John Mackinnon asked:


Solar panels that capture the abundance of energy sent to us each and every day can be just the relief we need from the high cost of electricity. It almost seems like a crime to turn our backs on this wonderful gift of more free energy than we can possibly use. This is especially true today because it is possible to build your own solar panel with simple tools for less than $200. These homemade solar generators are capable of reducing household electricity costs by 50% or more.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

Photons, the energetic particles found in sunlight, strike the individual solar cells and bump electrons out of place. The electrons are, in effect, pushed out of the cell and into the wires that connect all the cells together. Ideally each cell will generate about .5 volts of electrical pressure. 80 solar cells wired together in one panel should generate about 100 watts of power.

The Secret Of Making Cheap Solar Panels

The secret to making an inexpensive solar panel is in scrounging low cost or free solar cells. The lower the cost of this project the faster it will pay for itself. Using your own labor to assemble free solar cells into just one panel should pay back the original costs in just a few months. Buying a brand new pre-assembled and installed panel for over a $1000 might take 5 -10 times longer.

The Parts Of The Complete Solar Panel System

Plan A: This is the simplest system. The direct current DC electrical output from the solar panel goes to a bank of deep cycle batteries for storage. The batteries are then connected to an inverter that converts the DC Current to the kind of alternating current that most household appliances require. This is then wired to directly power a specific group of appliances completely separate from the house wiring.

Plan B: Takes the above system a step further by connecting to the electrical wiring in your house at the main fuse box. Legally, this step almost always has do be performed by a certified electrician. Some power companies will actually pay you in the form of energy credits for sending excess energy back out into the grid.

Plan C: This system works completely off the grid for homes that have no electric power coming to their home at all. The key element here is to have back-up sources of power interconnected with the solar panels for supplying power on days that there is no sun. Windmill generators and gas powered generators often serve as additional sources of power.

The Advantages Of Solar Panel Systems

Besides providing almost free electricity, solar panel systems are quiet, non-polluting, low maintenance, safe and if properly weatherproofed could last up to 50 years. They can also be a life saver if you live too far from the electric grid to economically afford to extend the transmission lines to your location.

If you tie into the electric grid, it is even possible to get paid by the power companies for any electricity generated over and above your personal needs.

The Need For A Good Plan

Despite the simplicity of a building your own solar panels, it is important to have a complete set of plans. Good plans should, at the bare minimum include the following:

1. Ideally these set of plans will originate from authors that have successfully built and used solar panels themselves. 2. The plans should give a brief background of simple electrical terms like watt, volt and amps. 3. A detailed explanation of the different types of solar cells and exactly where to find them. 4. Wiring diagrams for understanding how to wire the individual cells together. 5. How to build a protective case. 6. How to run this power into your house directly to certain appliances or to hook up to the current household wiring.

The simplicity of capturing the sun’s daily gift of free energy to reduce or even eliminate your electric bill is almost unbelievable. Equally amazing is the fact that we live in an age of abundant free and low cost used solar cells. Don’t you think that it is time to solve your own energy crisis instead of waiting for our Government or the Power Companies to fix it? Take the easy first step and grab a set of plans for building your own solar panels.

Daniel Stouffer asked:


encouraging information for those homeowners who live in areas of the country covered with snow or, clouds due to frequent storms, for much of the year. The following article explains in some detail how how the sun angle effects solar energy out put in the form of electric for home solar power units. We will also document a few of the common components in a home solar energy system such as mounting units, sun tracking systems, and more.

The Sun’s Irradiance Throughout the Day

Many graphs and charts, found on the Internet via searching, show a solar cell module’s output when it faces south throughout the 4 days following the fall equinox. These graphs most often show a bell curve of the power output, where peak production occurs around 12 to 1pm with a morning ramp-up and a decline as the sun goes down. This is due to intensity of light as well as deflection. As the days get shorter, the total irradiation falls as expected. The sun no longer is directly square with the panels, since it is lower in the sky.

Panel Tracking Devices for Home Solar Energy Systems

The best way to get around this decline in energy output is to place the solar array on a tracking device to keep it in direct sunlight for more time throughout the day. Looking at a sunflower can give you a good idea. The sunflower wakes up in the morning facing due East to catch the morning sun. As the day progresses, the sunflower turns its head to track as much sunlight as possible. It’s perplexing why sunflowers grow so tall and sturdy? They soak up as much sun as possible.

There are two different types of tracking systems for residential solar energy units. There are other more creative choices, like mounting on fences or poles, but the following are most common.

1) Horizontal or flat mount array favors the summer months when the sun is highest.

2) Fixed angle at the optimum tilt angle yields the most kWh for a fixed array over the course of the entire year.

These two types of tracking systems create dramatically more exposure and higher sun hours all year long, but still more in the summer months. This relates to the overall need to calculate and take into account the total amount of energy required per month and per year then average out to the highest electric needs on a monthly basis. All of this data is included with the solar energy sizing estimates.

There are single axis tracking solar systems that track the sun from east to west. There are also dual axis tracking solar systems that track both from east to west and up and down, following the sun’s altitude and azimuth to optimize production throughout the season. In the winter, the sun is much lower in the sky than in the summer therefore solar energy systems that can tilt up or down have a greater chance of catching all of the sun’s energy.

Forms of Sun Irradiance

The sun reaches the solar panels in various paths, not just directly from a sun’s beam being directly overhead. Because of this fact, there may be good generation of solar electricity on even overcast days or when you would not think the sunlight is of proper intensity.

There are three types of irradiance. 1. Diffuse Irradiation: Scattered light comes from the whole sky. Diffuse is completely absent on a crystal clear day with no clouds or haze and is highly available on cloudy hazy days or in places with lots of smog.

2. Direct Irradiation: A beam of sun light goes straight from the sun to the solar module and directly interacts with the solar cells

3. Reflected Light (i.e. the Albedo effect): This is light that is reflected or scattered by the ground or nearby surfaces like trees or other buldings. Snow gives off a lot of this albedo light and grass or dirt gives off very little.

Sun Path Diagrams and Home Solar Energy Systems

A sun path diagram plots the position of the sun throughout the year. This is very useful when designing and installing solar arrays, to optimize the performance by determining the best angle and to avoid shadows from trees, vents, other buildings, etc. Understanding where the sun traces across the sky at your home, allows you to place your solar energy unit in the correct location. You can also determine if you may need to supplement your solar power system with a tracking device.

Expanding Options for Residential Solar Energy

New solar energy technology is continually coming to market that takes the idea of solar power to a new and simpler levels. Homeowners, while it is very useful to know the nuts and bolts of solar power systems, do not have to know the level of detail as presented in this article. New solar technology and home solar panel rental services provide energy efficiency and better control of power consumption. These solar power rental programs enable electric services that are more responsive, more reliable, and more renewable.

Bryan Wong asked:


When we talk about solar power term return on investment always is mentioned. Return on investment means that can earn your invested money back within a calculated time frame. How long it takes to earn back your money depends on several factors. These factors are efficiency of the solar equipment, the amount of sunshine, your location and your budget. Let there be no misunderstanding that with solar power you can certainly earn back your invested money. What I would like to mention here is that there is also another way to look at why you should invest.

First let’s make it clear that you are investing in solar power. It is not just an investment, it is a wise investment. It is a wise investment for several reasons. The first reason is that is can earn your money back. That has been mentioned before. The second reason is that you can save money on your utility bill. These savings can really ad up and some people even earn money. The savings depend on where you live and therefore the amount of sunshine you get and the installation you use. If you use a pv-system and you get a lot of sunshine the solar electricity you produce is brought in the overall electrical system. So if you produce more than you use you can make money (earning money also depends on the rules of the utility company). The next reason is that you are making this world a better place by reducing the production of pollution. Although the reduction from your system may by be small you are making a contribution and everybody needs to applaud for that.

Let’s get back to the first reason that is the return on investment. We will talk about solar power from another point of view. When you decide to use solar power it can be a big investment. If you would buy a total system you are looking at $15,000-$25,000 and that is a lot of money. But when you look at all the products you buy to use for your home or invest in, how many of them save you money or even make you money? When you buy a car you need that car for transportation. The decision for choosing your car depends on your budget and emotions, what you like or dislike. When you’re driving your car have you ever thought about how much money you can save with this purchase? Not much I can tell you that. Buying a car is not a good investment, when you first drive your new bought car you are already loosing money. The car loses its value every day not to mention the additional cost like petrol, maintenance and car insurance. From that point of view a car is a bad investment because you will loose money instantly and constantly. From another point of view the car gives you freedom and perhaps status, but that comes with a price tag. Let take a look at a television set, you probably have more than one in your home. The television gives you entertainment, news and valuable information that you need. This device uses a lot of electricity and even in standby mode it uses a lot. The industry creates new features on television set each year. If you buy one today tomorrow you already have an ‘old’ set and you’ll never get the same price for an older model. So it can be said that this device will also not give you a return on investment. This list can go on and on.

The only wise investment in this context is your home. If you buy a home today your investment will increase over the years. Of course there are reasons that can be negative for your home value, but in general you will gain money. When you invest in a solar power this can also be a valuable feature for your home. When you sell the house the unique selling point can be the use of solar power. For potential buyers the money saving option with solar power can be big advantage. They will not have to invest in a solar power system themselves and all the hard research work is already done for them. If you own your home and will not sell the savings on utility are yours now and forever.

What I am saying in this article is that investing in solar power should not only be for the return on investment but also for other reasons as well as mentioned above. One topic that has not been mentioned here is that depending on where you live you can get tax credits and cash rebates and other incentives when you decide to invest in solar power. That is an additional reason to invest in solar power. The rules for rebates and incentives changes really fast and sometimes you have to move fast if you want apply. If you want to invest in a solar system don’t forget the rebates and incentives. It will make your return on investment even better and the savings will put a smile on your face. Even if you don’t get the rebates, tax credits or other incentives going solar is a wise decision.

Daniel Stouffer asked:


A new company is emerging; one that allows American homeowners to produce their own clean, green, renewable energy from the sun and keep the savings created by locking in a monthly rental rate. Homeowners can save thousands of dollars powering their home with solar generated electricity.

It is not just the American Dream any longer. It is possible for U.S. homeowners to save money on their energy bills by renting a residential solar energy system. A homeowner can help to lower their carbon emissions by utilizing renewable energy. A solar equipment manufacturer is planning to offer an affordable, hassle free way for U.S. homes to install solar. Saving money by utilizing solar generated electricity is a bonus.

In their pilot installation phase, this company is working to remove the barriers to wide-scale solar adoption in the United States. Its business model is to rent all of the equipment needed to power a residential home with solar electricity.

There is an energy auditing process and required feasibility study to better determine suitable locations. Homeowners hoping to have a solar electric system installed may not qualify in some cases due to environmental or sunlight hour restrictions.

reThinking a Solar Energy Rental Service — The U.S. people do not have to buy a high-dollar solar energy system. It is provided on a leasing or rental basis. The installation is free, with it being part of the rental service, and any permitting or rebate challenges related to the system installation are handled by the company – not the homeowner. The rental company provides the solar equipment, installs the solar electric system, and maintains the unit over time. This solar rental service allows the average citizen to self-produce their own renewable energy.

The homeowner pays a rental fee and produces solar generated electricity from the solar system installed on their home. The homeowner doesn’t have to worry about maintaining the equipment or any of the other concerns that come with making a solar system purchase.

This solar energy rental program removes many obstacles and headaches related to the installation of home solar power systems. The solar solution avoids further carbon emissions, helps reduce dependencies on foreign energy, and creates momentum for renewable energy projects in many part of the U.S.

The Residential Solar Energy System — This service provides enhanced efficiency and better control of your energy usage. The system will monitor the energy production on a daily basis. The homeowner can also track household energy consumption via online reporting. The provided inverter empowers a homeowner to self-produce their own electricity.

Solar Generated Electricity Saves Money — Switching to solar energy can also save on long term electricity costs. The homeowner locks in a monthly rental cost for the use of the solar electric system. They generate renewable energy from the rented system and this electricity offsets the energy that must be purchased from a utility company. This will result in a decrease in an average energy paid over time.

The solar unit rental cost justifies itself over the rental term for the system. The homeowner avoids utility rate increases over time because the solar system rental fee stays lock-in while the cost for electricity continues to go up.

The U.S. homeowner can produce renewable energy, save money on their energy costs, and feel good about lowering their carbon emissions. This solar rental service is truly solar made simple.

Daniel Stouffer asked:


om their “holes” in the silicon atom, electrons flow through solar PV cells connected in series to produce useful electric voltage. This concept and a little more is the focus of this article. The United States is at the beginning of a huge, wide-spread, pervasive switch to solar energy as a primary energy source for our homes. The manufacturing costs are down, awareness and need is up, and new options to rent solar systems versus having to buy them all line up perfectly.

How do solar PV cells create an electric current?

The remainder of this article explains some of the details related to the internal workings of solar cells and how their arrangement, when placed into a solar array mounted on your roof can make a big difference in the energy output of your solar system.

The internal electric field of the silicon diode creates a flow of electric charges only when sunlight photons strike the silicon. As the photons hit electrons in silicon bonds, they create hole-electron pairs that are free to separate and wander around the silicon lattice or crystalline structure. Free electrons wandering near the p/n junction are pushed in one direction by the internal electric field.

This movement of electronics as a result of the photoelectric effect results in a steady flow of electric charges moving in a circuit within the silicon structure, i.e. an electric current. The flow is directly proportional to the intensity of light and the energy conversion efficiency of the solar cells included in the solar PV panel. The greater the sunlight hitting the silicon atom the greater the number of electrons bumped free. Ultimately, this creates a greater number of electrons flowing in and out of the silicon and into the solar inverter.

This whole continuous movement of electrons illustrates why it is so important for all solar cells in a module or solar array to get the same intensity of sunlight. It is important for the solar panels to receive the sunlight from the same direction and not to be shaded by trees or buildings. The exact number of photons from the sun must must strike each solar cell in order to bump the corresponding number of electrons in the next solar cell. In essence, the photons from the sun hit the silicon and cause a chain reaction within the silicon.

The additional movement of free silicon electrons, in and out of the holes produced in the silicon atoms, creates the electric current and flow of energy. Think of a game of billiards; the pool player hits the white ball which in turn hits the green ball into the pocket. This occurs in a chain reaction fashion as you add more balls each hitting each other. The little twist here is the fact that the sun will continually hit the white ball (i.e. the sun photon hitting the silicon atom) as long as the sunlight hits the solar cell.

Solar PV Cells Connected in Series

Individual solar cells produce only a small amount of voltage. They are most commonly connected together in series, positive to negative poles within a solar array, to produce a useful electric voltage.

When photons of sunlight strike solar cells in a string, the internal electric field pushes the electrons out of the cells in a continuous flow through the string. The electrons moving through the silicon structure each gain about one half of a volt during the photoelectric process. The displaced electrons are collected in a grid pattern of wiring printed on the cells.

Module manufacturers connect enough solar cells in series in a single module to produce a useful voltage. The typical high voltage grid tied module has 72 cells in series. Electrons moving about the solar cells get about one half of a volt from each solar cells. After moving through 72 solar cells connected in series gain enough electric voltage to account for about 40 volts.

If more voltage is needed to produce useful electric current for home use, then solar modules can be connected in series. The most common solar energy unit configuration has a solar array connected in series with 8 other solar modules. This results in a final operational electric voltage of about 320 volts.

Solar Cells, Arrays, and Solar Modules Connected in Series

In the previous article, we explained a little about the Photoelectric Effect, where photons of light hit electrons in the silicon lattice and provide energy to flow. We also described how electrons flowing from one cell into the next cell in a module gain about 1/2 volt from each cell.

To Rent a Home Solar Energy System or Buy It

The Option to Rent a Home Solar Energy System is fast approaching as a viable option for home electricity needs. The American homeowner has the option to produce renewable energy from the sun by renting a complete solar energy system versus having to purchase one outright. This is an exciting solar rental service that allows the average homeowner to created their own solar generated electricity from the son and keep the energy savings they create.

Those who have a suitable location (i.e. good sun, enough roof space, and moderate energy needs), who follow the reservation steps, and who complete the requirements have a home solar system installed have good chance of getting a solar unit installed on their home on a rental basis.

anonymous asked:


Solar power has been available for decades. Safe, relatively clean energy, but the cost of the panels has long been too high for the average consumer. They’re also the one problem with solar energy, for those wondering about the relatively clean energy part. But the recycling of them should improve over time.

Many people would love to go solar in their homes. It’s a practical energy source in many places, even ones where you wouldn’t expect it to do all that well. And in places where homes aren’t built near a pre-existing grid, solar power is often much, much more reasonable than having wires run out.

The fact that energy prices have been steadily rising also helps solar energy appear more reasonably priced. The cost is almost all upfront, which is perhaps the greatest challenge. A good solar power system sufficient to heat the average home in the United States runs many thousands of dollars. However it also offers tremendous savings over time.

Some people even generate enough excess to where they sell electricity back. It doesn’t bring in much money on the average, but you must admit that having the power company pay you has an appeal, especially if you aren’t paying them anything anymore.

Is solar power ready to take off at long last? It could be. We’ve been hearing for a long time that the day would come when solar power became affordable, something the average family could do, rather than something strictly for the affluent and environmentally aware.

States are becoming more interested in encouraging solar power as well. Many offer rebates or tax incentives to homeowners who install solar panels, and some are starting to look at businesses as well. May as well put those rooftops to good use, after all!

Unfortunately, not all states do this yet. It sounds like they will soon! There is federal legislation requiring states to consider adopting net metering standards by 2008. How this works from state to stat can be tricky, but since 40 states already have net metering, which allows customers to sell excess electricity back, paying only when they need more than they produce, things are looking better all the time.

Solar power is starting to fare better politically too. While it still lacks the funding of the coal or oil industries, it has popular backing. That does make a difference.

Choosing solar power still isn’t the easiest thing. As with other home improvements there’s a lot of paperwork, plus finding a reputable contractor with good solar panel installation experience. But things are definitely looking up.

Michael Read asked:


As solar power is continues to gain popularity, manufacturers are now offering solar powered attic fans to consumers to help ventilate attics and keep attics cooler. The solar powered fans that are used for attics generally have a smaller solar panel to help power a DC motor when the sun is shining. By using solar powered attic fans, you will enjoy a plethora of benefits, including the four I will discuss in this article.

1. Save money

There is no arguing the fact that electric rates are always on the rise, which makes solar powered fans so popular. By storing more solar energy because the roof is always in direct contact with the sun, you will make use of much more energy without paying a penny. Also, by continuously keeping your attic cool because of the low cost of solar powered fans, you no longer have to worry about dealing with mildew and mold.

2. Maximize exposure of sun to the solar panel

Because of the way that many solar powered attic fans are designed, there is a mounting bracket that houses the solar panel. This helps optimize the angle of the panel to put it to use much more than an electric fan. The mounting bracket will also allow for remote mounting of the solar panel, which allows for optimal panel placement.

3. Minimize the ambient temperature of the solar panel

With a powder coating that rests over the entire assembly in neutral gray color, this helps minimize the power output losses as temperatures increase. In doing so, it will help cool the attic and ensure that the solar powered fan does not act like a heat sink. Also, the mounting bracket allows for an envelope of cooler air to continuously circulate around the entire solar panel. By doing this, it provides the maximum electricity output from the panel to help run the fan motor.

4. Adaptable for all environments

Although solar power is just becoming popular, technology has grown to allow solar powered attic fans to be adaptable for all locations, roof types and environments. Obviously, if you live in an environment that sees more sun you will be able to create more solar energy. However, the powder coat over solar powered fans allows these fans to withstand any environment.

Solar powered attic fans are perfect for every attic to help eliminate the heat while decreasing the electric bill at the same time. Because of the high efficiency, environment friendly capability, and lower electric bills, solar powered fans are suitable for everyone in any environment around the world.

Bryan Wong asked:


In the early days of solar power there were huge installations necessary to make use of this energy source. The solar panels that were needed were larger than the average full grown man. This made the collection of solar power a bit of a challenge. Therefore making use of solar power was not suitable of everyone. It was expensive and a bit of a chore as well.

These huge solar panels still exist in solar power plants, which produce energy for certain parts of the world. But over the years technological advancements have made solar power affordable and portable enough so common people can use it for their everyday lives. Nowadays solar panels have become so small that pocket calculators use these as an alternative power source to the usual single cell batteries.

But the use of portable solar power did not stop with the use of pocket calculators. Numerous inventions have made use of portable solar power and some of these are available all over the world. Let’s take of look at 5 affordable uses of portable solar power.

1) BRUNTON BATTJACK Batteries and Chargers

The charger comes with the SolarPort 4.4, wall transformer and 12V car cord to charge batteries from AC or in a vehicle. The charger can hold 4 AA or AAA rechargeable batteries. The kit has 4 1500 mAh NiMH AA battery cells. The charger will switch to trickle charge when the batteries are fully charged. It also has a discharge option for maintaining NiCad batteries. This will cost $30.

Batteries are NiMH AA dry cells, have a 1500 mAh capacity, can recharge for hundreds of times, and come in a package of 4 AA batteries. These cost $14.

2) SS-PVSMALL Power System

This portable solar power system from Silicon Solar Inc is easy to use and needs no assembly. Included in each system is an inverter/battery carrying case and 8.5 or 17-watt solar panel/charge.

This system can power a laptop computer, portable audio devices, small coloured TV, and most devices that need less than 140 watts AC 110-120v, and 60Hz input. Power time can range from 30 minutes to 56 hours, depending on the equipment being powered up.

The system is also used for indoor/outdoor lighting, and is lightweight. The system also includes inverters, cables, battery box, and sealed gel cell battery. The system comes with a 1-year warranty. The system costs $149.95.

3) UNI-KIT

The Uni-Kit system is a portable, durable, solar powered lighting system that can provide extended lighting hours to its users. This is powerful enough to let even a 12-volt radio or TV operate, and easy to install. The Uni-Kit system also comes with a basic power controller that maximizes battery life of its 12-Volt Deep Cycle SLA Battery by controlling its charging and load use, and protects the system from overcharging and excessive discharging.

Uni-Kit can be used in the garage, tool sheds, remote homes, isolated buildings, surveying sites, construction sites, camp sites, and even during water pumping operations.

Uni-Kit comes with an 11-watt fluorescent lamp that has a 1-year warranty. The 15-watt solar panel has a 20 year warranty. You can add up to 4 lamps to increase the system’s illumination capacity. The default kit weighs 10 pounds and can be purchased for $249.95 from Silicon Solar Inc. If you have additional 4 lamps, all 4 will cost an extra $235.

4) BRUNTON Portable Solar Panels

Brunton has portable CIGS (copper indium gallium diselenide) solar array panels that are thin and lightweight to save weight for backpackers. These panels produce standard 12volts outputs, and come with basic 12V vehicle socket, 4 different jack plugs, and battery clips. Solar array panels come in a 6 and 12 foldable, and 14 roll able series. Prices of these panels range from $129 to $399.

5) EN-R-PAK AC/DC Backup Power Supply

The EN-R-PAK backup power supply 200 series are compact solar power backup supplies that have built-in electronics that store, control, and produce energy from the sun, wind, or flowing water. The system can accept additional solar panels, wind turbines, or water turbines. These power supply systems use renewable stored energy to produce 115 volts and 12 volts DC. A 230-volt unit is also available for international use.

The EN-R-PAK can provide emergency power for a home or office, remote areas, a cabin or cottage, for communications, wherever and whenever you need power! This system has no parts that wear out, is environment friendly, quiet, does not emit harmful fumes, easy to operate, requires no assembly, needs almost no maintenance, and is designed to survive rugged weather conditions. These can also power energy efficient lights, a laptop computer, a small TV, rechargeable power tools, and other electrical equipment.

The EN-R-PAK has a 1-year system warranty, 20-year solar panel warranty, 2-year battery warranty, and is built to conform to UL, NEC, and CSA electrical standards.

EN-R-PAK 50-watt solar panels are liquid-proof and shatter proof. These also come with a blocking diode, 30 feet of cable with a connection plug. Wind turbines are also configured to the EN-R-PAK so changes to the power centre are not needed.

The basic system will cost $1500. Additions to the system will make the cost reach a maximum of $2950.

This sums up the possibilities for portable solar power. As time and knowledge progress other devices and possibilities will be available on the market. The prices mentioned here can give you an idea, but are by no means accurate.

Bryan Wong asked:


When the electrical utility bill is increasing each and every month you can do a few things. You can cry and pull out your hair; refuse to pay and get cut off and have no utilities; you could work harder and more hours each month to keep up the rising costs; or you could invest in other alternative sources of energy to cut the electrical utility bill. One of these alternative sources of energy is solar energy. And indeed, you will need to invest that means putting in your own (or borrowed) money, but the investment can make a huge difference for now and many years to come.

Solar energy is derived from the power emitted by the sun to produce energy. The sun emits enough energy on the Earth in one day to supply the needs of the world for one year. The amount of solar power that the Earth receives from the sun is estimated to be 770 trillion kilowatts or an amount 5,000 times bigger than the sum of all energy resources we are using, may it be nuclear, geothermal, or gravitational energy. The estimated remaining life of the sun is around 4.5 billion years.

Solar power is produced primarily through the use of photovoltaic cells, or commonly known as the solar cells. The process of converting solar power into electricity is as follows: The solar cells are placed under direct sunlight. The rays of the sun hits the cells initiating a chemical reaction that creates an electric current. This current is later turned into electricity.

There are two classification of solar power: passive solar and active solar. The first classification does not make use of panel systems or other moving mechanisms to produce solar power. Instead, it involves planning a structure in such a way that it can capture the rays of the sun with windows, tanks, and other permanent structure. This system can be used to provide heat to houses, water, and so on.

The second classification involves the solar panels or the group of solar cells. These panels are placed in such away that its exposure to the sunlight is maximized. It will convert sunlight to electricity, which is transformed later on from direct current (DC) electricity to alternate current (AC) electricity, and consumed it immediately or store it in batteries. It may be also fed into the grid system of the local utility.

The Pros and Cons of Solar Power

There are some disadvantages of using solar power. These are the following:

Initial costs on installation of solar power systems can be quite expensive. Cloudy weather condition can be a problem in collecting solar power for some systems. If you live in area where there is little sun shine this will be a problem. Solar power can not be produced at night.

There are numerous advantages of using solar power. These are enumerated in the following items:

Solar power is almost limitless. Remember that the remaining life span of the sun is estimated to be 4.5 billion years. It is relatively abundant. It can be absorbed, reflected, transmitted, and insulated. It can be stored in batteries for night time use.

Using solar power is not only a solid investment for years to come it also saves the environment. Thus this investment is not doesn’t only saves you money but you making this world a better place to live in for years to come. Investing in solar power is worth your money, don’t overlook the potential.

Xavier Tikadar asked:


Whilst a lot of people do have electricity in their own garages and sheds, heat can be an issue throughout winter.

However you can take advantage of the sunny days of winter and use solar power from the sun to produce heat in your garage. Particularly if you live in hilly or mountainous areas, where the sun can reflect the suns rays as you could build a solar furnace to collect some of that sunshine that bounces off the snow or that just beams down. Solar powered furnaces have in the past recorded to reach temperatures of up to 110 degrees. So if you have a lot of scrap laying around in your basement, then put it to good use.

You can start with some 2×4’s and plywood to make a simple box. It helps if you build your box to the dimensions of the material that you are going to be fitting in there, in this case you should use aluminum cans because they’re easy to get hold of and to fit into your home made box. 50 cans in 5 columns of 10 will funnel air upwards.

Before putting your cans in the box, be sure to seal the edges with wood glue to ensure that any of the heat that the box produces does not escape.

So you may have already thought, “How can air climb the columns of cans when there’s no hole at the bottom of the can?” Answer: drill press and 3/4-inch bit. Times 45.

The last five cans, the bases of each column, will sit on the bottom of the box and thus will be unable to draw air from underneath, so I poked holes in the sides of each of the five. Stack the cans with liberal doses of adhesive caulk. Give them enough time to dry. Once they have dried paint each column with black BBQ paint to absorb the suns heat, make sure that the paint is matt, as it absorbs more heat like this, BBQ paint is also very good because it keeps from flaking off the cans.

At the top, you can then drill an outlet hole. Leave an inch or two of space between the tops of the columns and the top of the box to permit air to flow out of the columns. Drill out the outlet hole based on the diameter of a wet-dry vacuum hose that you could find laying in your basement, about 1-1/2 inches in diameter.

At the bottom you can use another wet-dry vacuum attachment; the rectangle shaped end that you use on the carpet, this will disperse the incoming air more evenly. ***** it in at each ends, then glue the seal. Then you can start to glue the columns in place. Remember to have drilled your inlet hole in the bottom. You can drill an inlet hole at the base for each column if you have time, this way the air can simply pass over the cans (there’s about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch between the cans and the upper edge of the 2×4 frame) and all the air would be forced to pass though them picking up all of the absorbed heat.

You can then make a frame for your solar powered furnace using anything strong enough to hold it up towards the sun, you may wish to attach a thermometer to it to see how quickly it heats up and to what temperatures it can reach. Once it has been out side all day you can then bring it inside your garage and the heat that has been preserved by the solar heater shall radiate through your chosen space to heat up.