Solar Power

woensdag 8 april 2015

DIY Solar Panels - What You Need to Know About Solar Panel Prices

Solar panels are a great way to reduce electricity costs and to protect the environment. They come in a lot of flavours from very high tech and expensive to very cheap. They can be silicon based and even organic. This is why a lot of people are intimidated by solar energy panels. They do not believe that they can build their own panels from scratch.

By now you should be enthusiastic about building your own solar energy panels and wondering how you can build them yourself. You may not be very confident but you should know that most of the sites that are selling these panels are run by people that are building them themselves. You do not have to be an expert in order to build some basic solar energy panels.

If you decide to outfit your house with solar energy panels you will build, you should start to look for a course on the subject. These courses usually cover everything you need to know about building solar panels. You should be able to go through the entire course in a day or two. They will also teach you how you should plug the solar energy panel system in your grid.

You probably already have the skills required to build a solar panel. The parts you need are very common, cheap and can be found at your local hardware store. You can even build enough panels to go completely off the grid and no longer depend on the power companies. Try it now!

DIY Solar Panels and Windmills Building Guides

Earth 4 Energy
Make your own solar panels or wind turbine.
More info here

Home Made Power Plant
There are some other guides for DIY wind and solar generators, but all of those that I've read don't get into the same details.
More info here

maandag 6 april 2015

Easy Steps To Help You Learn How To Build a Solar Panel

If you want to know how to build a solar panel you are not alone. Solar as an alternative power source has many different advantages. It is clean energy, totally renewable and doesn't harm the environment. It doesn't require much to get a solar power system going, some simple tools, a little common sense, and the right materials. Luckily, there are many different resources to help you find the materials you are going to need. You can find the photovoltaic cells, batteries, inverters, and voltage regulators online.

You will need to buy 36 3"x6" PV cells for each solar panel. This is the first step on how to build a solar panel. One solar panel is going to produce about 18 volts, or 75 watts of power. One panel may not be enough to power your whole home, but it's a start. The more panels you make, the more power they will produce. You will also need a multi-meter in order to check the voltage output of each cell, this is done by setting the cell into direct sunlight, and testing the wire leads.

There are two different popular options on how to build a solar panel. One of these is a PV cell arrangement of three cells across by 12 cells down, or a four by nine pattern. It all depends on the space you have available. The next step is building the frame for the dimension of the cell grid. It is a good cheap idea to use plywood and thin wood strips to frame out the panel. You cut the plywood to the size of the cell block, with an extra 1" around for the wood border. You will also need a large piece of Plexiglass, to cover the panel when you are done. Make sure this is UV proof or it will start to turn yellow and make the solar panel less efficient.

Now you need to wire the cells together, and for this you are going to need solder, flux, and a soldering iron. These cells have to be linked in a series, as well as connected together. All of the cells have to be connected together in a series. Nine cells make up a roll, so solder this first roll together, then the next three. Now the electrodes on the negative side, which have a bluish surface, need to be soldered to the positive contact points on the next cell.

Once this is done, the next step on how to build a solar panel is to secure the grid to the plywood. Put a little bit of silicone one the back of each cell, then stick it to the plywood. Now connect all the wiring to the positive and negative lead wiring, which will be connected to the rest of the power system. Finish the frame, then firmly attach the Plexiglass to the top of the frame, sealing it with some silicone to keep out moisture and the weather. After putting all of this together, test the panel. It should produce about 18 volts, or two and a half to three amps. While this is the easy way to knowing how to build a solar panel, there are many more detailed resources online.

DIY Solar Panels and Windmills Building Guides

About the Author:
More tips and tricks on how to make a solar panel are available at Purelysolarpower.com. Learning how to build your own solar panel actually isn't that hard, and a very enjoyable project.

Article Source: Easy Steps To Help You Learn How To Build a Solar Panel

Why Use Homemade Solar Panels - A Few Helpful Tips

There are many different reasons to use home-made solar panels. Solar power is one of the most renewable energy sources. It is available to some extent no matter where you live, and even if you live in an area where you have four seasons, you can benefit from solar energy almost year round to some extent.

More and more people are turning to solar power as a way to not only cut down on some of their electricity bills, but with the right system in place, can even live entirely off the grid.

Using home-made solar panels for your electricity needs is more feasible than ever before. It used to be that you could only buy solar panels that are already made, but this has changed greatly. With the right plans, a little know how, and some patience, you can create your own solar panels for much less than buying them. This saves even more money in the long run, and these home-made panels are just as efficient as buying brand new ones.

The solar collecting cells are much cheaper than just a few years ago, and can be purchased in bulk online. The materials for the panel components themselves can be bought at just about any home improvement retailer in your area.

The other components, batteries for storage, inverters to convert the solar power to electricity you can use, as well as the wiring and voltage regulators can easily be found cheaply on the internet.

The internet is an excellent resource when it comes to making your own home-made solar panels. There are more DIY websites than ever before, some that you have to pay for, but many others are completely free. You have many more choices when it comes to these sites, and there are even review sites to help you choose the right one for your needs.

There are some things that you should know what it comes to using home-made solar panels. One of them is that just because you put together your own panels, you still have to set them up in an area where you are going to get the most sun throughout the day in order to get the most of the sun's energy. You have to understand that just one panel isn't going to supply enough electricity for all your power needs, two or more are a must. These panels are delicate, and are susceptible to weather, abuse, and general wear and tear. In addition to having solar panels, you also need to be able to convert this energy into usable electrical energy.

With all the different websites available for making home-made solar panels, finding the right one is important. Any website you may be interested in needs to have complete instructions that are easy to follow, for people who are just starting out, or even those that have some knowledge. The site should give a complete list of the materials needed, as well as good sources for purchasing the solar cells that are needed. A good site will also have a guide that helps you break down how much electricity is used in your home, to convert this information into how may panels you are going to need. If you are not sure, a good resource to start from is Earth 4 Energy.

DIY Solar Panels and Windmills Building Guides

About the Author:
Easily learn how to build a solar panel using a step-by-step blueprint. All of the newest information about do it yourself solar panels is available today so don't miss it.

Article Source: Why Use Homemade Solar Panels - A Few Helpful Tips

woensdag 18 maart 2015

Learn How to Create Alternative Energy at Home

We dream of 'getting off the grid', but how realistic of a dream is that? Actually, it's not as unrealistic as you might think, and being able to create alternative energy is not just a luxury afforded to the wealthy. The technology is really quite simple; much simpler than power companies would have wanted people to know at first, but now the times have changed. Energy companies are now encouraging home owners to generate their own electricity, and some of them are even offering discounts and rebates to people who create alternative energy to lower their usage from the local power company.

A lot of people don't know how easy it is to build your own solar panels from materials that are readily available at your local hardware store. It's easy, it's inexpensive and it's even encouraged by your local electric company.

If you want to create alternative energy without having to buy expensive ready-made devices, the first thing you should do is decide what type of energy makes most sense for your home. Alternative energy generally comes from renewable natural resources. The most common sources are solar, wind and water. The location where you live is an important factor to consider when choosing the type of energy source that is best suited to your home. For example, if you live in a desert area such as Arizona, solar energy is the logical choice. People who live on the plains are great candidates for wind power and anybody who happens to have running water on their property can take advantage of the power of water.

Of course, the best possible scenario is when you can take advantage of at least two sources of alternative energy. The winning combination of both solar and wind power can provide you with a more consistent source of alternative energy than just one or the other. Solar panels work best when the sun is shining, and they still work to a lesser degree on a cloudy day, but on a stormy night solar panels aren't much help. If you also have a wind turbine, it will take over on that stormy night when the solar panels are at rest. Wind power really shines when the sun does not!

Once you know what type of energy you want to harness, all you need is the right instructions to tell you what materials you need and how to put it all together. Find a quality eBook on the topic that will tell you everything you need to know to create your own alternative energy at home, gather your supplies and enjoy one of the most rewarding projects you've ever undertaken!

DIY Solar Panels and Windmills Building Guides

Build a Wind Turbine and Generate Your Own Electricity

Solar, water and wind power are the three most commonly used natural resources when it comes to generating electricity at home. Solar panels are great, but the problem is that they don't work at night. Water power is only feasible if you have access to a natural source of running water such as a stream or river on your property, so it doesn't work for everybody. Sometimes water power works, but the water might dry up during the summer.

It's a good idea to have an alternative to your alternative method of generating electricity; that way, when one method isn't producing to full capacity, you have another. That's where wind power comes in. The great thing about wind power is that the wind may blow any time of day, all year round and in all types of climates. At night when your solar panels are inactive, your wind turbine will still be working, even in light breezes. It's actually quite surprising just how little wind it takes to get that propellor moving. Of course, larger turbines require heavier winds, but smaller to medium-sized ones usually do a fine job of keeping backup batteries charged round the clock. You can buy a complete wind turbine kit for several hundred dollars, or if you want to save money you can simply build a wind turbine.

It's really a simple design that consists of a propellor that operates the generator, which is usually connected to a series of backup batteries that store enough power to run the majority, if not all of the household electrical devices and lights.

All you need is the right instructions, which you can easily get via an eBook that you can download from the internet. The materials you need to build a wind turbine can be obtained from a variety of sources; you can purchase supplies from a building supply store or hardware retailer, or you may be able to find some of the things you need from junk dealers, neighbors or possibly you already have them on hand.

Anybody who isn't afraid of home handyman projects can build a wind turbine with the right materials and a good set of plans. All you have to do is go online and find an eBook that will tell you how to do it. But why stop at just wind power? You could get a book that contains everything you need to know to build a wind turbine, solar panels, a water generator and other sources of energy that you might not have thought of before. Before you know it, all your energy needs will be covered from every possible angle!

DIY Solar Panels and Windmills Building Guides

maandag 16 maart 2015

Build Your Own Solar Panels

Solar power has come a long way since it was first introduced, and in the beginning it was discouraged by energy providers who were more concerned with making money than benefiting the environment. But times have changed, and now many major cities are faced with energy shortages during peak times and electric companies are encouraging people to conserve energy and even generate electricity themselves. Some of them are even offering rebates to households that generate their own electricity.

You can buy solar panels of all sizes and even complete kits from a home supply store, if you have the money. On the other hand, if you're a bit of a handyman, you could just build your own. They really aren't very complicated, and now that energy providers are encouraging home owners to use them rather than trying to keep the technology from them, information on how to build your own solar panels has become common knowledge. Get your hands on an eBook that tells you how to build your own solar panels - there are some really good ones out there that will tell you everything you need to know to build your own solar panels and how to hook them up. After that, all you need to do is gather the necessary materials and start your project. Building your own solar panels is a worthwhile and rewarding project, and it's less expensive than you might think. Large solar panel kits can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to a couple thousand dollars, depending on how many panels you want.

The ability to generate electricity without relying on a municipal power company is especially important for people who live in rural areas. When you live far from a major city, power outages may happen during storms and may not be restored for several hours. With weather conditions becoming more extreme, power outages have been known to last for several days. Having an alternative source of electrical energy such as panels that can keep backup batteries charged at all times means that you'll have power in the case of an emergency and you won't have to rely on gas-powered generators to provide household power.

You can build your own ones from common materials that are easily found at hardware or building supply stores, and you might even already have some of the materials on hand. Once you know how to build your own solar panels you will be well equipped to expand your home's solar power generating abilities simply by building more panels and connecting them to the existing system. Generate your own electricity, save money and have peace of mind that in the event of an emergency, you won't be left in the dark!

DIY Solar Panels and Windmills Building Guides

woensdag 4 maart 2015

Build Your Own Solar Panel - Learn How Easy it is to Do

With the state of the current economy, there is nothing wrong with doing a few things yourself. Costs are rising all over the place, including your power and heating/cooling costs. While there are many different products out there that make our homes more energy efficient, they often cost a bundle. Yea, you pay all that money upfront now, hoping to conserve energy and save more money in the long run. But what if you could do the same without putting so much money upfront?

The answer is, you can do it by building your own solar panel! That's right - Harness the power of the sun to power your home! Do you realize how dramatically your power and heating/cooling costs will lower? And the best thing about this is that you can generate power completely free! Tell me where you can do that these days!

Building a solar panel is relatively easy to do. You'll need basic supplies, such as:

Copper sheeting
A 24 to 48 volt battery (a car battery works the best in this case)
Steel tubing (for the frame of the solar panel)
Electrical wiring
And other supplies you can find at your local hardware store

Supplies to build one of these sun suckers generally costs less than what your average power bill would be (around $200 or less). If you plan on using recycled materials, you could do it for even less! This is only a small investment upfront, but will pay for itself over and over throughout the years to come.

DIY Solar Panels and Windmills Building Guides