Archive for December, 2009
Diy Solar Power
Sunday, December 27th, 2009
How do I build a Solar System to power my house? I would like to DIY it.?
One assumes that you are speaking about a house that is powered by solar source energy, and not a proper solar system, with a star and attendant gases and planets. However, this questions is under physics for some reason.
If that is so, I wouldn’t advise a DIY project unless you are an electrician. There are several ways to convert a house to solar-source power. First of all, you want to do an assessment of your geographic location and the number of average solar access hours per year. If you are in Minnesota, for example, it might be very difficult to get enough exposure. You also will want to check the exposure to sunlight that you housing lot has and any obstacles caused by vegetation or buildings. There are just some things you can’t change, like your neighbors 50-foot tall eucalyptus trees that are between your lot and the path of the sun.
Some people use passive solar design to achieve lower energy bills, rather than go to the expense and trouble of buying and installing a solar-powered system. This can mean insulating your house more efficiently, improving R factors through the intelligent use of batting, windows, materials, etc. You can also try installing zone HVAC systems. Additionally, using any local winds or planting vegetation to help cool your house helps.
Passive solar can lower your dependence on electrical or gas source powered, but you will still need electricity. IF you get enough sun, or have enough acreage and money, you can install Photovoltaic solar panels (think sky lab) to capture energy which you would store in fixed batteries (a lot of them, even today). For example, a 20W flexible Solar Panel costs about 300 dollars (you can charge a 12V battery or use some minor DC appliances (as long as you have sunlight). So to run a stereo, you might need about 20 of these, and while the fleixble kind are more expensive (but portable), you are looking at 6000 dollars. Of course, accumulated in batteries, this might not be so bad. There are also low-light panels available, too.
There are all kinds of different ways to do what you have in mind. The type of method will depend on the desired outcome. Heating water, for example, will be different.
Good luck, while there are DIY kits for mobile homes (which are plug and play) I don’t advise messing with your wiring system unless you know what you are doing.
DIY solar combined kits, Harbor Freight, Sunforce, Barry’s Solar Power Center
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Do It Yourself Solar Panels for Swimming Pools, Spas & more $34.95 Solar Panel Instructional DVD & Plans for water heating. A simple step-by-step, DIY, easy to follow solar panel construction DVD. No special tools required. Sleek design, professional look and ease of fabrication. Heating system fully integrates into your existing pool piping network. 3500 watts (12,000BTU) of free solar power per panel. 10+degrees F increase in water temperature in one day. Engin… |
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Rayovac NM713-2 Rechargeable NiMH D Batteries (Two-pack) $11.66 The high-capacity, 1800 mAH Rayovac NM713-2 Rechargeable NiMH D Batteries last up to three times longer in digital cameras than standard alkaline, and can be recharged up to 500 times. That means more shots on a single set of batteries, not to mention thousands of dollars in savings on batteries for your high-drain digital still camera. Plus, with Rayovac NiMH batteries, there are no “memory” prob… |
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Fi-Shock SS-440 Solar-Powered Low Impedance 10 Acre Medium-Duty Electric Fence Charger $109.94 The Fi-Shock Solar Fence Controller controls up to 5 miles of electric fence! Recharges its 4 Volt battery with a high efficiency, built-in solar panel. Controller delivers more shocking power than ordinary fencers. Low impedance provides 1/3 less battery drain. U.S.A. Application: Fence controller, Works With: Electrical fences, Amps: 3, Battery Required: Yes, Solar Power Compatible: Yes, Dimensi… |
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Goal Zero 19006 Guide 10 Adventure Kit with 4 Goal Zero AA Batteries $89.75 Charges handheld devices such as cellular phones music players gps units & digital cameras from solar power or from aa/aaa batteries 2 in 1 charging system that powers up aa & aaa rechargeable batteries & harnesses that power via the usb port to charge other devices extremely compact & portable weight: 1 lb includes batteries… |
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Pine Top 511-0007 4-Light LED Solar-Powered Plastic Fence-Post Cap Light, White $22.99 … |
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Energy Film Glare Control Window Film 48-by-84-Inch $30.79 Energy Film Shade is a thin, tinted window film that provides immediate year-round energy savings by retaining interior heat in the winter and blocking solar heat in the summer. Energy Film Shade is an inexpensive and easy way to make the home or office more energy efficient while providing UV protection. It is easy to apply and uses no adhesives.Summer/Winter insulating filmSaves up to 12-18% of … |
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NEEWER® Portable AA Battery Powered Emergency Charger with Flashlight – Black – For Anything Powered Via USB $0.01 … |
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Watt’s Up RC Watt Meter & Power Analyzer WU100 Version 2 — SALE! $54.00 # Specifications: # Voltage 0-60 V, resolution 0.01 V. That’s a 14 cell series li-poly pack! # Current 0-100 A peak, 50 A continuous, resolution 0.01 A # Charge 0-65 Ah, resolution 0.001 Ah. That’s ~32 Amps for two hours! # Power 0-6500 W, resolution 0.1 W. That’s ~8.7 Horsepower! # Energy 0-6500 Wh, resolution 0.1 Wh. # Operates from 4.0-60 V, 0 V with optional receiver battery pack # 16 x 2 STN… |
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BatteryMINDer Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator – 1.3 Amp, 12 Volt, Model# 12117 $41.99 The BatteryMINDER Plus is a 3-mode maintenance charger/desulfator that extends performance and life of all types and sizes of 12 Volt lead acid batteries, including all starter, deep cycle, maintenance-free, sealed AGM, gelled or dry-type batteries, regardless of size or make. The Model 12117 automatically dissolves harmful power-robbing sulfation using safe, low voltage, patented high-frequency p… |
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MAXSA Innovations Solar-Powered Motion-Activated 80 LED Security Floodlight Solar Powered 80 LED Motion-Activated Outdoor Security Floodlight. 80 LEDs make this the brightest solar motion light available. Great for decks, driveways, sheds, pathways, or any large outdoor area. Includes 6-volt 4Ah sealed lead acid rechargeable battery. 15 foot cable connects light and solar panel. Activates up to 125 times when on for 1 minute at a time. Weather resistant white plastic body… |
