1-170W-PV/p5692/
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Solar Home
A DIY Solar Home for the Handy Homeowner
Are you a homeowner that’s even slightly handy? And are you thinking about building your own DIY solar panels? Then here’s the best advice you’ll ever hear: Make sure to find a good source of quality information that provides the guidance to make your home solar project a success.
Solar energy is one of today’s hottest topics. Do an online search and you’ll find many information resources, all promising to deliver the guidance you’ll need to complete your solar project. While many so-called ‘review’ sites claim to provide unbiased ‘honest’ guide reviews, most fail to point out the shortcomings of these products.
So, before you decide to buy a DIY home solar guide, here are a few simple questions to make sure you get the manual that provides the guidance that you personally need.
1) Is the sales page believable? Are the claims realistic?
Yes, it’s entirely possible to build your own DIY solar panel for a hundred dollars or so. Yet some guides make promises that no one can substantiate. And yes, it’s possible to significantly reduce your energy bills and even sell electricity back to the utility company. However, if you expect to be instantly free from the grid and watch your meter spin backwards for an investment of a few hundred dollars, you’re likely to be very disappointed.
2) Does the guide use a tried-and-true design?
Before you begin your DIY home solar project, make sure that the design you use has been well tested in the field and proven to work. It’s easy to get excited reading the testimonials provided by the publisher of a quality guide. However while most testimonials are genuine, they rarely provide full contact information.
So, has the author of the guide actually done the work of building and testing their design themselves? If the guide includes a full set of video tutorials as well as written instructions, it goes a long way in establishing credibility. Quite a few people find the videos more helpful and easier to follow than written instructions alone. Ideally, a DIY solar panel guide will include both.
3) Is the information in the guide complete?
Nothing is more frustrating than getting a project almost done, only to find that one or more of the final steps is missing. The primary focus of the manual should be providing clear, concise, step-by-step instructions on how to build your own DIY solar panels. It should also provide details on sourcing the components at the best prices available. It should also different options that will allow you to complete a solar energy system that meets your individual requirements.
4) Is there a money back guarantee?
If the guide provides quality information, the author will be happy to provide you with a money back guarantee. A reasonable length of time period is 30 to 60 days. If you’re not satisfied with what you’ve received, you can request a refund, making your purchase risk-free.
5) Is support included at no additional cost?
Another indication of quality is when the vendor is willing to stand behind their product and provide free support. They should be willing to provide full contact details and answer any question you might once you’ve purchased their product. A ‘24 hour or less’ guaranteed response time is an indication they’re serious about supporting their guide.
It’s not easy finding a DIY solar home guide that has a positive response to each of these questions. But if you’re a homeowner and are interested in saving money every month on your energy bill, do yourself a favor and take advantage of free energy – compliments of the Sun!
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Solar Home?
Is it pratical to retro fit a house, with solar power? Have the solar panels become cheap enough for the average Home owner to use?
What would the Price for an average Home of 1800 Sq ft be, Ballpark figure.
Any thoughs or Ideas would be Appreciated.-
ANSWER:
Typically retro-fitting a house is not practical. My parents built a solar home in southern CT the late 1970's and location of the house on the property, orientation of the house, latitude, longitude, materials used for solar collection and storage - and a whole lot of other choices had to be made before they could even get a permit.Link below is to Real Goods, which is a reliable source of solar technology for DIY people, second link below includes FAQ re: the resources needed to solar power your home. My husband and I toured a solar-powered house in VT featured in the Real Goods newsletter - these people lived completely off the grid - this was about 8 years ago.
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QUESTION:
Could someone please tell where I can find detailed information on a rotating solar home?
I am doing a report on a rotating solar home and I can't find any detailed information on it.-
ANSWER:
its not cost effective but here is a link
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QUESTION:
How to build a model solar home?
Hi i am a senior in high school and i have to build a model solar home for my engineering project. THe house has to have working lights and fans. I also have to be able to store the energy. And i am having loads of trouble figuring out how to do it...can anyone help me??-
ANSWER:
Capacitor's would work but hard to regulate.You could try going with the plain old rechargables.
Or build a dry cell from scratch.
If I were you find a buch of recharable as you can and use em'; cell's aren't that bad but you would need to find the right resources for your needs. Capacitors are just plain hard to keep controlled and regulated
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QUESTION:
How hard is it to convert your home to solar energy?
And can it be done without ruining the outside appearance of your house? All the solar homes I see are covered with funky panels, and it looks like a mess.How much $$ would someone need to dish out for a transformation like that?
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ANSWER:
They run plumbing all through the walls to pump water through to warm the floors and keep plumbing all insulated...
The lighting comes from the sun through special glass panes that filter warmth into the house...
It keeps everything warm in winter...
As for summer, the same windows are covered to keep the house cool and the plumbing is controlled by electronics to keep it cool...
I have seen the builders put in these big boxes that convert all your wires and plumbing to meet the needs of the house...
They have all kinds of buttons on them for setting special heat and cooling in different rooms...
It looks like you need a degree in electronics to learn to use them...
I am sure though I could never afford them and they would not work in my house because I have a manufactured home that does not have thick walls or strong exterior...
My house is all wood...I came accross a new, proven and tested home made wind power system and solar power system which eliminates our electricity bills. It was written by a Renewable energy enthusiasts Michael Harvey the diy called Earth4energy. You can get your copy to save energy and help environment while eliminating your power bills. Get it from here:
http://buildyourownhomeenergy.blogspot.com/
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QUESTION:
What features should I look for when purchasing a home solar power system?
Just wondering if some experts out there could give some advice on what to features to look for and to "look out" for when purchasing and having installed a home solar power system. Of course I know sizing it properly is a big issue. However, are there certain brands of the various components that should or should not be used, etc.-
ANSWER:
The biggest things to look out for is making sure the installer is qualified, and the equipment is UL Listed. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there now claiming to be installers, but have never done it before, or have no training and are doing it wrong. It's not the same as regular house electrical work, not just any electrician can do it.NABCEP is an organization that certifies solar installers. They have to have years of experience and lots of training to even be able to sit for the exam. Just because an installer isn't certified, doesn't mean they aren't good, but having the certification is a great way to be sure they know what they are doing. If you don't have a certified installer in your area, try to find an installer who has done a number of installs and talk to their references.
As far as equipment, any reputable installer will use quality equipment. It has to be UL Listed to pass inspection, so unless this is their first, they'll know the good stuff.
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Cheap Solar Power
How to Save Big Bucks With Homemade Solar Panels
Architecture and urban developing has come a long way since the time of the Greeks, the first people who made of architecture one of the pillars of the growth of their civilization. To the Greeks, buildings and constructions were more than just places to dwell or gather. They found a way to make their buildings lead the way in the development of their culture, and left to posterity great constructions that will last forever, like the Parthenon or the magnificent aqueducts, which took advantage of natural courses of water to facilitate human life. Nowadays, we have managed to take advantage of water in efficient ways, even producing energy. The time has come to take advantage of solar energy, another great free resource that guarantees clean, cheap and endless energy.
As a consequence, modern buildings try to make the most of solar energy by using Homemade Solar Panels. Designs seek to make the most of available sunny hours, leaving no corner in the dark. Also, the conservation of temperature is carefully considered. The age of huge glass and steel building that took no advantage of energy conservation has come to an end. These big buildings depend largely on air conditioning, both to cool and heat rooms, because of their structure, that merely encapsulated the space. Nowadays, there are much more efficient ways to take advantage of wind, to cool the inside of buildings, making the most of drafts and natural currencies. And also, spaces are designed to make the most of light, hence reducing the need of artificial light. But a new element has come to the stage: solar energy.
A long time has passed since the first pioneers attempted to replace conventional electric power with the first prototypes of solar panel powered devices. These old devices looked like “attachments” on the roofs of houses, puzzling most people, who did not know what it was all about. Architecture has evolved, making homes much more efficient in the use of solar power, making the circuits and required installations part of the original design of the house, and not some attachment placed once the house has been built.
Architects take solar energy into consideration to adequately design of new homes, for instance, preparing roof to support solar cells in all their extension, and providing self cleaning systems to keep the solar panels clean. Also, piping is different for solar powered homes. Copper is the material to be used, because of the low maintenance it requires, and the awesome property copper has to maintain heat. Many newbies make the mistake to use plastic pipes, which is cheaper than copper. Yet, this is a mistake. Copper pipes pay themselves in a short time, and ensure the most effectiveness of the installed solar panels.
One thousand watts of energy can be obtained with one square meter of solar panels. Yet, it is important to make the most of them, by taking advantage of each and every watt, and preventing waste. New isolation procedures and materials have been developed to achieve this. Avoidance of loss of heat is a must when it comes to heating through solar power.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
What are some good cheap solar power refridgerater,ovens and microwaves?
I'm mainly looking for a solar power refridgerater,i found one online but it looks too small and doesnt come with a freezer!
I live somewhere where the electricity men always take my electricity out for 2 hours and all my food goes bad,you would think I could get money from my insurance for my food going bad but no way!would it just be cheaper to get that back up power supply thing or could I save money with one of these?
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ANSWER:
It would be far cheaper just to have a backup generator that kicks on and powers things when your line voltage is out.
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QUESTION:
Good and Cheap Solar Power.?
I have been thinking of getting solar power for my house for a while now but i don't know much about this. So can anyone give me a link to a cheap and good site that sell solar or wind power?-
ANSWER:
Take a look at the free educational videos at the AltE Store, http://www.altestore.com/store/Books-Classes-Educational-Videos/Educational-Videos/c1138/. They will answer a lot of questions you have.The AltE Store can put together a complete package for solar, wind, or both. If you install solar, you don't need to have batteries to store the power, you can connect to the electric grid and sell them any extra you make during the day, and buy back any you use at night. This is called net metering and is available from most public US electric companies. It greatly reduces the expense and complication of a system. It is not a different kind of power, you don't need special appliances to run with it, it just is standard AC electricity that goes into the general pool that is used.
Wind power is worth looking at if you have at least 10mph annual average wind speed. Less than that, and you have a very expensive lawn ornament.
Before you spend any money on alternative energy systems, look at what you can do to conserve energy first. For every you spend on conservation, that's less you have to spend on solar. It is much cheaper to save energy than make it.
Also consider solar water heating. Depending on how you are currently heating your water, and the rebates available in your area, it can pay for itself in ~5 years.
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QUESTION:
is it really as cheap to have solar power?
With electricity prices going up all the time is solar power worth thinking about and what would it cost for a 3 bed house.-
ANSWER:
I see you're in the UK. There is no set answer based on the size of the house, unfortunately. What you can do is gather your electrical bills for the past year, and visit a local solar installer for an estimate. They will also be familiar with local climate and incentives such as feed-in tariffs.Modern solar electric systems are generally tied to the grid, and no longer need batteries. This makes the system both cheaper and more reliable.
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QUESTION:
Cheap, Easy, Solar power for my A/C?
I have an electric A/C in the window. Is there a cheap, easy way to run it on solar power? The A/C unit is on the north side of the house. I've seen battery-maintainers at auto parts stores. Can I buy one, a deep cycle battery, and an inverter? How many watts does a window A/C need?-
ANSWER:
Air conditioners draw a *lot* of current. I can't give you exact figures, but the number of solar cells and batteries needed would not be cheap. Those car battery maintainers only produce a few milliwatts of power at best, and none of the inverters you find at auto parts stores are strong enough to run a hair dryer or a space heater, so they definitely won't run an A/C.
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QUESTION:
where can I buy a cheap Solar Battery Power Charger?
I need a solar Battery Power Charger for my ipod touch and samsung impression cell fone where can I buy on les than 20 dollars and from us-
ANSWER:
I recommend 4 Battery Solar Charger. Charges mobile phones, portable game systems, radio/cassette player, torch/lantern and toys etc
A blocking diode is built into the circuit to prevent the reverse flow of electricity
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H36S0G?ie=UTF8&tag=digitsy-marina-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000H36S0G
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Solar Power Electricity
How Solar Power Electricity Works
With the rising cost of electricity many homeowners are looking for alternative ways to generate the power they require, and lower their energy bills each month as a result. Home solar power systems are a great alternative energy solution for anyone looking for a clean and efficient system to provide the power their home requires. Modern solar power electricity systems are less expensive and more efficient than ever before and provide a near perfect alternative energy solution that can help you lower or even eliminate your monthly electricity bill by using nothing more than simple sunlight for fuel.
More Flexible and Less Expensive
These modern solar power electricity systems have seen dramatic improvements in recent years and are more flexible than ever before and less expensive as well. Because of this, many homeowners are installing one of these home solar power systems and dramatically reducing the amount of power they need to pay for each month. In addition to the savings, they can also feel good about using an alternative energy solution on their homes that is helping to eliminate the pollution associated with traditional power generation methods such as coal or oil.
How It Works
The way a typical solar power electricity system works is fairly straightforward and only requires a few components to provide your home with free power from the sun. It all starts with the solar panels that do the actual conversion of sunlight to electricity. They are able to perform this conversion through the use of photovoltaic solar cells that can generate a small current when exposed to sunlight. Each panel is a collection of these solar cells that have been connected together to provide a good bit of power as a complete panel. The power these solar panels produce is direct current (DC), which needs to be converted to alternating current (AC) before it can be used by the home.
Current Conversion
The conversion of the DC current supplied by the solar panels to AC current that can be used by the home is done by a device called an inverter. The inverter is typically a large device that is located near the electrical panel of the home. The inverter has a few responsibilities in a solar power system and the conversion of power is one of them. Another thing the inverter does is supply this converted power directly to the home for use. It is typically connected between the solar power electricity system, the home and the local power utility. It has the ability to switch the home between the power being supplied by the solar power system during the day and the local utility for power in the evenings.
Spinning Your Meter Backwards
The inverter is also in charge of directing any excess power your system generates during the day that is not being used by the home, back up the power lines to the local utility. The idea is to generate more power than you are using when the solar power electricity system is active and send the surplus to the local utility. This excess power will generate a credit for your home that can be used in the evenings to offset the cost of power you need to purchase when your system is dormant. If your solar power system is sized correctly, this back and forth trading of power should cancel each other out and you'll be left without a utility bill each month. In some areas you can even be paid for any excess power you generate beyond your home's needs!
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
How can I make my own solar panel and produce solar power electricity and green energy?
Solar Power Electricity will save you thousands of dollars while keeping the planet safe and pollution free. By building you own solar panels you will not just generate solar power electricity that saves you money, but you will feel a total sense of satisfaction.-
ANSWER:
here's some useful info about solar panels, hope it helps.http://www.renewables-info.com/renewable_energy_info/solar_panels_info.html
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QUESTION:
How can I produce a 60-70 kilowatts electricity from solar power? if yes, how can I do it?
I want to use solar power to run my home appliances, lights, fans.... I want to produce a 60-70 kilowatts electricity power (per day) from solar power. How can I do it? What do I need to do it?Please let me know step by step instructions, or details/links.
thanks
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ANSWER:
First get out your calculator. Looking at a little panel (just under 9 inches square) at
http://www.batterystuff.com/solar-chargers/SP-5.htmlthis will give out 5 watts. For 60 kW, you will need 60000 / 5 = 12000 of these, covering an area of 6750 square feet or 750 square yards. Not many people have a roof that size facing the sun. Perhaps you mean 60 kilowatt-hours through the day. Then, of course, the sun is up for only part of the day, so you will have perhaps 8 hours to generate the daily requirement at 60000 / 8 = 7500 watt output, needing an area of only 840 square feet, still big but now manageable. You need to generate more than you need in the daytime to store some of the electricity for night-time use. The only practical form of storage is batteries. A big car battery is rated at 12V 100 ampere-hours, equivalent to 1.2 kWhr, so you will need about 40 of those for your evening and night consumption. After that you need an inverter, which turns the DC produced by the solar panels and stored by the batteries into AC mains voltage to power all your domestic equipment. The inverter is not 100% efficient and the sun is often obscured by cloud and rain, so you might start by doubling all these dimensions. This is going to be a very expensive exercise.
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QUESTION:
How can i make a water fountain, without using solar power, or electricity?
I would like to make a small water fountain for my garden, but without it using any electricity, or solar power, i want to make one that works just by the power of water... if ya get what i mean-
ANSWER:
Buy an actual fountain head & plumbing from flower garden center or such & plumb up to water supply with a shut off nearby. Adjust water supply for correct effect at fountain. You may need a water pressure reducer.
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QUESTION:
How possible would it be to to trap solar power convert it to electricity ,then run a drill to get water?
how possible is it to turn solar power into electricity to run a drill for water in the dessert where the sun shines 12 hrs a day.and in turn start a green house project for plants and crops so sustain life in a dry place where they lack water and food,resulting to food insecurity ,poverty and death.-
ANSWER:
You can get solar powered pumps that pump water during the day when the sun shines. These are used a lot in remote areas. How deep of a well you have and how fast you pump the water determines what pump and how much solar you need. http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Water-Pumps/Submersible-Solar-Pumps/Sun-Pumps/c688/
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QUESTION:
How to produce hydro electricity with solar power?
I want to use solar power to feed tank on 5 th floor, then i want to produce electricity as hydro electricity. I would like to know the technical as well as economical viability, I am in Nagpur, which have very good sunlight is available.-
ANSWER:
Although your idea would work, you have to remember that changing energy from one form to another is an inefficient process. You'll only capture a small amount of solar energy for use to pump your water up and increase its potential energy. Then you only capture a small amount of your water's potential energy as it flows back down.A better solution would be, if you're connected to an electric utility grid that allows you to sell electricity back, to generate excess electricity during the day, then draw electricity from the grid at night. If the electricity you sell during the day equals the electricity you buy during the night, you break even.
If you can't sell your electricity to the grid, use solar batteries. These will store electricity more efficiently than pumping water, meaning you'll lose less energy in total. Your solar panels will generate excess electricity during the day, charging up your solar batteries. Then, at night, you can draw electricity from the batteries.
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Nj Solar
Contractor Vs. Employee: Which Would You Prefer?
In supervising a business, which has jobs that are mostly technical, you definitely have to consider on hiring full time staff or just freelancers to do most of the tasks. I myself have experienced its advantages and disadvantages, that's why I am sharing these 3 issues which I usually look upon when deciding among them.
Firstly, does the company have routinely numerous quantity of work for the employee to do? If it does, then it is but wise to hire an employee who can work full time. For the main reason that most free lancers are paid twice the hourly rate of a full time worker. It is much preferable to hire someone who works on a regular basis, than spending excessively on a freelancer.
The employee benefits should be given apt concern. It can be very costly on the employer's part to pay for health insurance and other insurance for unemployment. If poor types of insurance are purchased for your technical employees, you will surely have problems on claiming them once one of your staff encountered any injury during their duty. This may even lead to bankruptcy if the injuries are very serious.
Secondly, will I provide all the needed tools and equipment for the work? Most freelancers will have already their own source of tools and equipments for the task. You can let them do the job for lesser number of projects, and the payments will be made after the projects are done.
Thirdly, what will be the cost of tax fee for every employee as compared to a contractor? Once your employee is a part timer, his compensation is actually an expense for the company. Upon computing of taxes, his salaries will be deducted from your income that will in turn lower your taxes. For full time workers, additional taxes will be paid from his compensation. Calculate which will cost less in terms of taxes.
Having these 3 considerations, you will be properly guided on choosing a full time or part time employee as a staff. You accountant and your human resource personnel must be coordinated to discuss these matters clearly for the best decision to make.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Do you have a NJ solar energy consultant to reccommend?
I have a couple of Solar energy installers giving me their proposals. I am looking for a well informed consultant who can advise me about the true risks I may be taking (that the salesmen are not telling me) and who would analyze the offers I am getting and maybe suggest an alternate source. But most of all I need someone who is independent of a contractor who is just going to push his company on to me. Do you have any suggestions??-
ANSWER:
If trying to decide between different installers, check to see if they are NABCEP certified. NABCEP is an independent agency that certifies installers after they have had training and taken a very difficult test. It ensures they know about the safe, code compliant methods for installs. http://www.nabcep.org/If the installation is done to code, there should be no risks that you are taking. Ask for references so you can check up on their business practices, unfortunately, there is no certification for that.
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QUESTION:
What are the federal and NJ state benefits of installing a solar system?
What are the federal and NJ state benefits of installing a solar system?-
ANSWER:
You probably already know about the 30 % federal tax credit.
There is a list of the state and other federal programs at http://www.dsireusa.org/ just click on the state and go through the list to find what works for your situation. Many of the programs are only for businesses and some are only for individuals.
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QUESTION:
What about this NJ Man Pioneering the first Solar/Hydrogen home? What is wrong here?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNp8OJesJOAI know some of you probably have seen this video about the NJ man whose house is Solar/Hydrogen powered. Did you notice how many tanks of hydrogen this guy needs? Do you think every single house is going to be able to have those tanks which store the converted hydrogen? How much space do you think it will take? Did you notice this guy lives in the woods practically?
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ANSWER:
Yeah it's ridicules, but some great innovation starts out looking pretty stupid often enough. I'm not huge on solar and wind because it's inefficient and stupid, but if it can work? Great, but with that much hydrogen if every home had it if one blew up, BLAMO!!!!!!! there goes the world, lol
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QUESTION:
How many homes use Solar Panels in NJ?
How many Residential Solar Installations are there in NJ?-
ANSWER:
See if you can track down the authority that gives out rebates in New Jersey. If they're the equivalent of California, they will have reports and/or graphs of the present installed base, or at least the ones that applied for rebates (which is > 95% of them in California).If all else fails, try the office of the Governor. They probably have guys to point you to this kind of info, it's good PR for the state.
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QUESTION:
Solar Power Installation companies in NJ?
Please list as many solar power installation companies in NJ or NY as you can. If you can, please include their websites.-
ANSWER:
Here you go...
http://www.solarbuzz.com/CompanyListings/UnitedStates7.htm#NewJerseyDozens of solar installers from NJ and NY with their websites, addresses and phone numbers.
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Affordable Solar
Dreaming Of Solar Power For Your Home?
Been dreaming of solar powering your house? Well the wait is over, affordable solar power is available. The search for renewable energy sources has pushed forward with the threatening oil and energy crisis. This includes biofuels such as biodiesel, geothermal energy, hydroelectric energy, wind power, and of course, solar power. Endeavors are underway to tackle a variety of options to make use of all substitute energy sources for both large and small scale. Many remote areas that are not connected to the main power grids already use photovoltaic cell systems.
Homeowners now have the choice of putting into action there own solar systems with more and more choices for affordable solar power emerging in stores and online. The money that can be saved using solar power has more and more homeowners installing solar energy systems.
There are 4 basic requirements for a self-contained solar power system: battery banks, charge controllers, solar modules and inverters. The batteries are simply where the power is stored, the charge controllers prevent both over charging and reverse flow from battery to module while the modules are the components that channel the sunlight and turn it into direct current or DC electricity. And lastly, the inverters convert DC into AC, which most household appliances and gadgets use today.
With the availability of so many affordable solar power systems, the components are available for a lot less than they used to be. The increasing demand and ongoing technical advances due to discoveries in science materials and solar energy research has helped step up new options.
Is a solar energy system practical for your location? Do think you dont get enough sunlight? While this is correct, but solar energy systems can be effective over a wide range of solar exposure or insolation, a measure of obtainable solar energy.
Partial power coverage can be the better choice for locations where insolations is not exceptionally high. On the flip side, in locations with lots of sun exposure, you are able to capture and harness more energy that could actually pay for its self over time. Doing the correct research and methodical implementation, you can have a self-sufficient, environment-friendly solar power system in your home. I came across the Green Energy Junkie and after reading the facts I had to buy his video course. The Solar Installation DIY Video course has instructions that are detailed and it is so easy to follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Where to buy an affordable Solar System in Saudi Arabia?
Does anyone knows where to buy an affordable Solar Energy Generator for the use of homes or remote farms in Saudi Arabia? I would appreciate solutions in the Eastern part of Saudi better. Does anyone knows if the technology now is practical in Saudi and do you have any information on people who have used these on small scales like homes?-
ANSWER:
Have you considered building your own?Resources and parts to build them are pretty common place these days. There is lots of info around on how to do this.
Try http://www.squidoo.com/howto_gogreen
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QUESTION:
Anybody has idea of where i can get affordable solar electric generator for my relative staying in a village?
I have rlatives who leave in a village where electicity supply from a private company is easily disrupted.Sometimes,takes two to three days for the supplying company to fixed the problem,then later within another day ,the problem reappear again.Because of this,I want to know if anybody could help me.
What i am looking for,is a cheap or affordable and portable solar electric generator to replace the current suppliers.As the village of my relative is located within latitude 23degrees north and south of the equator. where there is sunlight throghout the year.
Any suggestion or links are highly welcome.-
ANSWER:
visit http://new-research.blogspot.com
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QUESTION:
How do I buy an affordable solar panel system for my home?-
ANSWER:
I hate to sound like a commercial but I found a company that provides you with the components and you pay for the service... similar to the current electric companies but with a cheaper rate. Check it outhttp://www.powur.com/web/
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QUESTION:
What companies are leading the way in producing affordable solar energy panels for homes and businesses?
Please provide links if possible.-
ANSWER:
That depends on what type of solar energy you mean... There is Thermal Solar and there is Photovoltaic ( PV ). Thermal solar uses the sun to heat water or some other liquid to transfer that energy to a system that requires heat or simply so you can have hot water. There also thermal solar systems that generate electricity but they again use heat to turn water to steam or another heat usage method to turn a turbine or generator.The PV panels is what most people think of when they think solar panels. A panel that converts photons into electrical energy. Most of the PV panels (~86%) out there use silicon based systems that are often costly to produce. Some of the new technologies have to the possibility to produce cheaper panels but that technology is more than 10 years out...
Thermal panels are distributed by many many companies. Here is a big one that does pool heating systems... check out their commercial systems.
http://www.heliocol.com/commercial/Here is a smaller company that does mainly residential stuff.
http://www.solarroofs.com/index.htmlPV panels has a large list...
BP (solar)
Conergy
Evergreen
GE
Kyocera------> probably one of the largest
Mitsubishi
Powerup BSP
Sanyo
Sharp
Shell
SolarWorld
SunTech
SunWize
Unisolar
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QUESTION:
Is there such thing as solar affordable solar power units for the home?
I DO NOT mean one that just does water heating! Is there one that does ALL electric for a house? Anyone any idea?!-
ANSWER:
GABY - Those folks have an interesting idea, but when I last looked, they weren't up and running yet.The economy of solar is complex. It depends on things such as tax incentives (some are local), and the procedures for the electric company to buy your excess power.
Your best information would come from a local solar contractor, like this.
http://www.planitsolar.com/
They're in northern CA. A local shop will know about the local considerations.
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