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Archive for December, 2009
Solar Power TO GO!
My son Trevor and I decided to go hiking, And we needed to put together a check lists of items we should take with us on our trip.
The list started something like this:
* Clothing items—
* Hiking Boots
* Wool Socks
* Long Underwear
* Brier tough trouser
*Equipment—
* 2 favorite hiking staffs
* 2 Backpacks
* 4 flashlights, extra batteries
* 4 MRE’s meals, trail mix
* small first aid kit
* Compass
* waterproof matches
* pocket saw, hatchet
That’s a good start, Trevor and I were going over the list of items, We were siting in the garage thinking about what other items we needed or something else we should take, after a few minutes Trevor say’s, Dad we have to take our cell phones in case we have any trouble on the trail. Yes I replied, we sure do. And Dad, I hope you don’t mind if I bring my ipod to just to use if I get bored. I said that was OK, Because I knew he didn’t want to hear me talking all the time as we walked. I knew we would be gone for about 3 days for a good hike, I thought about that for a minute and said,
“What are we going to do if our cell phone batteries go dead on us, or your ipod battery, that could be trouble couldn’t it”
Next Trevor said, Dad, just the other day I was on the internet looking at hiking supplies and I just happen to come across a Solar Power
Back Pack that charges hand held electronics,
“Really” I said “Yeah” Trevor said, and it wasn’t that expensive either. I looked at Trevor and said, let’s go get online a find us one of those back packs, Trevor said that sounds like a good ideal, LET’S GO
The Versatility of Solar Panels
A lot of people are looking for new ways to produce energy. Solar energy is one of the energy sources that are free, clean and renewable. Solar panels are used to harness the energy from the sun. The solar panels are arrays of photovoltaic cells that collect the sun’s energy.
Much research is still being done on building more efficient and cost effective solar panels for domestic and industrial use. You can save so much on your electricity bill when you can rely on the sun for heating your home. But you can see smaller applications that can be used in campsites. Since there is no access to electrical outputs in the outdoors, solar panels are used to supply some electricity in the site.
Solar Thermal Collector
A solar thermal collector is essentially a directed magnifying glass pointed at a specific liquid container. Water, oil, and anti-freeze have traditionally been used to store this solar energy for household use. They are great for storing solar energy because they each have a high boiling point, making long term energy storage possible.
There are many uses for this stored energy, such as heating an entire house, proving hot water, and heat for cooking. With a solar thermal collector, you add green energy to your daily consumption and lower your impact on the earth.
Solar Power System
Solar Cells & Solar Panels is only the first part of a Solar Power System. The ” photovoltaic effect” is a process of which solar cells convert sunlight into electrical energy that can be used.
In the early days of solar cells they could only convert 1-2% of sunlight into energy, but today with new technologies they have increased solar cells to convert sunlight into energy by 15-20% . By increasing the efficiency of the cells that allows for smaller, cheaper systems and that allows for better access to purchase solar cells or solar panels depending on different incomes as well as the physical installations.
A solar power module is referred to as a “solar panel” and it is a collective number of solar cells, different types and different sizes can produce 50 to 220 watts of electricity.
Major manufactures like Sunpower, Powerlight, Sharp and others build modules with a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years. If your thinking about installing a Solar Power System, then that would be a good reliable investment.
Solar Powered Stepping Stones
Have you ever had to walk outside in the dark to go around the house or walked outside in the back yard to do something at night, very hard to see where your walking.
Instead of walking around the flower beds and landscaped areas you want to cut through the flower beds to save time, I know I have done that, Yes I’m Guilty! You probably have too!
Some areas are hidden from the porch lights and stay dark in that area, maybe you don’t want to place a solar garden light there or maybe that area doesn’t get enough sun light during the day.
I have a solution for taking the short cut through the flower beds at night, in the dark, to have a good footing, stay out of the dirt, and they look great during the day & light up at night.
Solar Powered Stepping Stones would compliment anyones outdoor landscaping projects!