Residential Solar Power Systems - Evaluating The Cost Of Solar Power Systems
By Adrian Whittle
Despite the perceived unreliability of solar power as an energy resource, it is far more versatile than grid electricity. There are not many places in the world that do not get some form of direct sunlight from time to time. In fact you can use solar power to provide energy for your weekend retreat in the woods or your suburban residential home. The only difference might be the scale and quantity of electricity that is needed. There are four main components to all solar power systems that use the photovoltaic (PV) process to produce electricity.
The photovoltaic cell is the principle technology the conversion of the sun's energy into electricity. Photons are converted to direct current electricity in each particular cell. The cells are arranged in series and an electric current is created. The series of cells are what you see on roofs of houses that used solar power and are commonly referred to as panels. Depending on the amount of electricity you need will determine the size and amount of panels that you need.
In addition to the PV cell panels, a charge regulator is needed. This connects to a battery that stores direct current electricity. When the battery charge is low the charge regulator will direct the converted solar electricity to the battery and thus keep it topped up. The regulator also knows when the battery is fully charged and will stop electricity being directed to it when this is the case.
The third component is the battery pack itself. This can be one or more batteries and again this is dependent on the amount of sunlight and the amount of electricity that will be needed when the sun is not shinning (at night)
The fourth component is the power inverter or converter. This transforms direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). This is needed as most household appliances use AC. If you are joint venturing with a utility company they will require that the current is AC as it is more efficient to transport.
It is often tricky to know how big the solar power system should be. As the systems can be quite expensive to set up it is a good idea to monitor your energy usage so that you know exactly how much power you will need on a regular basis. Another important consideration is to insulate your home to the best possible standard. This will save on heat loss and less electricity will be needed.
All solar panels are rated by watts, similar to the rating of light bulbs. Since they are all 12-volt output, calculating the amperage is a simple formula. Knowing that volts times amps equals watts, and a 12-volt solar panel produces 60 watts, it can be figured out that the panel is capable of just over three amps.
Based on this, it is easy to understand why solar power systems do not work well for units that draw a lot of amps, such as appliances with a heating coil such as electric heaters, furnaces or air conditioners. However, there are 12-volt versions of many of this type of appliance that can be used, provided the solar array is large enough to produce the required amperage.
With most residential solar power systems it is easy to work with a utility company to begin with. They bill you for electricity used minus the amount of solar electricity that you have created. As you become more comfortable with the technology and the amount of power you use, you can move away from the grid and go completely off grid.
Solar power can be applied to many house and garden products. In recent years the cost of these appliances have become very affordable and saved money on energy bills. Learn more about solar powered appliances at http://www.solarpowerappliances.com/ . The site has features on solar powered water fountain pumps, outdoor lighting and solar powered oven.
Adrian Whittle writes about using solar power and appliances that can utilize renewable energy sources.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrian_Whittle
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Consider Solar Power For Your Home
By Adrian Whittle
Solar power for your home is an increasingly attractive alternative to traditional forms of energy, be they grid electricity or burning fossil fuels in the home. There are a number of reasons for this. There are the economic realities of energy production now and in the future. There is the ethical issue of using a non-renewable energy source and a moral issue with regards to the damage that fossil fuels do to the environment. This article will cover some of these issues and cover how solar power for the home addresses some of these issues.
Grid electricity and the use of fossil fuels costs money and this will only go up as the resources that power grid electricity get harder to find. In California, it is estimated that it is cheaper to make solar electricity than it is to use the grid variety. This is hitting people in their collective wallets and purses and causing a search for alternatives. Again in California, there are many incentives to install solar panel into homes. There are even incentives for building companies to pre-install solar panels in homes.
This seems to make a lot of sense. The major benefit of solar power, after initial cost and installation, is that the power that is created is free provided the Sun keeps on shining. The cost to buy and install solar panels is now not so expensive and the incentives and rebates make it more attractive. It also seems that over time the cost of solar power can only go down. The technology will become more efficient and the technology to build solar panels will become cheaper. Contrast this with the cost of finding and extracting fossil fuels. This cost will only go up over time.
Given the finite nature of fossil fuels, solar power and other alternative methods of creating power seem to be far more accepted than the other alternative - nuclear power. The average person in the street is generally uncertain, if not, opposed to nuclear power, given the numerous nuclear accidents that have occurred. Having said this, governments seem to prefer nuclear power because it is more reliable on a large scale than solar power or wind power. However, this is not the case for the individual home. It seems that solar panels on the roofs of suburban homes will soon be a common place site rather than an unusual one.
You can save money with Solar Power Tax Rebates And Residential Solar Power Grants listed at http://www.solarpowerappliances.com There is a wide range of solar products that you can use in your home and garden including solar power air compressors
Adrian Whittle writes about using solar power and appliances that can utilize renewable energy sources.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrian_Whittle
By Adrian Whittle
Solar power for your home is an increasingly attractive alternative to traditional forms of energy, be they grid electricity or burning fossil fuels in the home. There are a number of reasons for this. There are the economic realities of energy production now and in the future. There is the ethical issue of using a non-renewable energy source and a moral issue with regards to the damage that fossil fuels do to the environment. This article will cover some of these issues and cover how solar power for the home addresses some of these issues.
Grid electricity and the use of fossil fuels costs money and this will only go up as the resources that power grid electricity get harder to find. In California, it is estimated that it is cheaper to make solar electricity than it is to use the grid variety. This is hitting people in their collective wallets and purses and causing a search for alternatives. Again in California, there are many incentives to install solar panel into homes. There are even incentives for building companies to pre-install solar panels in homes.
This seems to make a lot of sense. The major benefit of solar power, after initial cost and installation, is that the power that is created is free provided the Sun keeps on shining. The cost to buy and install solar panels is now not so expensive and the incentives and rebates make it more attractive. It also seems that over time the cost of solar power can only go down. The technology will become more efficient and the technology to build solar panels will become cheaper. Contrast this with the cost of finding and extracting fossil fuels. This cost will only go up over time.
Given the finite nature of fossil fuels, solar power and other alternative methods of creating power seem to be far more accepted than the other alternative - nuclear power. The average person in the street is generally uncertain, if not, opposed to nuclear power, given the numerous nuclear accidents that have occurred. Having said this, governments seem to prefer nuclear power because it is more reliable on a large scale than solar power or wind power. However, this is not the case for the individual home. It seems that solar panels on the roofs of suburban homes will soon be a common place site rather than an unusual one.
You can save money with Solar Power Tax Rebates And Residential Solar Power Grants listed at http://www.solarpowerappliances.com There is a wide range of solar products that you can use in your home and garden including solar power air compressors
Adrian Whittle writes about using solar power and appliances that can utilize renewable energy sources.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrian_Whittle
Thursday, October 11, 2007
New Homes are Ripe for Solar Power
By Lance Winslow
In the last five years many Americans have bought new homes and in fact this has been one of the biggest housing booms in U.S. history. More people have bought new homes then in any other time in our nation. What many people may not realize is that by today's standards homes are much more energy-efficient and that makes them perfect candidates for solar power.
New homes with new materials hold in the heat better and in the cooler air too during the summer. This means there's less draw on energy from the power grid and it also means that if you can put solar panels on top of the roof and they will be required to generate less electricity to do the same amount of work.
Ten years ago it cost up to $80,000 to install solar panels, but with new materials now the prices have come way down and now the average home can put in solar panels for about $40,000. Also the batteries, which collect the energy that the solar panels produce also have improved and last twice as long.
So what we have here is solar panels that are twice as efficient, batteries which last twice as long and the solar systems only cost half of what they did a decade ago. From a return on investment standpoint it now makes sense to solar power your home. If you own a new energy-efficient home then your house is ripe for solar power. Won't you consider this in 2007?
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow
In the last five years many Americans have bought new homes and in fact this has been one of the biggest housing booms in U.S. history. More people have bought new homes then in any other time in our nation. What many people may not realize is that by today's standards homes are much more energy-efficient and that makes them perfect candidates for solar power.
New homes with new materials hold in the heat better and in the cooler air too during the summer. This means there's less draw on energy from the power grid and it also means that if you can put solar panels on top of the roof and they will be required to generate less electricity to do the same amount of work.
Ten years ago it cost up to $80,000 to install solar panels, but with new materials now the prices have come way down and now the average home can put in solar panels for about $40,000. Also the batteries, which collect the energy that the solar panels produce also have improved and last twice as long.
So what we have here is solar panels that are twice as efficient, batteries which last twice as long and the solar systems only cost half of what they did a decade ago. From a return on investment standpoint it now makes sense to solar power your home. If you own a new energy-efficient home then your house is ripe for solar power. Won't you consider this in 2007?
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow
Solar Energy Homes
By Jimmy Sturo
Only a few years ago, it was very uncommon to find solar energy homes because solar panels were very expensive and had little return on investment. But now that small-scale solar energy applications are available to homeowners, more and more houses are switching to solar energy. Are you interested in doing the same for your home? Read on for some pointers.
Start small. Do not attempt to install major solar panels in your home if you are still unfamiliar with how solar energy works. Practice on smaller things first. Start by buying smaller spotlights for your backyard, for example. For about $60, you can get solar power lights for your yard or other areas around your house.
You can also invest in compact solar panels that can power your home lighting system and provide extended lighting hours. Most starter solar panels have a solar electric module that transforms sunlight to electricity. You can charge them during the daytime so that you can use them for powering your lights at night. Be sure that the panel has the ability to charge even during overcast days, so you can have power at any time of the year. Most solar panels take about five hours to fully charge.
When buying small solar panels for your home, choose ones that are lightweight and durable. Avoid models that contain breakable elements such as crystal or glass. Also, be sure that the panels work by simple "plug-and-play." It should ideally have a central power controller that is easy to use, and flexible.
Prepare to spend anywhere from $250 to $300 on such solar panels. They usually come complete with wires to connect the modules to the power control center, and for connecting lights and other appliances.
Solar Energy provides detailed information on Solar Energy, Solar Energy Panels, Solar Energy Homes, Solar Energy Systems and more. Solar Energy is affiliated with Dental Scrubs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Sturo
Only a few years ago, it was very uncommon to find solar energy homes because solar panels were very expensive and had little return on investment. But now that small-scale solar energy applications are available to homeowners, more and more houses are switching to solar energy. Are you interested in doing the same for your home? Read on for some pointers.
Start small. Do not attempt to install major solar panels in your home if you are still unfamiliar with how solar energy works. Practice on smaller things first. Start by buying smaller spotlights for your backyard, for example. For about $60, you can get solar power lights for your yard or other areas around your house.
You can also invest in compact solar panels that can power your home lighting system and provide extended lighting hours. Most starter solar panels have a solar electric module that transforms sunlight to electricity. You can charge them during the daytime so that you can use them for powering your lights at night. Be sure that the panel has the ability to charge even during overcast days, so you can have power at any time of the year. Most solar panels take about five hours to fully charge.
When buying small solar panels for your home, choose ones that are lightweight and durable. Avoid models that contain breakable elements such as crystal or glass. Also, be sure that the panels work by simple "plug-and-play." It should ideally have a central power controller that is easy to use, and flexible.
Prepare to spend anywhere from $250 to $300 on such solar panels. They usually come complete with wires to connect the modules to the power control center, and for connecting lights and other appliances.
Solar Energy provides detailed information on Solar Energy, Solar Energy Panels, Solar Energy Homes, Solar Energy Systems and more. Solar Energy is affiliated with Dental Scrubs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Sturo
How Solar Panels Work: An Old Phenomenon For A New Purpose
By Anne Clarke
The three main concerns people consider when they install solar panels are what amount of money that solar energy can save them on their electric bill, the effect this kind of thing may have on the environment, as well as the efficiency of this type of alternative energy source. These concerns can be broken down into three categories: the angle of the solar panels, rain, and snow.
Firstly and perhaps most importantly, the angle of solar panels and the existing angle of the roof. The angle of the roof installation of solar panels is essential for generating its overall effectiveness. The size of the roof with a good descending angle and southern exposure are major factors for solar panel success. This means that the tilt must be considered as well as the direction of the solar panels. Sometimes it is necessary to re – build part of the home in order to perfect your solar home and solar panels.
Secondly, the rain is not typically a problem when you have solar panels. As a matter of fact, the rain is often very effective for cleaning the surface of your solar panels. Especially at an angle recommended, one does not usually even have to worry about debris etc, they will all be virtually washed away because of the angle of your solar energy panels.
Thirdly, because of the slipperiness in which it was designed and, once again because of the angle in which they are constructed, snow will soften and slide off of the surface of most solar panels. Many people with solar homes are very satisfied with the efficiency of their solar panels, and rarely claim to have problems – even in the snow.
A major concern, almost parallel to the concern of the unpredictability wind in the generation of wind power is, of course, the weather. When clouds block the sun from the rays you begin to rely on, your solar power may, perhaps, be negatively effective.
The entire concept of solar power panels is designed around the idea of the greenhouse effect – this phenomenon more than any other is key to a solar home designed with solar panels. Nonetheless, it has been reported that people whose homes use solar panels have, from time to time, experienced brown – outs for lack of backup solar power collected by solar home systems.
Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her articles on solar panels, please visit solarhome.org, supplier of Solar Panels and Alternative Energy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke
The three main concerns people consider when they install solar panels are what amount of money that solar energy can save them on their electric bill, the effect this kind of thing may have on the environment, as well as the efficiency of this type of alternative energy source. These concerns can be broken down into three categories: the angle of the solar panels, rain, and snow.
Firstly and perhaps most importantly, the angle of solar panels and the existing angle of the roof. The angle of the roof installation of solar panels is essential for generating its overall effectiveness. The size of the roof with a good descending angle and southern exposure are major factors for solar panel success. This means that the tilt must be considered as well as the direction of the solar panels. Sometimes it is necessary to re – build part of the home in order to perfect your solar home and solar panels.
Secondly, the rain is not typically a problem when you have solar panels. As a matter of fact, the rain is often very effective for cleaning the surface of your solar panels. Especially at an angle recommended, one does not usually even have to worry about debris etc, they will all be virtually washed away because of the angle of your solar energy panels.
Thirdly, because of the slipperiness in which it was designed and, once again because of the angle in which they are constructed, snow will soften and slide off of the surface of most solar panels. Many people with solar homes are very satisfied with the efficiency of their solar panels, and rarely claim to have problems – even in the snow.
A major concern, almost parallel to the concern of the unpredictability wind in the generation of wind power is, of course, the weather. When clouds block the sun from the rays you begin to rely on, your solar power may, perhaps, be negatively effective.
The entire concept of solar power panels is designed around the idea of the greenhouse effect – this phenomenon more than any other is key to a solar home designed with solar panels. Nonetheless, it has been reported that people whose homes use solar panels have, from time to time, experienced brown – outs for lack of backup solar power collected by solar home systems.
Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her articles on solar panels, please visit solarhome.org, supplier of Solar Panels and Alternative Energy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke
Solar Panels
By Christine Douglas
Solar panels are the perfect way to cut energy costs, reduce your carbon emissions, and become more self-sufficient. No matter what kind of solar power you would like to use, you most likely need solar panels. There are many different kinds of solar panels. Let us help you decide what kind of panels are right for you, your family, and your home.
The first types of solar panels are the traditional type. These sit atop your roof and collect the maximum amount of sunlight. These models will almost always provide enough energy to power your entire home and are available in a couple of different styles. You probably think of the older solar panel models when you think of these types of panels, the ones that stick up off your roof and make it look like a space ship. These types of panels are still available, especially if you choose used panels and they are usually more affordable than other models available today.
If you are interested in something more aesthetically pleasing, you should look into the newer solar panel models. These solar panels have been designed with style in mind. Many of these panels sit on your roof, just like shingles. They are practically invisible and blend in seamlessly with the roofing. Best of all, these solar panels work just as well as the older models, sometimes even better!
If you are interested in other types of solar panels, you’re in luck. Many other types of panels are available. If you can’t afford roof panels, or want something more compact, there are smaller versions of these panels that you should consider. Some of these solar panels are attached right to the side of your home. These are smaller and less expensive and still capture a good amount of sunlight each day. You can use this energy to supplement the energy you are already using.
Learn the pros and cons of solar power - Solar Energy Advantages is your source for information on solar panels, fountain pumps, home solar plans and information on how solar power works and can benefit your home and family. One of the ways that you can use solar heat without spending too much or converting your entire home to solar heating is with a solar heat exchanger. These are available for a wide variety of uses including heating swimming pools, sheds and hot water heaters.
Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her articles on solar panels, please visit solarhome.org, supplier of Solar Panels and Alternative Energy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Douglas
Solar panels are the perfect way to cut energy costs, reduce your carbon emissions, and become more self-sufficient. No matter what kind of solar power you would like to use, you most likely need solar panels. There are many different kinds of solar panels. Let us help you decide what kind of panels are right for you, your family, and your home.
The first types of solar panels are the traditional type. These sit atop your roof and collect the maximum amount of sunlight. These models will almost always provide enough energy to power your entire home and are available in a couple of different styles. You probably think of the older solar panel models when you think of these types of panels, the ones that stick up off your roof and make it look like a space ship. These types of panels are still available, especially if you choose used panels and they are usually more affordable than other models available today.
If you are interested in something more aesthetically pleasing, you should look into the newer solar panel models. These solar panels have been designed with style in mind. Many of these panels sit on your roof, just like shingles. They are practically invisible and blend in seamlessly with the roofing. Best of all, these solar panels work just as well as the older models, sometimes even better!
If you are interested in other types of solar panels, you’re in luck. Many other types of panels are available. If you can’t afford roof panels, or want something more compact, there are smaller versions of these panels that you should consider. Some of these solar panels are attached right to the side of your home. These are smaller and less expensive and still capture a good amount of sunlight each day. You can use this energy to supplement the energy you are already using.
Learn the pros and cons of solar power - Solar Energy Advantages is your source for information on solar panels, fountain pumps, home solar plans and information on how solar power works and can benefit your home and family. One of the ways that you can use solar heat without spending too much or converting your entire home to solar heating is with a solar heat exchanger. These are available for a wide variety of uses including heating swimming pools, sheds and hot water heaters.
Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her articles on solar panels, please visit solarhome.org, supplier of Solar Panels and Alternative Energy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Douglas
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