23
March
2011
If I build a house or convert an existing house, even if i have to fill the whole roof with solar panels, is this possible? I mean, heating, hot water, TV, appliances, Washer, Dryer, PC and all the electricity I need, even floor heating, absolutely zero compromises and zero usage of any other source but solar panels, even if I want to put floor heating in the whole house, is this possibly or is it just me dreaming?
In theory, yes - on a clear day we get around 1000W per square metre in the UK so a large enough array of solar panels for both electricity and heat, plus a massive storage battery system, could run a house.
In practise, the cost would be astronomical as you have to guarantee sufficient storage capacity to run the house for days at a time during bad weather, and have enough generation capacity to recharge the system quickly as well as running everything.
Most energy efficient buildings use mains electricity and use the grid as the ’storage’ system; you are paid for power you produce when there is excess, which offsets the cost of electricity when your (small) storage system is depleted.
Re. the underfloor heating: The best system is an integrated air conditioning/heating system using a reversible heat pump setup with an underground ‘heatsink’. You dump excess heat several metres underground from the air conditioning, then pull it back for heating.
You get roughly 3KW of heat transfer for 1KW of power to the heat pump.
Posted: solar power home
26
December
2010
I am going to build my panels, I do not how many I need nor do I know how many battery’s I need, also inverter. Can you give me the answers? I have a 2 bedroom home with 2 bathrooms. A shop with plenty power tools. 2 ref and 2 freezers,washer and dryer also. What am I going to need?
Thanks
OK - some rules of thumb:
10 watts per square foot, unless you go to amorphous-crystal cells - then you may get up to 15 watts per square foot.
Storage should be three times (3 x) the average load in your house. The average load may be calculated from your appliances, frequency of use, lighting load and heating load.
Your solar panels must be able to deliver at least 2 x your average load in order to actually store power as well as meet your needs.
Commercial installations less subsidies are typically $10/watt, fully installed + storage but including the inverter. Subsidies will cover most of this in some locations. So check your area.
So: if you have an electric stove, electric dryer, general lighting and a shop with various 20A motors, television, freezers, refrigerators and so forth - 50A max on the stove. 25A on the dryer, 25A on the water heater - allow 40A for everything else. comes to 140A peak - average (rule-of thumb) is about half that. 70A. You are a heavy electric user as compared to most individuals.
At 220V, that comes to 15,400 watts. Times two, and rounding comes to 30,000 watts of capacity required to meet 100% of your needs or 30KW. Roughly 3,000 square feet (30 square meters) of panels.
Battery Storage at using 100AH batteries comes to (working backwards and allowing a 15% inverter loss and not wanting to kill your batteries) - will require forty (40) 12V storage batteries in parallel.
And why it is that most installations are to supplement power only - and not replace 100% of the requirements.
You are looking at an unsubsidized cost of around $100,000 +/- if you do 100% of the labor yourself. About $8,000 in the storage system alone. And if you do this yourself, you will not get any subsidies.
Posted: solar power home
3
December
2010
How to make a solar power unit for home use ?
Many companies in Canada already use this technology. One way is to modify your roof to a giant solar panel. They charge batteries stored in the backyard. Interesting stuff.
Posted: solar power home
12
November
2010
We’re planning to incorporate Solar design features into our next home - actually, we’re looking at wind & solar. Which magazines are worth subscribing to? Which are not?
I should specificy that we’re more interested in passive solar than in solar panels.
Actually, check out some of the links on http://www.builditsolar.com
If you are going to do much of the work yourself, you will be sadly disappointed by what is available in print:
Homepower magazine http://www.homepower.com for example, it most often reads like a sales brochure, because "hands on" to a number of people usually means buying most of the system ready made in a kit. Hands on for me is breaking out the soldering iron and doing point to point wiring on components to construct the regulators (often called charge controlelrs.) Too much chaff for a hands on person to find useful. Some of the ads are useful.
Nuts and Volts http://www.nutsvolts.com/ is a bit better, but their topical coverage is far ranging so you do not always get as much as you would like. Spendy, might be better to sheck it out at the bookstores and buy it off the newstand when a decent article appears.
Mother Earth news http://www.motherearthnews.com is pretty good, but the best bang for the buck there is to buy their archives on CD rom, which is 3 disks, broke down by decade. There is a fair amount of substance, sometimes you encounter an article that sought to convert one item over to another, only it would have been much less work and cost for them to have started out from ground level and construct (with used parts) the same thing, which they sought to construct in the first place, a solar charged electric tractor is one specific item I have come to mind as one the author of the article could have done better. You might find the book they published "The Mother Earth News Handbook of Homemade Power," which is not real good for specifics in some areas, but is good for some ideas if you are good at working from thumbnail sketches, you can fill in the blanks where there are gaps in detail. The book was written more as a "primer" than a complete compillation.
For your wind systems, there is a lot to be found at http://www.lindsaybks.com Hugh Piggott has written a few good books on the home construction of windmills. The LeJay Manual is a good reprint that has a lot of good info for home constructing- down to the wooden propeller profiles. As well as the book "Generator Secrets."
One of the good sources for materials and tools supplies and systems is Northern Tool http://www.northerntool.com
One thing on propeller materials- never us ABS and never use PVC. As tempting as those can be they break. When they break, the blades will go for a great distance in modest winds. They can kill too.
Posted: solar power home
14
October
2010
i am doing using solar power for home electricity.i need some information.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=solar+power+for+home+electricity&fr=ush-ans&ygmasrchbtn=Web+Search
Posted: solar power home
30
September
2010
You wouldn’t believe how easily you can produce your own in-house power-supply by using this incredibly brilliant “Diy solar power Electricity” System. It is almost unbelievable that this technique can easily operate refrigerators, w. machines, and other popular home-appliances. Read this article right now and hear more about this creative technology.
Some basics
Solar-Panels are the most important element of any “Diy Solar Power Electricity” System, fortunately there are quite few good guides on the Internet that teach you how to assemble them at extremely low cost and at minimal effort. Just like everything else in life, some guides deliver and some other don’t; check whether it offers the following: clear information, detailed diagrams, video tutorials, and technical support. Anyway, here are several tips & benefits that can help you to know a little more about this topic.
Benefits
This solution quickly provides clear and immediate benefits:
* No more power-interruptions.
* Using as much power as needed without worrying about the elec. Meter.
* Powers up basically any appliance at home: fridge, washing machine, computer, TVs, lights and more.
* Enables us to get an extra income by quickly providing such sys. for others.
* Helps on reducing the amounts of carbon dioxide in the air.
Quick tip
Nowadays it is possible to get deep cycle batteries at no cost, so you can store your energy for free.
Article summary
These exciting solutions not only save us thousands each year - this advanced “Diy Solar Power Electricity” System even creates an extra source of income. There are probably many other advantages provided by this remarkable ‘machine’, simply because we no longer need to rely on others to supply these needs. The first action you need to take is to try it as this is the most recommended way that truly enables you to explore the advantages mentioned in this article.
Jason Gilford
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/quotdiy-solar-power-electricityquot-system–it-is-simply-amazing-715463.html
Posted: solar power home
24
September
2010
“Install Solar Power Energy” System truly brings an amazing opportunity for any household to develop an in-house independent power-supply in matter of just days. You may be surprised but this technique makes it possible for almost anyone - novice/professional to get it to work in just a few days. This quick report enables you to learn more and understand how it can help you.
Introduction
Behind this “Install solar power Energy” System we find one of these recommended step-by-step guides that reveal the ’secrets’ of how anyone can make Solar-Panels. The most recommended guides are those that are written for the average user; check whether it offers the following: clear information, detailed diagrams, video tutorials, and technical support. This way or another, here are some key-advantages and tips to help you better understand this topic.
Quick advantages
Implementing this exciting solution definitely provides many benefits:
* Requires no more than a weekend to be installed.
* Should you create more energy than needed; the power-company will actually pay you!
* Cuts down on the usage of non-renewable enr. resources.
* Can produce 1000 Watts +.
* Powers up basically any appliance at home: fridge, washing machine, computer, TVs, lights and more.
Quick advice
Never wire the power that you produce into the AC breaker-panel by yourself! It is illegal and very dangerous, call a qualified electrician in order to do that.
Conclusions
Using such powerful “Install Solar Power Energy” System is probably the easiest and most effective way to ‘cut’ one of the most irritating household expenses. Without any question - there are plenty other advantages provided by this remarkable invention, simply because it is about to change the entire industry forever. Now that we understand how it works the best tip would be to watch it in action so you could truly experience the various opportunities that it brings.
Jason Gilford
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/quotinstall-solar-power-energyquot-system–quick-tip-701023.html
Posted: solar power home
22
September
2010
It is considered as one of the most cost-effective ways to cut your electricity-bills - nowadays “How To: solar power Source” System is finally affordable and accessible to anyone. Many people find it hard to believe but this technique takes no more than just few days to be completed. By reading this quick article you’ll be able to hear more about this special technology.
Short overview
Let’s quickly see what this “How To: Solar Power Source” System is all about: basically, you need to use one of these detailed step-by-step guides on the Web that shows how to assemble Solar-Cells by using basic materials. Some guides can be really useful while others miss their target; verify that it is written in simple language and that others already reported that it worked for them. Well, here are few key-benefits and & quick advices that can help you out.
Important advantages
This solution brings several clear key-benefits:
* Provides an unlimited energy-source.
* Increases the value of your home by thousands.
* Powers up basically any appliance at home: fridge, washing machine, computer, TVs, lights and more.
* Can produce 1000 Watts +.
* Should you create more energy than needed; the power-company will actually pay you!
Quick tip
Make sure to use an ‘Online-Guide’ as many of these guides are auto-updated with new and important information.
Bottom line
In most cases, implementing such technology requires no more than 2-3 days; while the return-on-investment with this “How To: Solar Power Source” System takes in average just about few weeks. Different users would probably find various great benefits provided by this unique invention, simply because it is innovative. At this point it would be advised to try it so you could truly see how it can save your monthly budget.
Jason Gilford
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/quothow-to-solar-power-sourcequot-system–why-you-need-it-now-718870.html
Posted: solar power home
16
September
2010
No doubt that Home solar panel Generator gains amazing popularity these days among many households, simply because what it offers is revolutionary and can instantly cut your expenses. Many users already found out that this technique requires no more than a weekend to get it done. Follow this report in order to discover more about this creative technology.
Basic introduction
One of the most important elements of any Home Solar Panel Generator is the Solar-panel, and luckily nowadays anyone can easily have one of these popular guides that teach you how to assemble them. Some guides can be really useful while others miss their target; make sure it provides ‘proofs’ to be working for others. Anyway, here are some important benefits and tips to help you better understand this topic.
Important advantages
Finally, when looking for the bottom-line, we easily identify the following benefits:
* Enables us to store the produced elect.-power at zero cost.
* No need to remember to switch off the lights each time we leave the room.
* Powers up basically any appliance at home: fridge, washing machine, computer, TVs, lights and more.
* Leaves us almost unaffected by any possible energy crisis.
* Enables us to make a 220V-240V elec. sys.
Tip
Make sure that there aren’t any unnecessary objects/obstacles that may be blocking sunlight to your unit; otherwise it may lose its efficiency.
Conclusions
It isn’t just about saving thousands each year; this powerful Home Solar Panel Generator enables us to preserve our planet. It would be quite easy to find other benefits provided by this special ‘machine’, simply because it is revolutionary. It is highly recommended to use it so you could truly see how it can save your monthly budget.
Jason Gilford
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/home-solar-panel-generator–stunning-invention-697173.html
Posted: solar power home
15
September
2010
My siblings and I all live in different parts of the country. Both or our parents are dead. they have a home in the country. To pay utility bills for this home as well as our own is expensive. If enough electricity could be generated to keep the pipes from freezing in the winter at little or no cost to us it would be great. I was wondering about solar. Can anyone give me any pointers?
The initial installation of a solar electric system is expensive. If it is a quality unit the regulator/converter unit will hold up for a long time with little or no maintenance. You will also have a bank of batteries which may require some maintenance depending on the type. The system will have to be matched to the expected load, in your case heat tape on the pipes. The panels on the roof will have to be cleaned and keep clear of snow and ice. For more specifics you should contact a solar contractor. The contractor will determine the system that best meets your needs and estimate the cost.
Posted: solar power home
