Archive

Posts Tagged ‘DIY’

Solar DIY

October 31st, 2009

As for DIY solar, you can get the parts (panels, inverters, batteries, charge controllers) individually from many sources and make a system. It will not be cheap. You can’t make your own silicon cells, and probably aren’t up to designing the electronics, can’t make your own batteries etc.

Any solar is good solar! If you have the technical skills, there is no reason not to give it a try. However, DIY solar thermal is much more simple than solar electric. First, the incentives are only available for grid tied systems and panels usually come with a warranty that may only be available with professional installation. DIY is always worth considering but because the specific placement of the panels has a great deal to do with their efficiency, its usually worthwhile to speak with a pro.

DIY solar panels are a great way to save on energy bills and help your planet’s environment at the same time. They really aren’t hard to make, and can take less than a Saturday’s afternoon to set up. The best part about it, is that if you’re smart and resourceful - you can build solar panels for your home that are very inexpensive.

With a solar DIY kit you can save a significant amount of money on your initial investment. How much you save all depends on you. Going as far as buying components and building you your own will help you to understand the intricacies of how the system works and how to you may make them better and more efficient in the future. While there are many who have no trouble, we are sure that there are a few, just like us, that will need a little help. Do not let that part of the unknown discourage you.

With a solar DIY kit you can save a significant amount of money on your initial investment. How much you save all depends on you. Going as far as buying components and building you your own will help you to understand the intricacies of how the system works and how to you may make them better and more efficient in the future. While there are many who have no trouble, we are sure that there are a few, just like us, that will need a little help. Do not let that part of the unknown discourage you.

Using my solar DIY kit I initially built a mini solar system to generate enough power for my light bulb and it worked just fine. Later, I went ahead and build a bigger one and started to see some savings on my energy bills. Gradually you will see lower and lower bills. You can save up to 80% of the electricity bill by using solar energy. This can not be a bad thing for your wallet or your families budget.

Solar DIY panels use two different silicon layers to convert light into energy. The first n-type silicon layer uses light plus energy to create electrons, which increase in energy and travel through the holes of this layer onto the p-type layer, allowing the electric current to capture and convert light into electricity.

Therefore, solar DIY is definitely something to think about if you live in a warm climate.Would you like to cut your power costs? Home solar will definitely reduce the amount of energy you are contributing to the environment. Solar DIY instruction guides are available at all levels and commonly include the construction of solar panels, also known as photovoltaic technology to create energy you can store and use for household appliances.

Building your own solar hot water panels collectors is a breeze. The technology is simple and easy to understand if you have the basics. Tinker your own DIY solar into new savings.

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Solar Water Pumps

October 30th, 2009

Solar water pumps brought a lot of attention to themselves once again with the recent variations in prices of oil that hit almost everyone. A similar thing happened in the late 70s but we did not learn the lesson. As soon as oil prices came down, so did our intent to use more sustainable energy sources.

Solar water pumps have a huge advantage over regular pumps, they use free energy; think about it for a moment. Although one disadvantage is that solar energy is only available when the sun shines, another approach would be to simply store generated energy into batteries. Nevertheless, it would be of a great benefit to the environment and to the health of the local eco-systems where your electricity is currently produced.

Solar pumps fall into two major categories - surface, which includes pressure, delivery, and booster pumps & submersible which is primarily submersible well pumps.Delivery pumps are used to move water from one place to another. Some are capable of high pressure while others are intended mainly for moving large volumes at low pressure (such as moving water from a cistern to a stock watering tank). Flows can be small (1/2 gallon per minute or so) up to 30-40 gpm. Some (such as the popular 12 volt Shurflo pumps) are often used for pressurizing water systems in homes, RV’s, and boats.

Solar DIY is just one way to say do-it-yourself solar kit. You need particular parts to build a solar panel by yourself. You can build a solar panel by hand even if you do not take part in mechanical skills. A lot of people get scared at this point, because they do not have the right guidance. However, this can be as easy changing a light bulb once you have a little practice and understand the dynamics of how everything works.

Solar water pumps are cheap to build and cheap to power. And after the initial cost, there no one else to pay. Even uncle Sam says it good for your taxes.

With a solar DIY kit you can save a significant amount of money on your initial investment. How much you save all depends on you. Going as far as buying components and building you your own will help you to understand the intricacies of how the system works and how to you may make them better and more efficient in the future. While there are many who have no trouble, we are sure that there are a few, just like us, that will need a little help. Do not let that part of the unknown discourage you.

Solar water pumps brought a lot of attention to themselves once again with the recent variations in prices of oil that hit almost everyone. A similar thing happened in the late 70s but we did not learn the lesson. As soon as oil prices came down, so did our intent to use more sustainable energy sources.

Active systems can further be divided into direct and indirect systems. Direct systems directly heat the water in the collectors while an indirect system heats a different fluid (e.g. freon or distilled water) and the heat from this fluid is then transferred to the household water.

Building your own solar hot water panels collectors is a breeze. The technology is simple and easy to get if you have the basics. Tinker your own solar hot water panels into savings.

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Solar Panels Wholesale

October 29th, 2009

Solar power panels wholesale is no longer too expensive to be available to the average consumer. As the cost of producing solar panels decreases the number of solar panels wholesale available through the internet is increasing. You can go to websites that provide lists of solar panels wholesale dealers and search for the best deal in your state. Never pay for energy again, choose to install the Clean Energy choice of solar panels on your home for a fraction of the price just 5 years ago.

Additionally you want to find out if the panels are out of production, closeouts or simply not the most recent model. Many times you will want to buy replacement panels and this can affect availability. It is also important to verify that appropriate mounting hardware or kits will be readily available.

When you buy solar panels wholesale you are not likely to get the latest solar panel designs or products. The latest products command a premium. Suppliers want to sell the latest products and are therefore keen to shift older products to make room for the new. The older products may not be as technically advanced and may not be as efficient, but as you are buying a panel than produces a specific number of watts, the only downside may be that the latest product produces the same wattage from a slightly smaller panel. Not really a big issue.

Also to be considered as an option for wholesale pricing on solar panels are the new websites like groupon.com where companies will post offers of their group discounts. And with the way the economy is, we can all use a discount right about now coupled with some more savings on our electric bill.

You’ve probably seen calculators that have solar cells — calculators that never need batteries, and in some cases don’t even have an off button. As long as you have enough light, they seem to work forever. You may have seen larger solar panels on emergency road signs or call boxes, on buoys, even in parking lots to power lights.

A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device which generates electricity directly from visible light by means of the photovoltaic effect. In order to generate useful power, it is necessary to connect a number of cells together to form a solar panel, also known as a photovoltaic module. There is more about the the different types of solar cells. The nominal output voltage of a solar panel is usually 12 Volts, and they may be used singly or wired together into an array. The number and size required is determined by the available light and the amount of energy required.

Buying solar panels wholesale does not always insure getting the most up to date products. Many of the high end manufacturers only sell to authorized dealers who they certify personally. It is very unlikely to find the newest panel designs sold as wholesale products. After a product has passed its prime then they are sold in bulk to supply companies who wholesale them to dealers and non-dealers alike.

The new solar cell differs significantly from the previous record holder - also based on a NREL design. Instead of using a germanium wafer as the bottom junction of the device, the new design uses compositions of gallium indium phosphide and gallium indium arsenide to split the solar spectrum into three equal parts that are absorbed by each of the cell’s three junctions for higher potential efficiencies.

Building your own solar panels wholesale is a breeze and just what you want to take the edge off of those high electric bills. The technology is simple and if you have the basics. Tinker your own solar panels wholesale into new savings.

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The Many Advantages Of Solar Panels

September 11th, 2009

It comes as no surprise to many that our energy sources are depleting at an accelerating rate with no end in sight. Thus, the search for alternative energy has begun, and that journey begins with solar energy. Apart from the easy availability, solar energy helps control environmental pollution. The reason most of us havent thought of using home solar power for our personal use is because of the stigma that it is expensive and troublesome to install.

However, you may be surprised to know how far away from the truth those two statements really are. Solar power will in fact save you money on your electric bill each month. In addition to saving money on your electricity bill, you can also have the satisfaction of knowing that youll be saving the planet from pollution by using solar energy.

This article hopes to accomplish to dispel any misconceived notions of home solar power as well as to introduce its many uses around the house.

Solar power can be used to cook food. A solar cooker is a cooking mechanism that doesnt need any fuel to cook. It is a small box in which you can cook a meal for up to 5 people. Did you know that you can cook food with home solar power? You can boil food, roast, and even bake all kinds of food. A solar cooker doesnt reduce your cooking methods. Stay the versatile chef that you are without sacrificing your meal by using a solar cooker. The only limitation, if it is one, is the time it takes to cook your meal as it takes just a bit longer than typical stoves. However, a solar cooker is still a great option if you are looking to cut down on your energy bill and do your part in saving the environment.

Another use of home solar power is the having a solar home lighting system. This is when you have a solar house lighting system that converts solar energy into electrical energy. You maybe asking, But how does that work? Theres no sunlight at night when you need lights the most. This is possible because the energy is stored during the day in cells for use later in the nighttime. The solar energy is stored in the solar cells.

Installing a solar lighting system can almost fully eliminate your electric bill.

You may also be unaware that you can also install a home solar powered heating system for you house.

If the sound of a solar heating system sounds like someone breaking into your savings account, be assured that that is not the case. Solar heating system installers make it a point to create home solar power solutions for homes that are aesthetically pleasing and cost effective for their customers. Placing a solar heating system is a worthy investment as people have seen a ROI within a three to four year time frame, thus being free heating after that.

Want to learn more about how to reduce your energy bill and how to make solar energy? Learn more about the Green DIY Energy windmill guide at Go-SolarEnergy.com!

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Home Home Solar Power

September 1st, 2009

Over the course of a day, the sun emits huge amounts of potential energy in form of light and heat. This energy can be harnessed in a few different ways, including:

- Simply using the sun to help regulate home temperature (passive solar energy)

- With the help of mirrors, thermal solar collectors can amplify the heat of the sun and pass it on to water or other substances

- The light emitted by the sun can be converted into electricity with photovoltaic cells

When done effectively, taking advantage of the heat and light energy displaced by the sun can have a substantial impact on your monthly bills. Harnessing the suns power in this sense is known as Passive Home Solar Power. A few ideas to help you take advantage of the suns passive energy include:

- A well insulated home. This should result in an inside temperature that stays fairly constant. It is vital to have properly insulated ceilings, walls, and floors. Other key areas include around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. This is the most important step in taking advantage of passive solar energy.

- As mentioned in the “energy saving tips” section of my home page, curtains are another effective way of keeping warm air in or cold air out. Along these lines, clear insulating window covers or shutters also play a strong role in maintaining inside temperature.

- Vegetation placed strategically around the home can also greatly effect the inside temperature of the house. For example, plants located near windows and doors can absorb a great deal of summer heat, in addition to providing fresh air.

In addition to taking advantage of the sun in a passive way, one can use a more active approach. As mentioned above, a thermal solar collector is a great tool for using the suns tremendous temperature output to heat water or a space.

A thermal collector is a device that features an array of dark metal plates, covered in a sheet of glass. The sun warms these metal plates, which absorb the heat and transfer it to a substance, for example water or air. This heated substance can now be used immediately, or stored in a well insulated container for later use.

In conclusion, light can also be converted to electricity through the use of photovoltaic cells, commonly known as solar panels. A very basic description of what happens inside these panels is that the light displaced by the sun causes a reaction within the cells, resulting in charged electrons. These can then be used directly as electricity in a home, or stored in a deep cycle battery for later use.

About the author: Miles Novak is a writer and enthusiast of home energy. Check out his site for more info on Do it Yourself products and Home Energy Solutions.

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DIY Home Home Solar Power

February 1st, 2009

If you are lucky enough to live in an area that has generous rebates for solar panels it’s quite easy to add them to your house. Make a call or two, fill in some forms, wait a while (sometimes a long while) then watch the installers climb onto your roof.

For the rest of us, hiring a professional installer just doesn’t make economic sense. It’s just too expensive and we wouldn’t recover our investment for 20 or more years. If you have basic DIY skills however, home home solar power is still an option. Full instruction for DIY installation are a bit beyond the scope of this humble blog unfortunately, so I’m going to point you to some other sources.

I did try looking in the local bookshop but there really wasn’t anything I could recommend. Online guides are a better option since these are usually more up-to-date and comprehensive.

Earth4Energy is an easy to follow illustrated guide that will get you started for as little as $200. The guide includes a number of videos which make the whole process a doddle.  The Earth4Energy kit will  show you everything you need to know about creating electricity from your very own backyard.  If you are interested in learning exactly how to generate power and reduce your bill than this is the perfect resource for you!

Homemade Energy has very specific instructions on the best layout depending where you live - a very important consideration - along with step by step illustrated instructions. HomeMadeEnergy is the website created to help you slash your electricity bill by 80% or even eliminate it completely!  With the ever increasing costs of living, there is no better time than right now to stop throwing money out the window and start generating your own electricity

Both of these guides also cover generating electricity from the wind - a great option if you live near the coast.

Electricity, Solar Power ,