Solar Power Blog: May 2016

Do It Yourself Solar Power

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Before, solar power or solar cell panels are only available in commercial areas and hardware stores. Nowadays, more and more people are trying DIY or do it yourself kits. You can expect to have your own setup in just one day, provided that you have an easy kit to start with. Solar power can be achieved right in your very own home, without the help of a professional. Make sure you follow the instructional guide carefully for the best results.

Building Your Own Solar Power Generator

You can use parts that are available on the internet or your local store. You can create a tiny solar power generator with a budget of only $200 to $300. This is ideal for power failures and life outside the power grid. The setup can also effectively power the modem, television, DC appliances, computer, cameras and lights. You can use this in cabins, archaeological digs, tents and camping trips. This is the ideal setup for people who travel to undeveloped regions and countries.

Initial Steps

First of all, you need to make or buy yourself a tiny solar panel. You can get a device rated at 12 volts or higher for only $100 at a marine supply store or RV store. Next, purchase a battery. Experts recommend that you get rechargeable batteries from available green companies. Get any size of deep cycle 12 volt lead/acid or gel battery. You will need the deep cycle battery for nonstop use. The type in the car is a cranking battery, which is good for starting engines. You may also want to look for bargains and other good deals that will cost only around $50 to $60.

Next Steps

Take a battery box where you will put the generator in. The box may only cost around $10. It is ideal for covering the exposed terminals just in case you have kids inside the house. If you want to install the system in a cabin, pump shed or boat, you can skip this step. Purchase a 12 volt DC meter. This will cost you around $25. Purchase a DC input. The triple inlet model is recommended. You can purchase this for only $10 at a car parts store. The device will be good for powering DC appliances like lights, hair dryers and vacuum cleaners.

If you intend to power AC appliances, you will need an inverter. The inverter converts the stored DC power in the battery right into AC power for majority of household appliances. Measure the watts that you will need. Cheap inverters of various sizes can be purchased online too. Use a drill to attach the meter and DC input to the top region of the box.

Charging

Next, use insulated wire to connect the meter to the wingnut terminals found on the battery. Link the negative pole initially. Only handle a single wire at a time. Link the DC inlet straight to the battery in a similar fashion. Link the solar panel to the battery the same way. Shut the lid using a bungee cord to keep everything tight. Position the solar panel under the sun. It will take 5 to 8 hours to charge dead batteries. You can power different devices like fans, lights and radios.

Concentrating Solar Power

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Solar power is described as the conversion of sunlight into electricity. Sunlight could be changed straight into electricity with the use of PV or photovoltaics. It can also be indirectly converted using CSPs. There are now several devices and structures created which focus and concentrate solar power in various ways depending on the needed use. There are several now several uses of solar power because of the rise of these devices.

On Concentration

Solar power is concentrated in various ways. Solar troughs are the most common and visible. CSPs or concentrating solar power systems make use of mirrors, lenses and track systems to focus on a wide area of sunlight into a small beam. The concentrated heat is used as a source of heat for a conventional power plant. The wide range of concentrating technologies is now available. The parabolic trough is the most developed. Other structures made include the Stirling dish, the linear Fresnel reflector and the solar power tower. Several techniques are used to locate the sun and concentrate light. Working fluid is also heated in all the systems using concentrated sunlight, which is then applied for storing or generating power and energy.

The Parabolic Trough

A parabolic trough is created from of linear reflector that concentrates light right onto a receiver, placed along the focal line of the reflector. The receiver is described as a tube positioned right over the middle of the parabolic mirror and filled with a working fluid. The reflector is created to follow the sun during the daylight hours by tracking right along a lone axis. Parabolic trough systems give the best land-use factor among all solar technologies.

CSP plants use several thin strips of mirror instead of the usual parabolic mirrors to focus sunlight onto a couple of tubes using working fluid. This application provides the advantage that flat mirrors can be used. Flat mirrors are great because these are cheaper and can contain more reflectors within the same amount of space. More available sunlight can then be used. Focusing linear Fresnel reflectors can be used well in compact or large plants.

The Stirling Solar Dish

The Stirling solar dish is also called a dish engine system, which is made of an independent parabolic reflector that tends to concentrate light right onto a receiver placed at the focal point of the reflector. The reflector will track the sun along an axis or two. Parabolic dish systems provide the best efficiency over other technologies. The 50kW Big Dish in Canberra, Australia is a great example. The Stirling solar dish mixes a parabolic focusing dish that includes a Stirling heat engine that regularly drives an electric generator. The benefits of Stirling solar over PV cells are the higher conversion efficiency from sunlight into electricity, plus a longer lifetime.

Power Tower

A solar power tower includes a wide array of heliostats or tracking reflectors that focus light on a central receiver over a tower. Power towers are considered to be the most cost effective and provide better energy storage and higher efficiency compared to other CSP technologies. The solar bowl is described as a dish mirror that is affixed to a certain spot or structure. The receiver will follow the line focus made by the dish.

Introduction to Active Solar Energy

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Generally, active solar energy is described as the use of mechanical devices to gather, store and distribute solar energy inside the home.Active solar energy is used by several homes, offices and other structures today because of its many benefits. Active solar energy water heating systems use pumps so that water is circulated well within the system. There are several applications that you can try depending on your setup.

Here are some tips.

The Advantages

Active solar energy providing people with many benefits. Possibility using on your present home regardless of the orientation or current design. Active solar energy will produce more solar thermal energy compared to passive solar energy. The heat energy created can be used easily all of the house.It will boost your savings by reduce your Electricity requirements.

The Components

There are three main components in active solar energy. First is solar energy collection which involves the use of solar collectors. The most basic collector is the flat-plate collector. This is an insulated box covered with glass. Inside the box, you will see black absorber plates that absorb solar energy and transform it into heat. The heat energy is moved to a fluid, air or water that will flow through the collector. This will ensure if the system is air-based or liquid-based. Solar energy storage can be done using thermal mass or water tanks for liquid based systems. Air-based systems will have to rely on rock bins to contain the heated air. Solar energy distribution is the third component which is based on the kind of system.

The Types

There are 3 types of active solar applications that you can readily use in the home namely active solar pool heating, active solar space heating and active solar water heating. Active solar space heating can heat air inside the house by using pumps, blowers and fans that will distribute and gather heat. The systems can be either air-based or liquid-based. Air-based systems use rock bins or thermal mass, while liquid-based systems use thermal mass or water tanks.

Active solar water heating can heat water in the home with the use of pumps. There are two kinds of solar water heating systems namely direct and indirect systems. Direct systems heat the current household water in solar collectors. Water is pumped to a tank after heating. Indirect systems use heat transfer fluid. The fluid is heated in solar collectors, then pumped to a storage tank. This is also known as a closed-loop system.

The Third Type

Active solar pool heating involves the use of pumps to properly circulate the water in the pool via solar collectors to heat and then return to the pool. The pool becomes a storage medium for heated water so you do not need any more water storage tanks. If you use active solar pool heating, you can extend the swim periods of the family and reduce the heating costs of maintaining the pool. Active solar energy is a smart option for individuals who want to save more in heating costs.

All About Solar Panels

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Solar panels are widely used worldwide. There are several houses, commercial buildings and solar panels based mainly on vegetables, they need to produce electricity. Solar panels can also be carried out independently by the user. You can save time by building their own cheaper system. You can also invest in a final design for ease and comfort. Here are some tips on getting started.

The Benefits

If the solar panels are used, it can produce electricity that power various energy applications. Out of network it means living in a place to live, where the main electricity supplier is not at home or in the office. There are cabins and isolated houses, which can benefit from solar systems. You need to pay large utility bills to install electricity wiring positions and main point in the following network access. A solar energy system is cheaper and can provide power for up to 30 years if you have a good time.

Solar energy is a renewable source of energy, it is very clean. Today it is more important to invest that do not harm the environment and atmosphere devices. Solar panels have no moving parts and require minimal maintenance. Once the system has paid for its initial installation costs, you can charge more than the benefits for decades.

Buying Solar Panels

There are many places where you can buy the best models of solar cells. You can choose among brands such as Sharp, BP Solar and General Electric. You can visit some of the websites of manufacturers, to determine the process and the way they built their solar cells. You should also read the history of the company and what are its objectives in the production of these parts. You should know more about the installation to see if you want to install the panels yourself or a professional or build.

There are several websites, online forums and internet shops where you can learn about available models and how they can better adapt to their location. Some boards are for people who live in places that have minimal sun, while other models are specifically designed to collect the most sun in the shortest time.

About Price

Learning to compare between species in order to know how much you have to pay. The prices of solar modules vary depending on the brand and size. other factors must be considered, such as maintenance and if the package includes free installation. Some companies charge a fee to install the panels, while other buyers can install them to save more. Talking to others who have already tried some trademarks and trademarks and let them give you the pros and cons of each. Ask for references. And recommendations to ensure that only invests in the best locations

Solar Power Blog

Do It Yourself Solar Power

Concentrating Solar Power

Introduction to Active Solar Energy

All About Solar Panels

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