pratibha asked:


Solar electricity panels are much like any other solar panels with maybe a few differences. There are kits that are sold that will assist an individual in the construction and installation of these panels as well. In addition, these panels operate much like the others by the means of using the wavelengths of light drawn from the sun to work.

In order to design solar electricity panels an individual can also find assistance via the Internet on a variety of web sites. These panels use very small crystal cells, different forms of wattage control, as well as wattage.

It is important to remember too, that different amp cells are going to produce different amounts of energy or electricity when these are finished products and running efficiently.

Many homes today are using eco-friendly designs in order to also preserve energy for future generations and to save financially. In essence, any layout will work for this design however planning ahead for the design will improve the effectiveness of the solar panels and how they distribute energy throughout the home or office. Connectors as well as other parts are used for this design too and there are several different components that individuals can use too.

The kits that are sold to aid in the construction of solar electricity panels are reasonably priced and after the panels are completed the total cost is under an average of $600.00 total.

In addition, other materials used are aluminum bar stock, nylon screen and bus ribbon with electrical tape. Obviously, these types of panels are a bit unique however they succeed in saving individuals in cost of power than they would normally use. There are several different ways to actually design solar electricity panels and this is what makes them useful for many different building structures as well.

Ultimately it is estimated that over the next few years more solar panels will be seen throughout towns and communities as more individuals seek to improve on his or her utility and electricity bills. Economically, the concept is better for everyone and environmentally the idea is ideal for everyone.

pratibha asked:


One of the best things you can do for your self is to us DIY Solar Panels for your home. It not only saves money but its very environment friendly too. There will be no fuel problem and hustle for health problems. You can use the solar energy for residential, commercial and industrial power. It is also used in power pumping stations, power telecom equipment. So let us introduce our lives to this thing popularly called Green Energy…

DIY Solar Panels are assortment of photovoltaic cells that can actually create alternative energy source that we call solar energy from sun. What works for this system is maximum exposure of sun and moderate temperature. A solar panel produces a clean and environmentally friendly source of solar power. A solar panel is typically installed on a rooftop or stand alone mounting racks, depending on your requirement. The highlighted factor that should always be kept in mind is that the solar panel system should be located at a place where it can absorb maximum exposure of sunlight without any shading. Shade can drastically reduce your solar power production of your solar panel, which in turn reduces your total amount of solar power for your solar house. Logically speaking sunlight is the source through which is acting as a fuel for our solar panel so how its going to work without it. That’s the point that should be dealt logically.

DIY Solar panels are effectively required for manufacturing a solar cell. Therefore, extra care and consideration should be given to this fact that the panels are manufacturing correctly, because this high consideration will result in highest efficiency of the final outcome of solar electricity generator.

These days its real simple and convenient for us to buy the kits from market which helps us in building our DIY Solar Panels. It doesn’t require high investment, but now its quirt within budget. But then again, before even buying those economic kits we should give some thought to our requirement as well. Its very important that first you do you home work about the solar panels. First off, make sure you have enough room on your roof to actually install the DIY Solar Panels. That’s actually very crucial part of the whole process, that you should have enough space for the panels. Again logic is that the amount of electricity that you want to generate is directly going to be associated by the wattage corresponding to the DIY Solar Panels. There are kits available in market beside the huge amount of guides that we can get from everywhere through various sources of information. All these are comprehensive and easy to understand. Genuinely for the consumers who want to cut short their electricity bill.

Michelle Bery asked:


Step number one in getting started with any solar power setup in your home is to perform an energy audit. This is where you evaluate the amount of power (in kilowatts/hour or kilowatt hours) that you’ll need in any given day.

You will also need to take into account the site where your home is located. Geographical considerations such as climate, number of peak hours of sunlight per day, number of days of peak sunlight per year, and average rainfall will play a big role in how efficient a solar system you can design.

Any solar electric system will need, at the very least, the following components:

a collector (usually solar panels);

a mount (to put it on);

an inverter (to convert 12 volt DC power to 110 volt AC power);

a circuit breaker or fuse box and fuses & switches (to regulate the power transferring from the panels to your outlets and/or storage batteries);

(optional) one or more storage batteries;

(if you get a battery) a charge controller (to keep from over- or undercharging the battery and severely reducing its lifespan);

Once you’ve purchased all the elements of the solar system you’ve just designed, installation is fairly easy, though the simplicity of installing a solar power system does not mean you should necessarily do it yourself. There are numerous advantages to hiring a professional installer with training in both electrical systems and solar electrical systems, including knowing how to set everything up to code, should the building inspector ever have the need to look it over (ie. for insurance purposes).

If you find the right solar professional, they will instruct you in those parts of the installation that you are capable of and allow you to do some of the work yourself, saving you on some of your labor costs.

Even if you don’t decide to have a professional install your solar system, it would be well worth your while to consult one with your design to make sure it’s a viable design, one that’s taken all the necessary considerations into account. For example, there is a wide selection of panels, controllers, inverters, and batteries, each one manufactured with different requirements, each one not necessarily interchangeable with the other.

To further minimize the chances of incompatibilities between components in your solar system, consider purchasing all the elements of your set up from the same company and consulting with someone on their sales team that is knowledgeable in solar electric power.

In fact, many companies sell solar kits that contain all the components you would need to set your house up with solar power, with the certainty that all the components are compatible.

Whatever you decide, you don’t have to break the bank to try and supplant your entire power grid reliance with solar power right away and all at once. If you’re interested in availing yourself and your household of the multifold benefits of solar power, start small. Get yourself a single solar panel and see how well that works for you. When you’re ready, add on more panels, batteries, etc., one at a time as you can afford it and as your needs evolve.

Art Gib asked:


Solar electricity is derived from the conversion of sunlight through (PV) photovoltaic technology. Photovoltaic systems utilize the power of sunlight to power electrical equipment, such as lights, computers, and household appliances. The photovoltaics process solar energy that is free, into solar power directly. Solar energy is the most plentiful source of energy in the world, but it should be noted that solar energy is not the same as thermal technology that powers solar electricity, which is passive. This technology is commonly used for the production of hot water and space heating.

The basic operation of PV cells brings together a minimum of two thin layers of semi conducting material, most often silicon. When light is exposed to these layers, electrical charges are generated, being conducted away through metallic contacts, in the form of a direct current. Single cell electrical output is small; therefore, multiple cells are encapsulated and connected together behind glass, to form panels, or modules. The PV panel is the common denominator of PV systems, and any amount of panels connected together give the desired output of electricity.

There are several PV cell types. The cells made out of Monocrystalline silicon, are the most efficient of the available PV cell technologies. They have an efficiency rate of about 15%, and have a complicated manufacturing process that makes them more costly than other PV cells. Multicrystalline cells made of silicon are more cost effective to manufacture. However, they carry a generally lower efficiency rate, at about 12%, and create a granular texture. Amorphous silicon can be used in a wide range of ways, such as flexible and rigid substrates. It is less efficient at about 6%, but is easier to produce, at a lower cost. The other PV cell types are thick films of silicon, copper indium diselenide and cadmium telluride. As you can see, there are many materials currently used to produce PV panels.

Solar electricity is used to power city buildings and remote stations that relay telecom applications. When connected to localized networks, solar electricity can be sold to supply companies, or used immediately, during daylight hours. In the nighttime, with lower solar electricity generation, the power can be repurchased from the localized networks. The grid therefore becomes a storage system for solar electricity, negating the need for battery storage inclusion in PV systems.

Photovoltaic equipment that makes up solar electricity panels also contain no parts that move, and consequently needs minimal maintenance. Solar electricity is generated without the production of greenhouse gas emissions, with an operational noise level that is virtually non-existent.

Drew Hartanov asked:


WOW! We are almost all in agreement about at least one form of renewable energy; ninety per cent of Americans think that builders should be offering the option of solar power in new homes.

For those unsure of the term: solar power is the term used to describe the resulting energy from the conversion of sunlight into electricity. In order to do this, the sunlight must first be ‘captured’.

Because there is always (so far!) sunlight, this is called a renewable source of energy. This means once we have perfected the technique to turn the sunshine into electric power, we can always use that technique as there is always sunlight and it is always free.

Solar energy in a primitive form has been used for centuries by various civilizations. Nowadays with technology at such a sophisticated level, solar power can be used to provide heating, lighting and electricity.

Water heating is easy to install in new homes as the panels for it are usually placed right in the roof. Believe it or not, America first had solar water heaters as early as 1890! In many climates the sun can provide up to 75% of domestic water usage, so it makes sense to build these units into new homes.

The more people that request the option of solar power in their homes, the more mainstream it will become. A builder can often just install the pre-wire kit during construction, so that it is easy for the owner to add on the panels later, if desired.

Solar power also saves the home owner from paying large electricity bills, as the domestic electric power will only kick in when the solar power has been used up. Increasing energy costs make solar power look attractive – apart from the fact that it contributes to a healthier planet.

Due to the steadily gaining popularity of solar power, the price of panels is predicted to be halving within the next five years. Many states offer generous subsidies and rebates to assist the American home owner in making the right choices about energy and there are also federal incentives to look into.

Designs are becoming more and more attractive as the market expands. Whereas once solar power gave a home the look of having something stuck on your roof, nowadays designs can actually enhance the look of a home.

Israel leads the world for total percentage of domestic use, with 90% of its homes using solar power. China, with its large population deploys 80 % of the market share of solar hot water systems. In USA solar power is most popularly used for heating swimming pools.

Internationally, the use of solar power in swimming pools and low temperature applications such as domestic hot water and space heaters, is the most common usage, this is because the power is most naturally converted into heating.

In fact, solar power has been used to power a car that ran for over 3,000 kilometers (in Australia) and a boat that crossed the Atlantic (in UK). Solar energy has also been used to cool houses and to cook with. However, by far the most acceptable method of using it at the moment is solar water heating.

There are many American companies listed on the Internet if you wish to find out how your home would convert to solar power.

Arnold Hexden asked:


With the advent of solar and wind power consumers are changing the way they look at powering their homes. Instead of using polluting fossil fuels, many environmentally conscious people are turning to these clean and renewable energy sources to power their homes and businesses. In this article, we’ll detail how wind and solar energy works and how these systems can save you money.

By converting kinetic energy into mechanical power wind turbines it can then run a generator to produce clean electricity. There are several things that you should keep in mind if you intend to invest in wind and solar energy. Firstly, your property must have a good wind resource and you will have to check with your local government to make sure that tall towers are allowed in your area.

It is a fact that wind energy systems are one of the most cost-effective method for home-based renewable energy . Depending on your wind resources, a small wind energy system can lower your electricity bill by 50% to 90% and help you avoid the high costs of having utility power lines extended to remote locations, prevent power interruptions and pollution.

“Solar electric” is the term used to describe something which uses sun power to produce electricity. Solar photovoltaic tiles and other forms of solar energy work by converting some of the energy in sunlight into a clean form of electricity. Solar power is a good power source if you have a sufficient southern exposure and live in an urban area.

Solar electric power can be used to provide domestic hot water, swimming pool heating and electricity for lights and appliances. Best of all your central heating can also be solar electric if you have adequate roof space for solar panels and an adequate amount of sun. An efficiently solar powered home will be able to reasonably create between 75% and 100% of their own power because of the grid tie system. By utilizing this technology it means your Electricity and gas bills will be significantly reduced.

When choosing between wind and solar power, you should determine how much electricity you need or want to produce and what works for you, economically. If your wind source is low or tall towers are not permitted in your area, then your best bet is to install solar panels. As a bonus, technology in the solar industry is rapidly advancing and the components are becoming much cheaper.

Keep in mind that installing more roof top modules beyond a certain point ceases to be cost effective. However, if you live in a rural location that is heavily shaded, then wind power may be your best choice.

The environmental benefits of wind and solar power is their greatest selling point. They improve air quality for us all by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide being emitted into the air. It accomplishes this because it does not use fossil fuel.

If we all make a concentrated effort to capitalize on these clean and cost efficient technologies, then we can guarantee power to the masses for years to come.

Scott Salter asked:


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.

Tony Hilton asked:


Environmental activists are always trying to change the way we think about the energy we use. I think is fairly safe to say that they are yet to completely succeed in doing this. Now though people are starting to find another good reason for saving energy and that’s that they can save money to, a true win/win situation. With energy prices increasing year on year more and more people are starting to consider the option that is solar Power.

Is the past solar power has been unattainable for most of the population with high install cost giving solar power limited appeal. That is now starting to change and here are some ideas that can help you take advantage of solar power.

Getting Your System Installed

In recent times getting solar power has required a fairly hefty up front investment in solar panels. This is now no longer the case, this is because many solar power companies will now lease you the equipment you need and install it for you. This means that as long as your lease is less than the amount you save on power you are saving money all the time as well as helping the planet. There is also now another cash saving option to upgrade you home to solar power and that is to get a grant. Depending on where you live it is now often possible to get a grant for part or all of the cost of purchasing and installing a solar power system.

So How Does Solar Power Actually Work?

Well there are several types of solar energy but the two types which will concern most home owners are. Generating electricity through photovoltaic panels (panel’s which convert sun light to electricity) and using the sun light for heating.

So How Does Each Type Work

Well the first type (Generating electricity through photovoltaic panels) converts sunlight directly into electricity so you can use the suns energy to power things like domestic appliances. Most people opt to use this as part of a hybrid system that still allows them to draw power from the electric grid when needed. The second type (using the sun light for heating) usually makes use of green house style glass to amplify heat from the sun. This is often used to heat water that is then pumped to radiators around your house.

So Why Make The Switch To Solar Power?

Prior to reading this article I guess you thought that powering your home with solar power was the stuff of fantasies. Now I hope you realize that it really is worth looking into and can save you a lot of money. Why not have a look at your electric bill and compare it to the prices of leasing solar equipment? the chances are you can save your self a lot of cash. Also having a home powered by solar power will be a huge selling point if you ever want to sell your property and finally and probably most importantly you will be helping to save the world!

pratibha asked:


We all know how effective Solar Power is in this age of awareness, where we all want energy sources heavily and at the same time easy and cheap at cost. We are quite well versed with solar power now and so we need to know how this solar power system works, what it is actually and how can we use it effectively. Especially, the residential consumers should focus their minds more to understand it, because they have to deal with on daily basis and all the time. So a better understanding of things always helps.

Starting with the main source, it’s always better to use the roof, since it goes well with the usual solar power installation criteria. But, there are many independent residential solar power systems users who install who install panels to posts, grounds or wall. It depends on the consumer’s preference.

Coming to the volts, generally household uses more and less 110 volt (AC) power and that is where we have converters, as it easily turns 12 volts to 110 volts, which is pretty enough for home usage. Solar panels collect sunlight at 12 volt (DC) energy which is then transferred and stored by the deep cycle batteries. There is a regulator that is planted to make sure that the batteries are not under or over charged. This control system also adds to the life of the batteries.

In this transferred and stored form the energy will run any appliance or device that uses 12 volt powder or that has a plug that fits into a vehicle cigarette lighter. But, we should make ourselves clear that a 12 volt power does not run most household appliances pr electronics.

Now comes the high tide part, the cost, well it depends on your consumption requirements. Liberal use of insulation always helps in the long run, whether it concerns with keeping in or out the heat, insulation is your biggest card to play. Besides there are all kinds of other ways to make your home energy efficient including conserving energy at home? Energy efficient designed home is going to be future’s ideal, so u better start thinking about it.

Linda Allen asked:


There has never been a better time than now to take advantage of the numerous benefits of solar power. Many states have made solar power affordable, cost effective, providing a 10% return on investment and in many cases solar power will pay for itself almost instantly.

The utilization of solar power has never offered more benefits than now. Not only can the installation of solar power pay for itself almost instantly, but given the current world political climate and the threat of terrorist actions to disrupt cheap oil supplies make it very prudent.

Many states offer a 10% return on investments to encourage its use. The simple fact is that installing a solar electric system in your home is now cost effective for the first time. And you’ll sleep better at night knowing that you have now become part of the energy solution as world oil supplies continue to dwindle.

In the state of California the cost of solar power in 1978 was well over $300 per watt. Today, with incentives offered by the state, that price has now dropped to less than $6 per watt- a staggering 98% reduction in cost of solar energy.

In addition to the reduction in cost of installing a solar power system, your home’s value increases $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills- this according to the National Appraisal Institute. Therefore, installing a solar power system in your home costing $16,000 would increase you home’s value by $17,520. That’s a net gain of $1520 the day you install the system.

On April 25, 1950 Bell Laboratories introduced the first silicon solar cell. Bell called its invention “The first successful device (solar cell) to convert useful amounts of the sun’s energy directly into electricity.” The NY Times heralded it as “The beginning of a New Era, leading eventually to the realization of one of mankind’s most cherished dreams-The harnessing of the almost limitless energy of the sun for uses of civilization.”

99% of the world’s energy comes from sunlight or solar energy. Everyday enough free sunlight energy falls on the Earth to supply our energy needs for 4-5 years at our present rate of consumption. At the equator, the Sun provides 1000 Watts per square meter on the Earth’s surface.

The amount of solar energy we take today in no way diminishes the amount we can take tomorrow or any time in the future.