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Posts Tagged ‘Solar Power’
Solar Power System Component # 6
The Inverter is the next Solar Power System Component we can talk about and is one of the very important components we need to discuss and understand, how it works, why it works, and it’s main purpose of the Solar Power System.
Inverters transform the DC electricity produced by your PV modules into the alternating current (AC) electricity commonly used in most homes for powering lights, appliances, and other gadgets. Grid-tied inverters synchronize the electricity they produce with the grid’s “utility grade” AC electricity, allowing the system to feed solar made electricity to the utility grid.
Most grid-tied inverters are designed to operate without batteries, but battery-based inverters for off-grid use often include a battery charger, which is capable of charging a battery bank from either the grid or a backup generator during cloudy weather.
Most grid-inter-tied
inverters can be installed outdoors (ideally, in the shade, in a metal container.) Most off-grid inverters are not weatherproof and should be mounted indoors, close to the battery bank. Simply put, the Inverter is the component that changes the (DC) from your solar panels into the (AC) electricity so your home can be powered by your own renewable energy.
Solar Power System – 5 Factors
Want to invest in and your family’s future? Ask yourself this question: “If I have a sum of money to invest today, can I expect a higher return with traditional investments or with an investment in a supplemental solar-electric system”? There is analysis shows that generating your own solar-electric energy is often the better investment. The factors of this analysis comes from five areas- natural resource assessment, technology, energy consumption, economics, policy.
The first factor- to consider is the energy that the sun provides us. You can perform an accurate analysis for each month of the year, The National Solar Radiation Database ( NSRDB ) can be found at the Renewable Resource Data Center ( RReDC ). For this analysis the data is found in, The Solar Radiation Data Manual for Flat-Plate and Concentrating Collectors.
The second factor- is to consider which Solar Power System to invest in, Their are two different types, “Grid-Tied” or ( “utility-tied”) and ” Off-Grid ” systems. Obviously the “Grid-Tied” system is the one that is connected to your homes electric panel box, and with a true net meter ( your electric meter spins in both directions) to consume the electricity your household uses or sell to the utility company. Either way, an investment in a Solar Power energy system of any size can then earn a maximum return, up to the amount of energy that is produced. Most Solar Panels are warranted for 25 years.
Third factor- Energy Consumption, with the use of a System Meter you can monitor your systems performance, it is better to produce more electricity than your household is consuming. That way you are not paying for kilowatts.
Fourth factor- Economics, even if your making good percentage off your stocks, and the interest is compounded and reinvested back into stocks, That’s Great, but something is missing? “Taxes” saving on utility bills are like post-tax income. You pay taxes on interest income, you don’t pay taxes on money you save.
Fifth factor- Policy, dramatically affects the return on investment in solar-electric energy. Exiting policies provide some important incentives for solar-electric energy and other forms of renewable energy. An excellent resource that lists renewable energy incentives is the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE).
Results are- Immediate personal reward is that there is money to be made with an on site Solar Power Electric Generating System. And is considered a low-risk investment into your future.
Solar Power System Component # 5
Main DC Disconnect is the next component we can talk about. The Main DC Disconnect is another very important component of the Solar Power System
. This component is very simply a breaker. In battery-based systems, a disconnect between the batteries and the inverter is required. This disconnect is typically a large, DC-rated breaker mounted in a sheet-metal enclosed box. This breaker allows the inverter to be quickly disconnected from the batteries for service, and protects the inverter – to – battery wiring against electrical fires. And will (TRIP) turn off when any grounding or a dis-function accrues.
So we can now see how the installation of the Main DC Disconnect is important, what it’s purpose is, and why we need this component installed.
Second Generation Solar panel
Let’s consider a new source of making Solar Power
Energy with Thin Film Solar Panel. Thin Film Solar Panels are used to a great extent in making satellites. Thin Film technology is being extended to use in residential and industrial and was named one of the best inventions of 2008 by Times magazine.
Thin Film Solar Panels are bendable, unlike the poly-silicon cells that are found in conventional crystalline solar panels. Thin Film Solar Panels are considered being as a second generation solar power technology. If a poly-silicon cell is damaged with a crystalline solar panel then their is a good chance the whole panel is damaged and not functioning right, but with the Thin Film Solar Panel will continue to operate. Thin Film Solar Panels are bendable and can be molded to a lot of different surfaces with glue or screws. They can be placed in areas were the traditional crystalline solar panels can not be mounted to. They can even be sewed onto materials like a jacket or maybe a tent or tent cover to supply charge to your hand held electronic devises.
There is a downside to Thin Film Solar Panels, because they are thin they don’t take in as much energy. These panels are not as efficient as photovoltaic panels but they cost less. Thin Film Solar panels are a low wattage and need to have more space than the traditional panels but with that in mind, manufactures offer better warranties. Sounds like a good ideal for metal roofs.
Solar Power: Efficient and Affordable
In the past, residential solar power was reserved for homes that were far off the beaten track. These were often ranch homes in the American Southwest where sunlight is plentiful and civilization relatively scarce. When you’re miles from the nearest access to the power grid, it just makes sense to become self-reliant. More recently, everyday Americans in cities, towns and rural settings are exploring the potential of photovoltaic cells.
Technology has improved over the last few years, and just as computers drop in price once they’ve been around a while, solar power systems are becoming less expensive and more tantalizing to the average homeowner. Once solar panels are set up and fully operational, they can reduce energy bills and provide real peace of mind. It’s nice to know that in providing energy for your home you’re not also leaving a carbon footprint.
Solar Power Water Fountain
It was a middle spring sunny day, and I was outside mowing the grass, when I looked over there across the road at my neighbors pond. There is a water fountain spraying water into the air and it is positioned in the middle of the pond.
I thought to myself, “What a peaceful beautiful sight that is to look at”. It is a very nice landscaped design that compliments his property, water spraying into the air, grass is mowed down and manicured around the pond, as the rest of his lawn is too! On one side of the their is a comfortable bench for relaxing, good place for taking a break, and some Brown Eyed Susy flowers planted behind and around the bench. Wonderful place to relax and collect your thoughts.
I wondered what does it cost to run that water fountain, and he has to plug in the power cord in the morning and unplug the power cord in the evening to turn it ON & OFF just so his family and other people can enjoy the beauty of it all.
One day I caught my neighbor outside mowing his grass, I went over to ask him, “Hows everything going”. I commented on how beautiful his landscape, looked and especially his pond with the water fountain spraying water up into the air. It just looked GREAT!
I asked “What does it cost to run your fountain day after day in a months time” he was polite enough to tell me that “Oh it cost me $10.00 to $15.00 a month for the size of my pump, it’s a 5 watt pump”, I said thanks for telling me and to have a nice day. As I drive around the county I started noticing a lot more ponds with water fountains in the middle spraying water into the air.
If people only knew that if they would purchase and use a Solar Power Water Fountain, then that is a one time cost, NO plugging and unplugging to operate it, Solar Power Water Fountains only runs when the sun rays hit upon the panel.
So Guess What- NO additional cost on your electric bill, with the very same purpose in mind, “Beauty”!
Solar Power System Component #3
Deep Cycle Battery-
Wither you hookup off-grid or on-grid, you need a Battery Bank for storage or a back-up presents. Your PV panels will produce electricity whenever the sun shines on them. If your system is off-grid, you’ll need a battery bank, a group of batteries wired together, to store energy so you can have electricity at night or on cloudy days. For off-grid systems, battery banks are typically sized to keep households electricity running for one to three cloudy days.
Gridintertied systems also can include battery banks to provide emergency backup power during blackouts, perfect for keeping critical electric loads operating until grid power is restored. Although similar to ordinary car batteries, the batteries used in solar-electric systems are specialized for the type of charging and discharging they’ll need to endure. Lead-acid batteries are the most common battery used in solar-electric systems.
Flooded lead acid batteries are usually the least expensive, but require adding distilled water occasionally to replenish water lost during the normal charging process. Sealed absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries are maintenance free and designed for grid-tied systems where the batteries are typically kept at a full state of charge. Gel-cell batteries can be a good choice to use in unheated spaces due to their freese resistant qualities.
Either way you hookup a Home Solar Power System
, you should purchase a good quality battery bank component for storing your electricity. In the long run your saving money producing your own electricity, and in the times of blackouts from weathering storms you can fill good about the safety and security you will provide for your family!
Solar Power Fountain
Want to add some beauty to your garden or deck!
Well you can- with a Solar Fountain.
Their is a large variety of several different kinds of Water Fountains, all different colors, shapes, and sizes. They look great in a garden among flowers or setting upon a deck. Most of us, like our family does, we love listening to the water spray or trickle down, like listening to a waterfall ( on a small scale, of course ) but you can close your eyes and be there standing in front of a waterfall in your minds eye. It almost feels real with the sound and the smell of the water.
With this Solar Power product you don’t have to plug the unit into an electrical outlet and raise your electric bill. That is satisfying
, but also if you wanted to bring indoors or use inside a screened in porch, some units come with an AC adapter, either way you can enjoy the sound and beauty of a Solar Power Fountain.
The Birds will love it too!
Solar Power Systems Component #1
Array DC Disconnect
If you are building a Solar Power System and after you build or buy some solar panels, is the next component we’ll talk about. The next component that you will need is called Array DC disconnect.
The Array DC Disconnect is an important part of any Solar Power System
. The use is for shutting off the electrical power supply coming in from the solar panels, you will need to do this at any time that you may do cleaning or maintenance or connect more panels.
The Array DC disconnect is a easy and safe way to cut off the power.
Safety is first and foremost when working with or around electrical components.
Think Smart, Safety First.
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