solar pv Archive

The Things People Might Need To Find Out Any Time They Are Purchasing Solar PV

By
Dana Guzman
Published: August 11, 2010Posted in: Solar PanelsTags: , , , ,

The green movement uses the solar power energy because it is ecologically friendly and surprisingly practical as well. If you live in an isolated area, or you just want to generate your own electricity, you can safely assume that technological advancements like solar pv can help you. Through the years, engineers and scientists have developed these materials because they know the impact it has on humankind and the planet as a whole. Unlike other methods available, they are cleaner, cheaper to manufacture and mostly easier to put up also. Despite being dependent on the amount of sunlight in the area where you live, it can still change the way electricity is produced.

If you are one of those who would like to enjoy modern services without harming Mother Nature, you might think about installing your own solar pv cells. Since they are both suitable for residential and business functions, you would get the chance to generate affordable electricity for your consumption. Aside from saving some money on utility charges, you could even earn a decent sum if you produce a lot of excess energy. Are you surprised? Some grids make it possible for you to sell surplus electricity to avoid wastes.

Medium -sized portable solar pv systems are generally used for a variety of practical uses especially when you are off the power grid or in a remote location where you need a standalone power supply. These portable solar systems vary in forms and sizes, depending on their power-generating capacities and for intended use, but they more or less perform the following: * To provide backup power for any location prone to power outages. * To provide power to a few small items and even bigger ones, depending on its power generation capacity. * As a means to provide cheap power when you’re off the grid like for example in a remote cabin or in camping trip. * It can be used as a dedicated marine solar kit * It can also be used as a handy RV solar kit

Small-sized portable solar energy systems are more varied and can be used for specific functions. They are very handy and always ready for people on the go. They can be invariably used to power electronic gadgets anywhere like mobile phones and netbooks and are proven essentials for camping, hiking and other outdoor activities. There are also a wide variety of consumer products that incorporates small-sized portable solar energy systems that are very popular among the buying public. These include solar toys, watches, small electronic gadgets and even solar clothing.

The advantage of using these solar pv systems is that you can take it practically anywhere because it has no need for wiring and can serve its purpose wherever there is sufficient sunlight. Many systems have plug and play functionality and have user-friendly control panels and interfaces. You can also opt to buy a much larger portable system if you need a little more power generating capacity to satisfy your power supply needs while out of grid. These are also portable and light but will need some type of assembly so, you must buy a set that comes with an easy-to follow instruction manual.

Jessie Hall is an authority about Solar PV. To understand anything and everything relevant to PV Panels, visit the web-site at The Green Electrician

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PV Panels The Past With Energy For The Future

By
Judy Richardson
Published: July 24, 2010Posted in: Solar PanelsTags: , , , , ,

Photovoltaic cells have been improving since they were created. Their efficiency has also improved, and they are no longer as expensive. One PV cell usually cannot generate all of the power necessary by itself. Because of this, cells are grouped to make modules, also called solar panels. Read on and find out that PV panels will be one of the most reliable forms of energy in the future.

The term photovoltaic is a Greek word that means both light and electric. The term has been used in the English language since 1849. The photovoltaic effect was discovered in 1839, but the first cell was not actually built until 1883 by Charles Fritts. The first really efficient cell was developed by Chapin, Fuller, and Pearson in 1954.

One solar panel may be able to provide a small amount of power, but in order to provide a large amount of power, then panels are arranged in what is known as an array. An array is a multiple of modules that are able to make a large quantity of electricity; enough to light a house, or power plant. Until just recently, solar panels have been much too costly for the general consumer.

Cells require protection from the wind, rain, etc. They are normally placed between glass to protect them. These cells are connected inside the module in a series pattern. A series means that the circuitry is connected in such a way that the current will pass through all of it.

When a parallel connection is used, then higher currents can be expected. The modules in the array are connected by parallel, series or both until the DC voltage, and current required is met. The generated power is measured in watts or kilowatts.

To be able to use the energy that is generated, the electricity is processed through an electricity grid through an inverter. If the inverter is connected to a system that stands alone, then batteries can be used to store any energy that is not used immediately. There are many solar gadgets available that work on this same principle.

There are financial incentives available for individuals and business owners alike in many different countries to change to forms of renewable energy. The financial incentives for solar energy are especially great. This is the perfect time for a conversion of your business or home, and you can make a difference in the world at the same time. There is renewable energy being wasted every day, more than we can ever use, while our natural resources are being rapidly drained.

When you decide to get some pv panels for your alternative electricity, you should get the right person to install them. To get the photovoltaic panels to work, they should be on the roof of the house to get the best effects of the suns energy.

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Austin Solar Panels-How Much Will It Cost?

By
Mark D. Meurs
Published: May 29, 2010Posted in: solar energyTags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In this article we will go through the process of determining the size and cost of a photovoltaic (PV) system for a home located in Austin, Texas. The same method can be used in other locations with minimal adjustments.

This is important information to have prior to consulting a professional who will provide a more definitive estimate. It’s also a good place to begin if you are considering installing a system your self.

The term kWh represents one kilowatt hour. This is a unit of energy most often used as a billing unit by utility companies. A 100 watt (0.1kilowatt) light bulb consumes 100watts/hour or .1 kWh if operated for one hour.

A number of factors will alter the required size and cost of a PV system. These include the amount of shading your panels will be subject to, the efficiency and cost of the PV panels you choose, the direction the panels are facing, your home’s location etc.

The first step in determining the size and cost of solar panel installation in Austin or anywhere, is determining your electric consumption. The easiest and probably most accurate way is to simply look at your electric bill. That of course assumes you have been living in the home for which you are going to install solar. It is best to do this with at least 12 monthly bills. Look at the number of kilo-watt hours (kWh) used during the billing cycle and then divide by the number of days in a billing cycle. The result will be the number of kWh per day that you consume. This number will vary from month to month. You can add the daily averages from each month and divide by the number of months to determine an average daily amount. For example the average US home uses about 935 kWh/ month or 30.74 kWh/day.

Then you will decide how much of your current usage you will be replacing with solar generated electric. In the case of the example above, if we choose to replace 50%, we will need to generate, on average 15.37 kWh/day (30.74 kWh x 0.5).

Solar systems are not measured in square feet or meters but in kW generating capacity. A 1 kW solar system will generate one kWh of DC current with one hour of direct sunlight. The electric used in most American homes however is AC. The electric from the solar panels must be converted to AC and this conversion results in the loss of about 10%. As a result you will receive about 900 watt hours (0.9 kWh) of usable AC, with a one kW system receiving one hour of direct sun.

The next piece of information need is the average daily hours of direct sunlight in your area. Austin, Texas receive an average of 5.4 hours of direct sun daily. Therefore you can expect a 1 kW PV system to produce 4.86 kWh daily (5.4 X 0.9 =4.86). In our example we want to generate 15 kWh per day. We divide 15 by 4.86 and get 3.09. Therefore we will need approximately a 3 kW PV system to generate 15 kWh per day.

In the US, the current average for an installed PV system is about $10,000 pew kW of system. We multiply our 3 kW of system times 10,000 and see that our 3 kW system will be about $30,000 installed. That is a considerable amount but the good news is that there are significant tax credits and rebates to off set this cost. Also, PV panels are continuing to become more affordable as more are produced more efficiently.

You can receive free reports detailing tax credits and rebates by going to http://austin-solar-panels.com. There is also a solar calculator that will easily perform all the above calculation for you.

At Austin Solar Solutions you can receive free answers to FAQ’s, Federal tax credit reports, a solar calculator and more.

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