Define: Solar Panels
Solar panels are special devices capable of capturing the light emitted by the sun and convert the absorbed light into the electricity. Solar panels are the most important equipments of the solar power system. Therefore, one should always choose the highest quality of solar panels regardless of the selection of the installation process.
Solar Panels Installation: The Process
Once you have decided to install solar panels at your home or office, gathering relevant information is must. Educate yourself a bit to develop an understanding to choose the best to complete the entire installation process. Gathering information is important as different solar panel brands need to be installed differently. Also, the installation process of solar panels varies with their sizes. Hence, a good understanding is important while installing solar panels.
You can hire a professional installer if you are not able to install the system of your own. Usually, installing the panel without prior experience is not safe as it could be a risky job to do. For example, if you are planning to install the solar panels onto the roof, you should be careful about handling the wires and other equipments used in the process. You may have to climb ladders and do such works, so prepare yourself or take the help of professional installers who holds some experience in the solar panel installation process.
In general, solar panels are installed on a low pitched shingle or metal roof. However, many people prefer installing their panels on a flat roof..
Solar Panel Installation Procedure
Great Trends in Solar Panels and Solar Energy
The worldwide awareness and campaigning on the threat of environmental imbalance and polluted energy resources has made public opinion in favour of safe and clean environment . The corporate and industrial sector is not averse to cause of environmental safety. This is reflected from the new technologies for alternative use of energy resources. Solar energy is fast catching up as a most viable option of alternative energy owing to its non-polluting and inexhaustible nature. Solar panel is a wonder-tool in this concern which is unleashing a silent revolution which is visible in various spectrum and colours.
Retail Houses Up-link With Solar Energy
Now solar energy panels are not a object limited only to the vast farmhouses in the countryside. The great idea of adopting the eco-friendly and economical solar energy has already dawned upon the minds of big corporate houses. This is attested by the view of solar panels spotting the rooftops of retail house buildings. A substantial reduction in the energy needs cost is assured in case of business houses who welcome the solar energy. In addition to cutting down the tax bills , solar power is safe and human-friendly.
Solar Panels in Print Form
Now solar energy panels for harnessing the sunlight are also present in form of print sheets. This has been made possible by the efforts of Konarka Technologies in association with Massachusetts based research team. These panels have been framed on a technology analogous to the inkjet printing technology . Important thing is that these panels can be mounted on any surface or printed directly onto a surface . This innovation is going to make the solar panel a light weight and easy to install tool unlike those bulky and heavy frames of solar panels commonly found.
Solar Energy Powered Mobile Phones
Soon it will be unnecessary to rely on th electrical charging of the cellular phones. The solar panel meant for powering the functioning of the mobile phone is built on the straps attached to the mobile phones. Such type of technology is at present initiated by Strap ya company with brand name Solar Charge EC.
Solar Panels to Power Space Vehicles
the latest state of the art technology research has made it reality to visualize the space travel without depending upon propellant fuel as energy source. The special purpose solar panels in this case are based on silicon fusion linked amorphous material. An alteration in the existing norm of propellant based spacecraft engine is mandatory along with the compliance with solar panel system. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), New York reportedly have entered into a contract with United Solar Ovonic in this concern. Once completed the project will be a great step in direction of clean and cost-effective space travel for astronomical purposes and airships.
Solar Panels on Fabrics
It is very interesting of thinking clothes enabled with solar panels for using up the sunlight around. With the concerted research work of Japanese scientists this is no less than a reality. The solar panel laden fabrics are based on extremely thin solar cell panel and render the properties like easily molding and colorfulness with equal aesthetic appeal as normal cloth.
Home Solar Energy Systems and the Photoelectric Effect (part 9)
In the article that follows, we will explain in how a residential solar (PV) cell converts photons of sunlight into household electrical currents. This process is called the photoelectric effect. We will also explain the physical characteristics of how silicon moves electrons through various states to produce household solar electric power.
Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the photoelectric effect, not for his work on relativity. Little did one know that the same people who helped us calculate everything under the sun is also the same person helping to bring renewable solar energy to the masses.
Solar Electricity and the Photoelectric Effect
The photoelectric effect is a key concept, since it is the way sunlight is converted into free electrons as light interacts with the solar cell. Without the creative work of Albert Einstein, the physical characteristics of sunlight might not be known. Never mind the impact and Earth-altering opportunities to power your home using solar generated electricity that his ideas inspired all these years later.
Think of sunlight not as a wave but as a beam of photon particles for the purposes of explain the technical details of how home solar energy systems work. These bundles of energy penetrate the silicon lattice structure inside the solar cells making up a home solar panel and transfer their energy to an electron in the outer layer of the silicon atom.
When a single electron gains enough energy from the penetrating photons, it breaks free and floats around the lattice structure, no longer bonded. An electron has a negative charge when it is knocked free during the photoelectric effect. The silicon atom that loses the electron, which had a neutral charge with the electron, now has a positive charge without it. Remember back to high school chemistry. Suddenly, these classes seem relevant when learning about solar generated electricity. Who would have known?
When an electron is removed from this lattice structure or matrix in this fashion, it creates a hole in the outer layer of the lattice where the electron was. A nearby electron with a negative charge soon fills the hole. The electron that moves in has a positive charge. It can be described like the balancing of an equation; i.e. when one silicon electron consisting of a negative charge is transferred in...another particle, in this case an electron with a positive charge, is bumped out and moves out.
As photons of sunlight penetrate the silicon and knock electrons loose they transfer their energy. Negative electrons are forced to move into nearby holes and positive holes appear where electrons once were. This photoelectric effect works because of the one-directional flow of positive and negative electrons. This flow of electrons produces the electrical current used in everyday use. The one way or single direction that the silicon electrons is produced when the sunlight, which is really photons of energy, repeatedly hit the silicon solar cells inside the PV panels making up the home solar power unit.
Incredibly enough, this process is the secret sauce that allows electricity to be produced from ordinary sunlight. It is Albert Einstein's discovery, called the photoelectric effect, that makes solar electric energy possible. The average homeowner can now buy or rental home solar energy systems and generate useful electricity for their house.
Solar Contractors - How To Find A Reliable Solar Power Installer
It's not difficult to see the appeal of using solar power to meet our domestic energy needs: it utilizes a natural energy source (the sun) and thereby avoids any environmental damage that can result from the energy being generated via traditional means. The use of solar power for the home has become increasingly prevalent in recent years and particularly in dry landscapes that have an abundance of sunshine such as Australia or the state of California. For the majority of home owners however, installing a solar heating system without professional assistance is not a viable option. There are a number of things to consider such as adequate cable size, correct fusing (every circuit should be protected by a fuse or circuit breaker), the positioning of batteries and the correct positioning of the solar panels. Attempting to do all this by yourself and not getting it exactly right will result in a less than optimum performance of your solar power system. As such, it is prudent to call on the assistance of a solar power installer or solar contractor.
The question that then arises is: "How do I go about finding a reliable solar power installer?" There is help at hand depending on where you happen to be located. The California Energy Commission maintains a list of registered installers on its Web site. California's solar rebates are available only to homeowners who use installers registered with the state, and all those contractors listed on the commission's Web site will qualify. You could also check the membership roster of the California Solar Energy Industries Association, the trade organization representing solar power installers. Similarly, homeowners in Oregon wishing to receive Energy Trust's incentives must have their system installed by an Energy Trust approved contractor. The Oregon Department of Energy maintains a list of tax credit-certified solar technicians. Many state-certified solar technicians are also Energy Trust trade ally contractors.
In Australia, in order to qualify for the solar power rebate, the person who carries out the installation of the solar panels must be accredited for design and installation of photovoltaic systems by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE). A list of BCSE accredited designers and installers is available from the Clean Energy Council - or alternately you could contact a designer/installer and ask for proof of their accreditation.
As is always the case when dealing with any type of contractor, personal attention and responsiveness are important. If you find that one solar contractor seems to be able to communicate more clearly and is more responsive than others, you will probably want to take this into consideration when making your choice. Ultimately you want to be able to deal with a contractor that can design a system for your home, sell you the solar modules and install them. To do this you will need to find a contractor that has a good track record and a load of good references. The longevity of their business is also important as you'd want to be able to go back to the same installer in the future, should you experience any problems.
Solar Panels for Sufficient Energy for our Domestic as Well as Industrial Purposes
Solar Panels are the simplest form of technology for making the best use of renewable energy. The Sun is considered as the ultimate source for energy for all living forms on earth.
As known widely, on a bright sunny day, the sun supplied around 1000 watts of energy on every square meter of earth’s surface. The most appropriate method to conserve fuel sources and yet produce sufficient energy for our domestic as well as industrial purposes is to collect this solar energy. Solar Panels are devices that collect and convert this solar energy from sun and convert into electricity and heat.
The working of Solar Panels is very simple and easy to understand. The total structure consists of three major components namely Photovoltaic module, solar thermal collector and solar hot water panel. The photovoltaic cell in the Solar panels is responsible for producing electricity from sunrays. Alternatively, the thermal collector holds the sun heat and is used for heating purposes. The Solar water panel is a distinct mechanism that is used for water heating function in homes. To transform heat from sun light into usable forms, Solar panels employ modular array systems which are wired jointly in expandable design. Abundant exposure to sunlight and correct installation of Solar Panels is all that one needs to receive a free flow of electricity and reduction in huge electric bills at home.
The inclusion of Photovoltaic(PV) cells and Solar panels in households and industrial set ups is a part of the solar revolution that has occurred all over the world since 2 decades. Latest research shows two different mechanisms to make use of solar energy. They are:
Solar water heating collectors: These kinds of Solar panels absorb direct solar energy and utilize it in heating water.
Solar electric or PV cells: such panels convert solar radiation into direct current.
For maximum efficiency, it is advised to mount Solar panels on a roof that faces south at an angle of 30 degrees. The surface of the solar panels should avoid any shadows or objects that block its direct interaction with sunrays. Solar panels are a smart way to conserve household electricity and wastage of fuels hence producing required energy from the ever free warm rays from the sun.
To get a better understanding on the working of Solar panels and other features, log on to http://www.techstore.ie/Renewable-Energy/Solar-Energy/Solar-Water-Heating.htm
Removing Salt from Water Using Solar Power
As time passes, solar power is becoming a more cost effective and flexible power source. One area where it is being used with little fanfare is desalination of water.
Removing Salt from Water Using Solar Power
It is rather ironic that the majority of our planet is covered in water, but millions of people are in areas suffering from water shortages. The nature of the irony is clear almost immediately. The oceans of the world consist of salt water, a combination we simply cannot drink.
For the longest time, there has been discussion about converting saltwater into usable, drinkable water. This process is known as desalination. If the process can be used on a large scale in a cost effective manner, it will resolve many of the water issues in the world today whether they exist in third or first world countries.
Desalination is a term used for removing salt and minerals from ocean water. The name suggests one methodology, but there are actually many. Reverse osmosis is currently the most popular and is essentially a filtration process. It is popular in countries that currently have desalination plants such as those found in the Mideast and Caribbean. The process is also gaining more interest in China and the United States where certain regions are suffering habitual water shortages.
One of the issues that arise with desalination is the energy cost. Most plants are powered by fossil fuels, although Russia is currently studying a plant run off nuclear energy. With global warming and energy price concerns on the forefront, many are now looking to renewable energy platforms as an energy source for these plants. Solar energy is one of the options.
Solar desalination plants do not work in the way you might think. Solar energy is not used to provide power to the desalination process, although it probably could be. Instead, the power of the sun is built into the system. The idea is to heat saltwater and turn it into a vapor. The vapor is then run through a condenser system that turns it back into liquid water.
Solar desalination systems work differently, but the idea is to separate the water from salt by using the natural system one finds in the oceans. As you probably know, water evaporates off of the ocean to form clouds in the atmosphere. When the proper conditions occur, these clouds subsequently turn into rain clouds and release the saltless water. Solar desalination tries to mimic the process.
The double concern of rising energy prices and global warming are stimulating research in the renewable energy field. Solar desalination represents just one area where this research is producing tangible benefits.
Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com - a directory of solar energy companies.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Chapo
Top 8 Solar Power Advantages
Solar panels deliver solar power electricity. With prices of photovoltaic cells going down, solar power advantages are really compelling.
With the prices of non-renewable energy resources going up everyday, it has become important to use renewable resources, like energy from sunlight. When a comparison is done between advantages and disadvantages of sunlight-based energy, advantages easily outnumber the disadvantages.
Here are the Top 8 solar power advantages:
1) Renewable and Reliable: Solar energy is a renewable and can be considered reliable as long as sun continues to shine on the earth. Also amongst all the renewable energy resources, energy from sun has the highest density.
2) Versatile Use: One of the key solar power advantages is that it can be used to run versatile devices like cars, boats, satellites, aircrafts, ships, batteries, Mobiles and laptops amongst several others.
3) Low Maintenance: Since photovoltaic cells and panels do not contain any moving parts, there is very little maintenance required for running photovoltaic cells. These cells have a long life with only cleaning required twice a year.
4) Adaptability: One more of the very special solar power advantages is that it can be provided at places where grid supply cannot be extended like in space, island communities, ships, desolate regions, mountain tops and other isolated places where sunshine is available.
5) Clean Energy: Solar power electricity is also clean and environment friendly with little or no pollution and no emissions or greenhouse effects. Also generation of electricity from sun does not produce any noise pollution.
6) Financial Advantage: Amongst all the solar power advantages, if you were told that making money is a big advantage, would you believe it? Yes if you generate more energy than what you consume, you can sell your excess to the grid. Also governments all over the world are providing incentives and tax breaks for adopting natural energy solutions.
7) Emergency Effective: Solar power electricity can be generated even under emergency conditions like storms and floods.
8) Do It Yourself: The biggest of all the solar power advantages is the fact that solar power electricity solution can be implemented by yourself using a step by step instruction manual at a low cost. You can reduce or eliminate your electricity bills and become a energy generator for supply to the grid.
Krishnan Varadarajan is an Infrastructure Consultant with focus on alternate energy systems. If you want to quickly implement a low cost, proven and tested, solar power electricity solution for your home yourself, visit http://www.know-to.com/energy/solar.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Krishnan_Varadarajan
How to Understand Energy Jargon: Step One to Rethinking Solar (part 1)
You're most likely not an electrical engineer so you'll find that the terms for residential electricity more than confusing and nonsensical at times. The following article explains the terms associated with home electricity and defines the general electrical concepts found in residential solar electric systems. The majority of this article defines on the important terms, principles, and technical definitions that will be further explained in relation to home solar power in another article.
The intent of this article is to help you to understand enough about electricity so that you can understand the technology used in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. You most likely will review a lot of information and learn many new solar energy terms when you begin the process of purchasing or renting a home solar power system.
When you start researching residential solar energy systems, or even taking a close look at your electric bill, you hear a lot about kilowatts and kilowatt hours. You may have used these terms mistakenly as the same thing in the past. The ideas are really very similar. Both terms are just a measure of relative electricity sizes.
However, they are very different measurements, as you will learn through the electricity definitions included here. In order to understand what they mean, you also need to understand a few basic concepts about electricity.
When talking about electricity, you will be using terms like power and energy. The average person often uses these terms interchangeably in daily speech along with current, potential, charge, electrons, and even photons. You might have learned about all of these electricity terms way back in high school. In use as part of your daily life, you may have confused their meaning.
Common Residential Electricity Terms
Here are the most important electricity concepts you need to know when you begin the process of purchasing or renting a solar energy system for your home. It may be surprising to you that the actual meaning of a few of these is not quite what you expected.
Power: The rate at which work is performed or energy is provided. Power is the amount of energy required or expended for a given unit of time. It is measured in watts (W).
Energy: The actual work done by solar panels installed on your home. In other words, energy is power supplied over a period of time. It is typically measured in joules or watt hours (Wh).
Potential: The capacity of an electric field to do work (i.e. to provide energy). This is similar to the height of water behind a dam. It has capacity to do work. The higher the water, the more potential energy that is available. Potential is calculated and measured in volts.
Current: A passage or movement of materials charged with electricity. This is not unlike the speed of water flow in a river. It is measured in amperes (I or in common terms amps).
Resistance: The characteristic of a material, substance, object, or circuit to limit the passage of electricity. Items letting electricity to pass with low resistance are called conductors and materials that resist electricity from flowing are called insulators. Resistance is measured in ohms (R).
Charge: A property of some subatomic particles, i.e. the charge on an electron (subatomic particle is negative). Charge determines how subatomic particles interact. Electrically charged matter is influenced by and produces electromagnetic fields. Having strengths that can be measured, a charge has two states; either negative or positive.
Field: An effect produced by an electric charge that exerts a force on charged objects in its vicinity.
Electron: A negatively charged subatomic particle. The current is caused by the movement of electrons from different energy levels within its atomic structure.
Photon: An elementary particle that is the carrier of electromagnetic radiation of all wavelengths. The photon is different from many other elementary particles, such as the electron, because it has no mass. That means that it travels at the speed of light across the vacuum of space. Trillions and trillions of photons are blasted out from the sun every second.
Upgrading Your Home to Solar Power
To understand solar electric systems and how they work, you first need to understand the basic principles of electricity. This means learning the language used to explain these principles. In our next article which is a ongoing series related to renewable energy, we will dive into understanding the language of residential solar electric systems.
Understanding the most common electricity terms and technical jargon is a crucial initial step related to the process of renting or purchasing a residential solar energy system. You should feel comfortable talking with solar industry experts about your home solar options. In future articles, we will dig deeper into the details and emerging options for home solar power systems.
Shopping For Thin Film Solar Panels
There are a wide array of choices when it comes to solar panels. Homeowners looking to purchase panels have many types to choose from, and one of the most popular and widely used is currently thin film solar panels. These solar panels are so frequently used because of their versatility. They can be placed in a large variety of locations, and they are often more durable than other types. Thin film solar panels tend to have less breakage and wear than other models.
Thin Film Solar Panels Options
If you are shopping for a good quality thin film solar panels at an affordable price, there are a few flexible solar panel models that you should research. One of these might be the best choice for your home. The current leader in lightweight, thin film solar panels is currently the PowerFilm 20 Wall Rollable Solar Panel. This creative and unique panel is a great option for many consumers.
These panels are completely unlike any of the current competition. The integrated thin film solar panels are produced with a unique roll-to-roll process, which results in a truly roll-able panel that is one of a kind. They perform well in most conditions and are ready to connect up to batteries. There are also many accessories offered for the PowerFilm 20 Wall Rollable Solar Panel, so you have more options depending on your needs.
Another great choice is the ICP PowerFlex flexible solar panel. They are powerful enough to charge anything from RV batteries to field electronics, but they are so lightweight and easy to transport that you can take them with you wherever you go. Transportable panels need to be durable, and this brand delivers. The solar cells in these thin film solar panels incorporate technologies developed by NASA and the military to create a design that is both innovative and difficult to damage.
You will have a choice of 5, 10, and 20 watt thin film solar panels, which all roll into a convenient storage tube for transport. Moving these thin film solar panels from one location to the next is a breeze. All models will also come with reinforced corner brackets. This allows you to transport them without worrying they will break.
Another choice for thin film solar panels is the Sunshine Flexible Solar Panels which are also lightweight, unbreakable and waterproof which will make them ideal for any marine applications as well as for camping and RVs.
When you decide to shop for a thin film solar panel, look for the one that will suit your needs the best. What will you be charging and what kind of energy requirements does the device have?
If you can picture what situations you will most often be using your panels, you can decide how best to put them to use. Thin film solar panels often come at affordable prices, although you may not want that to be your top priority. Getting a slightly higher quality or wattage model may allow you more flexibility and a longer life. Solar panels are an item that you will want to last, so purchase the best that you can afford.
Efficiency of Solar Lights
Solar powered lights operate according to a very straightforward principle. They take the light from the sun and convert the energy it contains into electricity which is made use to charge a battery. When it becomes dark a light sensitive switch initiates the solar light to come on. The light is powered by the electricity stocked in the battery and will continue to be illuminated until all the charge in the battery is used.
This is uncomplicated in concept but the machinery required to make this come about is not so simple and only lately it has become promising to make solar lights that are small, efficient and economical enough to be affordable by the majority of consumers. Each light or set of lights will have a very small solar panel to catch the rays of the sun. The solar cells in the solar panel utilize the photovoltaic effect to convert the light they collect into electricity. Exclusive electronics then uses this electricity to charge the battery, which is mainly part of the solar panel or light unit.
The solar cell is the most essential part of the technology used in all solar panels and it is repeatedly being studied to find enhanced and more economical ways to convert sun light into electricity. Over time this will definitely be improved upon and solar lights will then become much brighter and illuminate for much longer. The light sensitive switch and the electronics which manages the release of the battery's electricity are fairly standard components although over time they too will be superior to grant more efficient solar lighting for everyone.
The solar panel, whether a separate mini panel or integrated into the light unit, must be installed so that it receives sun light during the day. If it is located in the shade it will not work. In spite of this the solar panels on most outdoor solar lights will now work on cloudy days though not quite as well as on a day with a clear sky.
Science and technology and improved construction processes means that improvement of solar lights will continue far in to the future, so expect to see more and more innovative uses for solar powered lights particularly when the power and amount of the light beam is improved beyond what it is now. Whichever way you look at it solar powered lights are here to stay and will only get better with time giving us all the chance to light areas outside our home with zero electricity costs, which has to be a good thing.
Deep Research Report on China Solar Cell and Module Industry
Though both of the report has some information about cell and module, they are not deep research or survey on cell and module information. So, QYResearch start this topic and focus on cell and module. Cell and module is the hottest topic in China local and a lot of moneybags occurred during the passing years in China. For long time seeing, cell and module profit margin will going down and more serious competitive, but no matter 2007-2011 or future to 2050 , cell and module will increase with a high speed and very large scale. What is more, high oil price will help solar energy etc renewable energy instead of traditional fire energy in long time seeing. So solar will be the energy star in the coming years. It is because energy risk that more and more governments will support solar energy development and more and more companies will invest more on solar energy. During the passing 2006 and today 2007. most global capital are invested in solar energy or related industries. And this trend are also continue in the coming future, or even better than today. German USA Spain Italy Japan Rest of Europe or Global other countries are all take good look of solar energy, these support will bring great demand of solar cell and module and help cell and module growth with a high speed. This report will focus on cell and module companies survey, mainly include the following information or data:
Cell or module capacity production of each companies and total
Capacity expansion or new product line plan
Equipment or technology source
Key product and efficiency
Market share and market position in China or in the world
Cell or module long term contracts
Polysilicon or wafer etc raw materials partner contract or purchase price
Cell or module production Average selling price regional revenue profit margin etc
11 items(such as Shareholder,Management Team,Products,Revenues,Clients etc) of each company
Manufacturing process or related information etc
More than 30 China local manufacturers and 25 Global manufacturers will include in the report and most of the data and information though our team interviews. And thanks to the global and China cell or module marketing or technology experts support during QYResearch solar energy research team survey and interviews.
Table of Contents:
Chapter One Solar Cell and Module Summary 1
Chapter Two Cell Manufacture Technology and Equipment Market Analysis 9
Chapter Three Cell or Module Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast 2007-2011 25
Chapter Four Cell/Module Global Key Vendors(27units) 33
Chapter Five Cell/Module China Local Key Vendors (31units) 150
A Curious Tale About Solar Panels
THE SEPTEMBER 2006 ISSUE OF SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN was dedicated to exploring the future of energy beyond the carbon era. The editors share a sobering outlook: 'Decades may pass before hydrogen-powered trucks and cars relegate gasoline-and diesel-fueled vehicles to antique auto shows.' Until that happens, we'll 'muddle-through' somehow. (Scientific American: 3)
But why does it take so long for some energy technologies to get from the lab and industrial applications to the service of consumers? Take solar panels, for example.
A high-street electronics chain in London now sells educational solar-power kits for around the £20 mark. Serious, roof-dwelling solar panels that will power equipment in your home sell in DIY superstores at around £2,500. That's a price-tag for the wealthy or very committed, but at least consumers can push their trolleys past the technology
SOLAR PANELS HAVE ONLY RECENTLY APPEARED on the shelves of retail outlets, so you'd forgive them for posing as new technology. But they're not. While England was priming itself for what was to become its most famous World Cup, a contributor to the July 1966 edition of Wireless World faced a copy deadline for the magazine. His name was D. Bollen, and he provided a circuit for a solar-powered battery charger.
As he put it: 'The ability of solar cells to convert sunlight directly into useful electrical energy has been well demonstrated in satellite applications. An advantage of the solar battery is that is allows true, unattended operation in locations remote from a power supply and...promises an outstanding degree of reliability.' (Wireless World: 343)
Over four meticulously-illustrated pages, Bollen goes on to provide a blueprint for a circuit that will trickle-charge a battery from a solar cell. Bollen shows that you can run something that uses one milliamp of current for '2.74 hours' in a 24 hour period. He leaves us guessing what application he had in mind for this tiny current, but the rig could also have powered the bulb of a toy torch for a few seconds a day.
Still, the circuit is there and the date is mid-1966. Don't be distracted by Bollen's talk of 'satellite applications'. His circuit is a million miles from rocket-science - in fact it's the simplest of the bunch in this edition of a magazine that was pitched at everyone between novice constructor and electronics professional.
Someone with barely any experience could have thrown a demonstration version of this circuit together in fifteen minutes flat. And all the parts were available from specialist suppliers in London and south-east England.
The listed supplier for 'assorted selenium and silicon cells' is International Rectifier. I contacted the company to find out how much a similar solar-cell cost at the time Bollen wrote his feature.
A single cell measuring about a centimetre by two centimetres cost four dollars, right up to 1966. In his feature, Bollen describes various combinations between one cell and four, so the most expensive part of his circuit cost between four and 16 dollars, or about $25-100 dollars in today's money.
World's first solar-powered car: 1912
But what came back from International Rectifier (IR) proved far more interesting than price information. It turns out that the company had demonstrated the world's first solar-powered car - a 1912 model of the Baker Electric - as early as 1958. They achieved the stunt by making a high-output solar panel - less than two metres long and just over a metre wide - from a whole bank of little solar cells.
Commercial, industrial and military customers went on to buy solar panels from International Rectifier.
SO WHY HAS IT TAKEN ALMOST FIFTY YEARS for solar panels to reach our shops?
Southface, a non-profit, sustainable-living organisation based in the USA, point out that solar-cell technology has had been uselessly competing against the relative fall in price that occurred in the fossil-fuel market in the nineties.
But Southface believe that major orders of consumer solar cell units in countries such as Japan may finally signal the start of an era when solar cell production will benefit from economies of scale.
I hope so. In the meantime, it's anyone's guess how long will it take for the consumer-led technology revolution to swat our energy problems.
©Alistair Siddons, 2006
Nissan Barcelona Plant Installed With Solar Panels
As car manufacturers strive to help in protecting the environment, different stages of car production are made to positively impact the environment. The third largest Japanese car manufacturer Nissan is one of the car manufacturers turning their assembly plants into environment friendly facilities. Recently, the company announced that they will be employing solar panels in their Barcelona assembly plant.
The company announced their Nissan Green Program 2010 last year and this step is part of that program. According to the car company, 606 solar panels will be used in the Barcelona assembly plant. These solar panels will cover about 3,000 square meters. All in all, these solar panels can generate 308,000 kWh of electricity annually. Aside from providing the facility with electricity, the use of solar panels can reduce the emission of carbon dioxide from the facility. According to Nissan, the use of the solar panels can reduce carbon dioxide emission by 110 tons every year.
As of today, 480 of the 660 solar panels are already in place. These solar panels are photovoltaic meaning they convert solar energy to electricity directly. The remaining solar panels are thermal ones which mean that they will be used to heat water for the plant and provide the heat needed in the painting process. These 126 thermal solar panels will be installed by the end of summer.
According to the car manufacturer, the Barcelona assembly plant is their second facility in Spain to use solar panels. This makes Nissan the only car company in the country which promotes the use of solar panels on their factories. Earlier this year, Nissan also announced that their Avila plant will also be installed with 732 solar panels. The use of those solar panels will result in cutting down 267 tons of carbon dioxide every year.
Aside from the use of solar panels in their factories, Nissan is also focusing on the recycling of end of life vehicles. Earlier this year, the company also announced that they have achieved their goals in terms of recycling.
What the company recycles are those residues of the shredding process that end of life vehicles undergo. Airbag components are also being recycled by the company as part of their environmental protection program known as the Nissan Green Program 2010.
In terms of the cars they offer in the global auto market, Nissan promotes the use of CVT or the continuously variable transmission. Almost all of the auto models introduced by Nissan in the market are now being offered with CVT to complement the fuel efficient engine with Nissan knock sensors and other fuel economy enhancing components. The continuously variable transmission provides fuel efficiency since it reduces power loss as the power of the engine runs through the transmission to the drive wheels. The reduced power loss means that the engine would burn relatively less fuel to compensate for the loss.
The company also announced that they are developing a three-liter car. This car is expected to run for a hundred kilometers on three liters of fuel. Aside from that, it seems that Nissan’s Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn has seen that the time is right for hybrid cars as Nissan is on its way to develop a hybrid vehicle of their own.
Solar Panels for Sufficient Energy for our Domestic as Well as Industrial Purposes
Solar Panels are the simplest form of technology for making the best use of renewable energy. The Sun is considered as the ultimate source for energy for all living forms on earth.
As known widely, on a bright sunny day, the sun supplied around 1000 watts of energy on every square meter of earth’s surface. The most appropriate method to conserve fuel sources and yet produce sufficient energy for our domestic as well as industrial purposes is to collect this solar energy. Solar Panels are devices that collect and convert this solar energy from sun and convert into electricity and heat.
The working of Solar Panels is very simple and easy to understand. The total structure consists of three major components namely Photovoltaic module, solar thermal collector and solar hot water panel. The photovoltaic cell in the Solar panels is responsible for producing electricity from sunrays. Alternatively, the thermal collector holds the sun heat and is used for heating purposes. The Solar water panel is a distinct mechanism that is used for water heating function in homes. To transform heat from sun light into usable forms, Solar panels employ modular array systems which are wired jointly in expandable design. Abundant exposure to sunlight and correct installation of Solar Panels is all that one needs to receive a free flow of electricity and reduction in huge electric bills at home.
The inclusion of Photovoltaic(PV) cells and Solar panels in households and industrial set ups is a part of the solar revolution that has occurred all over the world since 2 decades. Latest research shows two different mechanisms to make use of solar energy. They are:
Solar water heating collectors: These kinds of Solar panels absorb direct solar energy and utilize it in heating water.
Solar electric or PV cells: such panels convert solar radiation into direct current.
For maximum efficiency, it is advised to mount Solar panels on a roof that faces south at an angle of 30 degrees. The surface of the solar panels should avoid any shadows or objects that block its direct interaction with sunrays. Solar panels are a smart way to conserve household electricity and wastage of fuels hence producing required energy from the ever free warm rays from the sun.
To get a better understanding on the working of Solar panels and other features, log on to http://www.techstore.ie/Renewable-Energy/Solar-Energy/Solar-Water-Heating.htm
A Brighter Future With New Solar Panel Designs
The use of solar panels in residences has proved to be the best and most cost-efficient alternative for utility power. However, the use of solar power has yet to reach its full potential in the residential market.
Body
The use of solar panels in residences has proved to be the best and most cost-efficient alternative for utility power. However, the use of solar power has yet to reach its full potential in the residential market. Recent advances in technology can possibly change this, as the industry has seen opportunities to create solar panels with new designs, in terms of both aesthetics and functionality.
Aesthetically-pleasing designs
Solar power has only recently been given a great deal of attention. As a result, residential homes built 10, 20, or 30 years ago were not constructed in such a way that solar panels could be later added if the resident family decides to install some.
Previously, solar panels were very thick and had to be mounted with out-of-place brackets on top of existing roofs. Fortunately, the solar panel manufacturer industry has recently realized that poor aesthetics is one of the main reasons why solar power has not completely made its way into the residential market.
New panels are hardly noticeable. The tiles are seamlessly integrated into the existing roofs of residential homes, which achieve a very elegant look. The rise in number of solar installations in the U.S. rose by an amazing 45% in 2007 is widely attributed to the creation of more aesthetically-pleasing panel designs.
There are a number of companies that have already come up with more aesthetically-pleasing solar panel designs. The Sun Power Corporation, for example, the leading U.S. solar panel manufacturer, has created some panels that are compatible with Mediterranean-styled clay tiles and flat roof tiles. Lumeta, another manufacturer, has design panels that are awaiting industry certification.
The panels made by both Sun Power and Lumeta are made from silicon. The market will soon see thinner panels made of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). As of now, however, such panels are less efficient than the currently existing silicon ones. Sometime in the near future, these thin-film panels are expected to dominate residential use by becoming a standard part of the building process.
Highly functional designs
One example of a new, more functional solar panel design is that recently designed by the Georgia Tech Research Institute. This innovative design allows the panels to absorb more sunlight, enabling them to produce up to 60 times more current. This new design makes use of nano-towers that add significant surface area to the solar panels, giving the particles of light from the sun more chances to strike the part of the cell that produces electricity.
However, these new panels still have a couple of kinks yet to be worked out. These new panel designs have too much resistance in their cells, resulting in an inability to generate the kind of electricity needed.
Jud Ready, senior research engineer at the Georgia Tech Research Institute and creator of this new solar panel design, is determined to work on the design and modify its features to resolve the difficulties within it. The US Air Force is currently partially sponsoring the research in high hopes that these smaller and more efficient solar panels will replace old, bulky ones and can eventually be used to power satellites and spacecrafts in the future.
Solar Power Wireless Security Cameras
The great thing about wireless security cameras is that they need no outside power lines or power connection. They can be used in any remote location without electricity or internet connection. Because the cameras are wireless their usability is limitless. They can monitor family activities, animals, construction sites, parking garages, environmental changes, universities and schools, private properties and businesses.
Of course they will still need to be plugged into a power source at some time. This usually is in the form of a battery pack, or internal battery. However, the problem here is that batteries need to be replaced or recharged. Solar cells attached to camera units can continually charge batteries. Solar technology has improved greatly over the last several years and efficiency and panels will even function on cloudy overcast days. Motion sensors that activate only when activity is present ensure camera run time and data storage space will not be wasted.
If you are a home owner you can use your solar-powered security cameras to capture anything that happens while you are away by connecting them to any recording device, such as a digital video recorder (DVR), VCR, or computer. Your camera can also be set up to automatically connect to your computer and give you instant messages in case of a fire or gas leak. So when you are away you can find out the status of your home environment at any time. It can detect glass break-ins as well as any movement on your property.
The latest solar-powered security camera kits are very easy to install. They are developed so that you can easily move any camera to a new location around your property. High power transmitters may be necessary for large properties or acreages. You can also add new cameras to the existing system very easily since there are no wires to deal with. The solar panels that are included in the security camera kits are big enough to recharge the internal battery during the day. There is also a back-up power supply in case the battery runs out of power overnight. So if you want to use your security cameras hassle free in outdoors or remote locations, then a solar-powered motion-sensing camera is the best choice.
About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of wireless security cameras and digital video recorders. For more information about security cameras, please visit http://www.security-cams.com.
The Many Faces of Solar Power
Living in Nevada, the sun is an almost constant companion. This gives Nevadans a unique opportunity to use solar radiation powers for good. In April, a tour of southern Nevada homes shed some light on the subject of solar powered homes. Hosted by the American Solar Energy Society, this Nevada branch of the National Solar Tour explored homes that used both passive and active solar power, thermal hot water systems, and other environmentally features. However, unless you're a green technologies expert, or took the tour, you may not know the difference between passive and active solar, or how thermal hot water is different than average. Let me help you understand!
Active solar technology is the one that most people may be familiar with. It involves having a solar panel that collects the sun's energy and converts it into electricity. These have a battery where energy is stored, so electricity can still be used at night, and, to a certain extent, on cloudy days. Solar panels are an excellent way to make electricity, especially in remote areas. While they are moderately costly to set up, and do require some maintenance, they provide reliable and free electricity, even in climates far less sunny than Nevada's.
Passive solar technologies are far older than active ones, and involve utilizing the natural heat and light the sun creates, without converting it in any other way. Have you ever noticed that after a long, hot day, south-facing rocks, pavement or brick and adobe buildings will radiate warmth? They have spent the day passively collecting solar energy, and are releasing it. Some materials are better at absorbing and storing that heat energy than others. For example, wood insulates, meaning it will block temperatures, whereas stone will absorb and release temperatures. Homes that are built to take advantage of passive solar are often constructed of brick, adobe or concrete. Cob is another passive-solar-friendly and ancient building material that is going through a revival of sorts. It is made of sand, clay and straw, similar ingredients as adobe, but adobe is baked into bricks and stacked, whereas cob structures are free-formed while the material is wet. Passive solar homes usually have a lot of windows lining their south walls, and less so their east and west walls, with little to no windows on the colder north sides. These windows do two things. First, they provide natural light inside the home, one aspect of passive solar. Second, they allow heat to come into the home. If the home has a stone tile floor and even walls, that tile will absorb the heat, releasing it later when the outside temperature drops.
Passive solar homes can be designed to be cool in summer while using the sun to warm them in winter. For example, if shutters are closed during summer months, the home will remain much cooler. Also, the height and angle of overhang can be considered to maximize the windows exposure to low winter sun, but minimize exposure to the high summer sun. Alternatively, I saw an interesting example of someone planting deciduous trees on the south side of their home. In the winter, the trees had no leaves and so let in a lot of light and heat. In the summer, their thick greenery provided shade that kept the house cool.
So that is the major difference between active and passive solar technologies. Since passive solar is essentially free, it would be wise for any architect or home designer to take it into consideration when building new homes. Well designed passive solar homes can greatly reduce their electrical energy needs. And while active solar is brilliant technology, it still takes many resources to create. Plus, it may be superfluous in an area with an existing electrical source.
As for thermal water heating, it too is a very simple concept. Home made thermal water heaters can be as simple as an outdoor water tank painted black, but that's a little crude for most tastes. However, there are a variety of styles out there. Some have panels that are metal painted black and enclosed with glass, with copper pipes filled with water running through them. This water will heat, and is then pushed by gravity into an insulated storage tank. Some solar water heaters use a similar set-up but with tubes filled with anti-freeze that are then hooked up to a heat transfer loop, where water in a storage tank is heated. Whatever system you use, thermal water heating is surprisingly affective.
There are a lot of ways to take advantage of the sun and use less electricity. Check out next year's National Solar Tour to see them for yourself.
About the author:
WelcomeHomeNevada.com provides a professional guide to Las Vegas
Real Estate and the surrounding areas. For excellent agent services in the Las Vegas area, contact Mark Hostetler, who's eager to help you with your Painted Desert Real Estate needs .
Solar Power: What is Net Metering?
One of many good ways to save energy (and money) is to use home solar panels and a practice called "Net Metering." Net Metering involves the process of creating solar energy to power your home, and then feeding any excess (unused) solar power back into the power grids - often resulting in a payment or reduction of electrical bills.
What is Net Metering?
Net Metering is a practice where consumers "sell" energy back to the electrical companies. They do this when they have some form of renewable energy facility installed in their home and a surplus is thus created.
A good example of net metering would be the case of someone who owns solar panels or owns a wind turbine. If his solar panels or wind turbine generate more electricity than he consumes, the excess electricity is fed into the electrical grid, and the power company buys the electricity from him.
Net metering is a result of green energy policy. Though its not generally known, its not a new thing.
- Why is it Called Net Metering?
The term "net metering" is a combination of the words "net" and "metering." In this context, the word "net" means "what remains after deductions" and "metering" refers to the measurement of electricity using your home's electricity meter (which is normally used to calculate your energy bill).
- How Net Metering Works
Lets take the example of a home owner who has installed solar panels as a clean renewable energy source on his home.
If, at any time, his solar panels are producing more electricity than his home is using, the excess electricity is automatically fed back into the electrical grid, and redistributed by the power company. The amount of electricity which has been fed back into the electrical grid is measured on the meter right there in his home. The home owner is then "paid" or credited for that electricity.
- How to Find Out About for Net Metering
Net metering is usually done through your power company. You should check directly with your power provider.
One thing you should know is that many states have laws which provide for net metering. In other words, some states have laws in place which require the power company to buy your excess electricity, should you generate it through renewable energy sources.
You will probably not run into any problems with your energy companies, as most states have laws that demand a certain percentage of green power production. So net metering is convenient for them as well, and any green energy you produce can be counted on their quota.
Net metering is one of many good ways to save energy - and and to save money as well. By using solar power and net metering, you reduce the need for polluting fossil fuels which harm the environment.
Net metering is not only good for the environment, but good for your bank account as well.
Italy Soars - Solar Style
Solar energy has really taken off in recent years, as global governments have become more aware of the need to protect the environment by minimizing the use of dwindling fossil fuels. The use of renewable energy, such as solar power, has previously been encouraged by government subsidies.
Italy is set to overtake Spain as Europe's biggest solar power, as Spain's market has recently dropped due to an end to solar subsidies from the government. Ernesto Macias is the managing director of Isofoton, Spain's biggest solar panel maker and is hoping that the solar market in Italy may expand to reach 1,200 MW next year, which is the maximum solar output that is still entitled to subsidies under existing regulations.
Macias, who is also head of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), spoke about the matter at a solar power conference in Valencia, Spain; "I personally think Italy will reach its cap in 2009. Much will be derived from Italy, so we will saturate Italy, but what we need is a plan to coordinate between the various countries, and we are working with the (European) Commission on that."
Spain's solar power market is now one of the biggest in the world and has grown to 1,000 megawatts this year. It has grown on the back of 'feed-in' tariffs, which are designed to make solar electricity grow as competitor to conventional power sources. However this scheme has created a multi-billion euro bill for the government, alongside the massively rising costs of subsidising household electricity bills, so they have chosen to end the tariffs in September '08. The Spanish plans to cut the capacity of solar power plants entitled to feed-in tariffs down to 300 MW next year, have caused global Solar power stocks to fall.
However despite the rise for Italy, Macias did not think the growth prospects for Germany were so good, the leading solar panel makers Suntech said they have been unable to meet demand due to growth in Spain. "There is a lot of uncertainty in Germany due to the reduction in feed-in tariffs. That could force prices down and ultimately benefit Asian industries".
Macias feels that in Spain the solar industry had become somewhat out of control and the new scheme of subsidy cuts was actually necessary. However he felt that negotiations needed to be made about the proposal. "I don't want caps, but if I want to compromise, to open talks, OK, we will accept a cap of 400 MW for plants bigger than 100 kilowatts. But please don't apply any caps on the retail market," he said.
The advantage of solar power is that it eradicates the need to build expensive power grids and has low maintenance costs. Macias also believes that there are opportunities for solar panel production in rural electrification projects in developing countries. "It is also an energy that doesn't need fuel -- no need to transport coal, oil or gas, and there you have competition". Several European renewable energy companies and industry groups including EPIA have formed the 'Alliance for Rural Electrification' to promote what they say are affordable and sustainable small-scale generation projects in poorer countries.
Renewable Energy - Practical Home Options
As a homeowner, you may be using renewable energy sources. Let's look at a few of these important, powerful sources.
If you use solar powered lights to brighten your walkway, a solar cover on your swimming pool or hang your clothes out to dry, you are already making use of the sun's renewable energy. There are many other renewable energy home options you can take advantage of, and by doing so, help preserve our environment.
The most practical of renewable energy options for the home consist of space heating and domestic hot water. This is over 50% of a household's energy usage. In using renewable energy we can experience cost saving benefits.
Perhaps the best way to take advantage of renewable energy home options is when designing a new house. A southern wall taking advantage of an appropriate amount of windows can take full use of the low sun in the winter. Adding a roof overhang over these windows allow the higher summer sun to be blocked. Also, on a cool day you can open your windows to let a breeze cool off the house and make use of wind energy. You have achieved adding heat in the winter and coolness in the summer, thereby lowering your heating and cooling costs naturally. This is called passive solar heating since it is integrated with no extra costs. You can also do day lighting by taking full advantage of the sunlight during the day to take care of your daytime lighting needs.
Wood stoves can also be advantageous, if using only dead wood, diseased wood or small pellets made from wood chips, crop waste and other organic material for burning. This is a renewable source of heat through the use of space heating. Modern wood burning stoves are highly efficient, making it a more practical option.
A homeowner can also utilize active solar heating. A solar water heater can use renewable solar energy to heat water for a house. This would use solar collector panels placed on a roof. Water runs through pipes under these panels and is heated by the sun. The water travels to a water tank in your home for your use. Electricity can also be produced for a home using the photovoltaic technology. This runs on the same idea as a solar calculator. Solar electricity is ideal for rural homes where it would be difficult to run an electric line to.
Geothermal heat pumps use the heat from the Earth to move heat from one area to another. This system uses a series of underground pipes to move a heat exchange fluid. The heat pump moves this fluid, heated from the earth and transfers it to buildings for use. Initial installation costs are much the same as traditional heating systems, but operational costs are lower.
If you live in a windy part of the country and have quite a bit of land, wind can power a wind turbine to produce electricity for your household. But your location must be ideal to catch wind and you must be able to capture a certain amount for this to work.
These are some home options for renewable energy sources. By trying to utilize some of them we are preparing for our future by using clean energy that does not affect air quality or harm the environment.
The solar plane.
This video shows the new solar plane:
See more at: Solar plane makes record flight
"A UK-built solar-powered plane has set an unofficial world endurance record for a flight by an unmanned aircraft.
The Zephyr-6, as it is known, stayed aloft for more than three days, running through the night on batteries it had recharged in sunlight.
The flight was a demonstration for the US military, which is looking for new types of technology to support its troops on the ground.
Craft like Zephyr might make ideal platforms for reconnaissance.
They could also be used to relay battlefield communications.
Chris Kelleher, from UK defence and research firm QinetiQ, said Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) offer advantages over traditional aircraft and even satellites. "
Avail the best quality solar panels that work on solar power only at SolarCellDepot
Solar power or solar energy is nothing new for anyone. It is a well known fact that sun is the main source of solar energy. There are several ways in which the solar energy of sun is used. But for using it in large proportion solar panels are used. Solar power can be very effective in many ways if it is used in the proper manner. Solar power can prove very useful as it can solve the problem of electricity which is the matter of concern for everyone. Solar power is environment friendly too so its usage will enhance the environment also.
Solar panels are one of the best options for using solar power in great proportion. For buying good solar panels which can serve your need for a longer period of time, you can visit SolarCellDepot. This company is very reliable and is among the best choices you can get.
SolarCellDepot helps you in utilizing the sun’s energy by providing you the appliances that works on solar energy.
There are several other benefits which insist the customers to visit SolarCellDepot, let us discuss some of them:
Total Security: the most important advantage that you can avail while shopping at SolarCellDepot is to get the pleasure to deal with the store that is known for its reliability. While shopping at SolarCellDepot, you can feel relaxed for the best quality and at the best prices.
Cost and electricity efficient: it is a well known fact that solar power is produced through solar panels that works on solar energy. This solar power can help you in saving a big amount of money and at the same time will help you to save electricity also. Solar panels can be used to fulfill the electricity needs of a house or even a building. For meeting higher needs of electricity, solar panels can be combined to form a solar array. A solar array can easily fulfill a large need of electricity.
Environment friendly: the solar panels which they provide to the customers are very efficient in producing solar power and at the same time they are also environment friendly. Solar panels are very helpful in reducing a huge amount of burden from the environment.
Live chat: this company also provides the facility of live online chat support to the customers so that they may not face any kind of trouble. One can easily get the answer of any of queries related to solar panels or anything else related to solar power. There are professionals who are waiting to help you and to provide answer to any of the queries. All you have to do is to visit SolarCellDepot and discuss about your queries.
Wide range of choice: this company also provides a wide range of choice to the customers. They have the solar panels of latest technology which can capture a large amount of solar energy and thus can be extra efficient.
Quality products: this company is not new to the market and is well renowned for its quality products. You can completely rely on this company for quality solar powered products. The products of this company are very reliable and can easily serve you for more than 25 years.
About the author:
So, use solar panels to save your money and electricity as they work on environment friendly solar power which is produced by the solar energy of the sun.
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Best Solar Energy Commercial Ever video
A very nice demonstration of the amount of energy stored at the sun's energy.
enjoy:
Selling Solar Power RV Products
The beauty of having an RV is the freedom to go just about anywhere you can drive it. The beauty of selling solar power RV products is that they allow those freedom seekers to have the convenience of power just about anywhere the sun shines! That includes the boondocks where people vent ure to avoid overcrowded campgrounds. Today, with consumers demanding ecologically safe products, staying nearer to home for travel, and cutting expenses on all fronts, the RV accessory market is ready for solar power products and their advantages. Solar meets all those requirements: it does no harm to the environment (just soaks up the sunshine), it saves the wild environment from the destruction of invasive power lines, it allows RV users to stay closer to home but access more remote territory because they can carry their power source with them, and finally, it saves money. You don't have to pay for electric use, ever. On the money front, some solar equipment does have a heavier front end expense than traditional equipment, but the running expenses are virtually zero. You can power anything with solar that you can with traditional power sources. Solar batteries are designed in smaller sizes for the RV market. Kits for solar RV power are sold in a variety of sizes, up to 110 watts. They are easy to install. Systems can be made more powerful with optional expansion modules. Complete basic smaller starter systems are priced from about $600 to about $1100, according to power levels. More complex systems for larger RV use list price up to $10,000. Typical kits may include, as needed, solar panels, inverters, fusing, charge controllers, wiring, switches, mounting kits and instructions. Higher wattage means faster charging of batteries. It also means more sales for the person selling solar power RV products including storage batteries. More panels also means more sales of wiring, and charge controllers. Over time, people usually settle on what they need, but once used to the convenience of solar power, they remain loyal customers. Portable solar panels offer convenience because you can move them from a shady spot into the sunny areas if needed. They also are attractive to nearby campers, and help spread the word about solar RV power. Selling solar power RV products is extending into a large consumer market with smaller size availability, another good opportunity. Solar power accessories come in very small sizes, like 5 watt foldable solar panels, which can power items like GPS, cell phones, fish finders and other personal electronics. The 5, 10 and 20 watt unbreakable solar thin flexible panels are becoming popular, even seen on fishing kayaks and on backpacks. Average solar panel life is expected to be twenty-five years, with some estimates upwards to forty years. Even then they should still produce 80% of their capacity. Bringing solar power to the boondocks has finally come of age in the RV market. It's time to get on board the solar power beam and diversify your RV solar product line-up.
Edward Dean is an accomplished website developer and author. To learn more about solar-power-rv-products visit RV Franchising for current articles and discussions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_Dean
How to Make Solar Panels and Save Yourself Money
Stop using regular sources for energy and start using renewable resources! Solar power is one of the best renewable resources that you can use out there, as well as one of the most reliable. While it's been around for quite a few years, not too many people know how to use it, or when you should use it. The truth is that you can use it for anything. The bad part about it? It's relatively expensive to purchase, however; there are more cost-effective ways to get solar power - You can build your own solar panels!
Building your own solar panels is easier than you think. You can get most of the supplies to do it from a hardware store, making it a cost-effective way to get access to solar power. These little solar panels that you build can be used to power things around the house, such as small appliances.
The biggest benefit to building your own solar panel? You have the potential to cut your power costs, as well as get access to a luxury that is normally somewhat costly. Not only that, but you get the pleasure of building something that you know is contributing to the environment by conserving energy.
How easy is it to build solar panels? All you need is a full set of detailed instructions, your supplies, and some extra time on your hands. You'll be able to assemble everything yourself. The most important thing about building your own solar panels is knowing that you have a great set of instructions to follow. Without these, you might not make the most out of the solar panels you build, but with them, you will be able to gain the most from your solar panels!
Need detailed instructions on how to build your own solar panels? You can find out more with this guide. Start building a solar panel today and save energy tomorrow!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Hufford
Home Improving with Solar – The Important Concept of Gain
You’ve decided to pursue a solar home improvement, but aren’t so keen on the idea of putting panels on your roof. No worries, you just need to understand the concept of gain. I Gotta Gain Some Heat I’ll cut to the chase – gain refers to how you generate heat for your home without solar panels. You can think of it as gaining heat by manipulating the power of the sun. There are three categories of gain: direct gain, indirect gain and isolated gain. So much for the mumbo jumbo, what are we really talking about here? Direct gain refers to improving your house in a manner that allows the sun to…[drum roll]…directly provide power in the form of heat to your home. For instance, if you install large windows in the south facing side of your home and put down heat storing flooring such as masonry, you are pursuing direct gain. The sun will directly heat the home through the windows during the day and will also heat up the flooring. As the sun goes down, the flooring will continue to radiate heat. The advantage of direct gain is it is fairly easy to implement. The disadvantage is it only works during the day and for a few hours afterwards if you’ve put in a heat storing flooring material. Indirect gain is a bit more complicated. It refers to the idea of using a structure between the exterior and interior of the house to store heat produced by exposure to sunlight. The basic idea is to get more heat production for a longer period of time. Indirect gain is typically accomplished by building a thermal wall out of masonry, known as a Trombe Wall, as the south facing wall of your home or a part of it. The wall is built out of a material that absorbs heat such as concrete or brick and then has glass placed over it. Put another way, the south wall is a window with a brick wall behind it. The wall materials suck up the power of the sun and store heat. This heat is then radiated when you need it by opening vents in the wall. The advantage of indirect gain is you get longer, more controlled heating. The disadvantage is you have the world’s weirdest looking window on the south side of your home. Isolated gain is a simple concept. Have you ever used a greenhouse to grow flowers or tomatoes or…well, something? Isolated gain works just like a greenhouse, except you are providing heat to yourself instead of plants. Essentially, you build a self-contained glass structure on the south side of your home which is also well insulated. The structure heats up in the sun during the day to very high temperatures. When you need heat, you just turn on a fan, which moves it into the house through venting you’ve installed. The beauty of any of these systems is they are fairly simple concepts to understand. If solar panels don’t appeal to you, just go for some gain. About The Author Rick Chapo is with http://www.solarcompanies.com – a directory of solar energy companies. Visithttp://www.solarcompanies.com/articles to read more solar power articles.
General Motors Finds A Way To Use Solar Power Even When It Can’t Afford To Install It
About The Author
But it has made a clever and commendable accommodation to its impoverishment. It has agreed to allow a solar-power company to install a system on the roof of one of its warehouses and then buy the power as it would from any other electric company.
In fact, the step may be so beneficial that GM now has similar plans for solar-power equipment installed on the roof of a second warehouse.
So sunhats off to GM! They may still not be clever enough to make a popular car, but at least they’ve found a way to make a popular choice about electric power.
Photovoltaic Building - Homemade Solar Cheaply and Easily
Photovoltaic building is becoming more and more popular as energy costs soar for households around the nation and around the world. Today you are going to learn how you can have homemade solar for less than $200, and save thousands of dollars of the cost of having someone else build and install a home solar panel for you. With a small amount of work on your part, you can save massive amounts of money off your power bill, reduce your carbon footprint and possibly even remove yourself off the grid demand. If that happens, you can actually sell back excess power to your power company, meaning that you will receive checks from them, not you having to send away your hard earned money at the end of the month to pay for electricity. For proper photovoltaic building, you will need the following things- * Solar Cells. These are the main component of your homemade solar panel, as these are effectively the little factories where the sun's energy is turned into power that can be used in your home. Purchase these off eBay in bulk so you can make plenty of solar panels whenever you need to. * Plywood. This can be easily obtained from DIY stores in large quantities and is easy to cut and shape. * Copper wire. Buy this online from eBay, or from a local DIY/hardware store. * Woodworking glue, screws, drills, screwdrivers, saws. Most people will have these tools in their toolboxes anyway. * Sheet Glass. This is used to provide a cover for the photovoltaic cells to protect them from damage from weather. If you live somewhere that is prone to extreme weather then I would suggest using clear plastic or PVC sheeting. Check in a local business directory to see where you can purchase this. * Photovoltaic building plans. These are absolutely necessary as they provide the blueprints, measurements and diagrams you need to be able to assemble and install the above components correctly. Also, you will need them to install your homemade solar panel into your house's electricity system properly and safely. The good news is that these plans can be obtained very inexpensively over the Internet. Click here to learn more about plans for solar energy in your home, including how much you will need to spend, what your power bill reductions will be, as well as what the best photovoltaic building plans are. Jeff Palmer is an economist, but has also worked in the alternative energy industry since its early days, installing and helping to develop mainly solar and wind power generation systems. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_A._Palmer
5 Great Reasons To Use Solar Power
More and more people today are now looking for alternative ways of providing power to their homes. Because we are becoming more aware of what is happening to the environment because of the omissions of CO2 in to the air we are becoming much greener. This is why many people are now looking to use alternative and more natural ways of supplying power to their homes. Below we look at some of the reasons to use solar power.
The great thing about having a solar powered energy system in your home is that it can provide you with electricity during an emergency. Plus if required they can be used to provide additional power to your home at times when the electricity loads become critical during the winter months.
Along with solar power being able to supply all the electricity to your home to run all equipment, appliances etc., within it or just for emergencies. There are other reasons why you may consider wanting to use solar power in the future and below we show you what some of these are.
1. The biggest reason for using solar power to provide energy to your home is that it will never run out unlike fossil fuels (gas and coal) are likely to. In fact, the amount of solar energy that the earth receives each minute of each day is far more than the energy that we around the globe use in fossil fuels each year.
2. As mentioned above at the beginning of this article solar power is actually good for the environment, as it does not emit any kind of pollution.
3. Another big reason for a person to use solar power over any kind of type of energy supply is that it does not cost any thing to transport it. In fact the solar power panels can be located close (on top of the roof of the property) and then supplied directly into it.
4. If you want you can actually store up the energy that your solar powered system is collecting in order to use it a later time. However although it is more expensive to store the energy that to use it straight away it is great to have a backup supply for emergency situations.
5. When used in connection with other technologies or energy supplies solar power can be extremely useful. By having additional solar power in your home you could cut down the costs you pay to your electrical supplier, which in turn means that you are actually doing your bit to helping the environment.
Certainly as you will soon discover along with the reasons to use solar power that we have mentioned above. If you carry out further research for yourself you will discover plenty of other reasons why using an alternative power supply source such, as this is so good.
The Sun As Threat To Your Photovoltaic System
The sun as threat to your solar array?, you might wonder if my brain suffered from working in the sun. Still the sun can cause your system to fail if you don't take the necessary precautions. So what am I talking about?
The sun can really damage your solar system, in fact the energy conversion losses in the form of heat can do that job. But there are creative methods to turn this potential killer into a bonus to your free energy supply.
Boy This is Frustrating!!!
Let assume that you invested heavily and a 1000 Wp Photovoltaic System is your proudly covering your roof. Summer comes and you can't wait to see all those free Watts chew chunks of your energy bill.
During the most beautiful long summer days your systems seems to vigorously under perform. 70 - 80 % or 700 - 800 Watts is what you get out. Since you have been monitoring your system prior to the summer heat you have seem it churn out that 1 kW so you know its possible, yet when the circumstances seem ideal it just will not deliver.
What is wrong
If your panels are easily accessibly you can feel the problem. Touch them on one of these perfect summer days! Boy, they are hot. Yes they are and there you have your answer. Heat, solar radiation, heat from the energy conversion process and heat because of resistance.
Whenever a high current is running through a conductor, or a conducting semiconductor it will cause it to heat up. Just think of the processor in your computer. Add the suns radiation on an absorbing surface like the dark colored solar panels and you will understand why it gets hot. A semiconductor, what your panel actually is, has the characteristic of being increasingly less effective as the temperature rises.
Check outputs when the panels are cool.
You can check that when a cold front passes. there you will have a few minutes of intense sunlight followed by clouds, you will see peak outputs during those sunny intervals. When the arrays are cool.
What lesson is there to be learned
Well we can approach it as an unwelcome yet unavoidable problem, and to counteract this unwanted effect to some extend optimize the ventilation under your panels or see it as an opportunity to achieve an even greater energy efficiency. I suggest you do both.
But allow it get your mind spinning as well. Heat means energy. Spray you panels so they cool down and you will end up with a higher output and warm water. There are a great many ways that you could use this access heat. Cooling, Heating water or your pool, driving a stirling engine to name a few. There are no right or wrong ways, try to be creative about the idea and who knows what comes up.
The fact remains that the heat we generated as by product of our electricity production can be a serious threat to your system. The temperature of a semiconductor has to stay within certain boundaries. If not it will not only diminish the efficiency of your solar array but will potentially destroy it.
Yes, now we are real energy producers with the same problems the big guys from the electricity companies have. How do we keep our systems cool.
In our blog you can find an entry where we discuss another threat to our system. Although the result is heat, it deals about partials shadows falling over your string.
Right, the sun as potential killer of solar systems, but only if we can't find ways to either eliminate that energy or put it to use. Since we have to do something the latter sounds the best to me.
Hans is author of many writings and studies about wind turbines and turbine development and expert in Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Systems He actively involved in the development and generation of new ideas as well as in investment opportunities in the field of renewable energy resources. He can be found at http://www.alternative-energy-guide.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hans_Dekker
