Guide to Solar Panels – Solar Power Energy

Dec. 26, 2010 - PRLog -- Solar panels have the ultimate green stamp of approval, and gone are the days when you needed to pay tens of thousands of dollars solar your home.

With government rebates and increasing demand, solar panels have moved into the dreams of the average homeowner.

Once installed, solar panels can generate pollution-free green electricity from the sun for 25 or more years. Making solar panels takes relatively little energy or knowledge.

Installed energy system can protect you from electricity price hikes; installing renewable solar energy can give you that feel-good experience of helping to reduce demand for peak electricity loads.

Solar installation of 1.5 kWatt energy system can save about three tones of carbon dioxide per year.

Bret’s guide on how to make solar panels will get you started on the green renewable energy journey.


What are solar panels?


Solar panels consist of modules that are put together in an array (an arrangement of rows and columns). Modules are made up of solar cells. There are basically three main types of solar cells on the market: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin film.

Eighty-five per cent of solar cells are made from crystalline silicon. Monocrystalline cells, made from a single silicon crystal, are the most efficient.

Polycrystalline cells are made from many silicon crystals and, while less efficient than monocrystalline. Polycrystalline cells are also generally cheaper than their Monocrystalline cells.

The basic requirement for installing solar panels is a un shaded, north-facing roof. Bret explains the how to install at an angle to gain the maximum befit from the sun and the longest time exposed tom sunlight.

Also a common factor is roof pitch. If your roof is not at the correct angle, Solar panels can easily be installed on a frame.


How many panels will I need?


Be self-sufficient in all the energy used in the home from morning to night, although your ability to achieve this will depend on your current energy consumption, roof size and how much money you are prepared to spend.

The effectiveness of the solar panels also varies depending on where you live.

The average home uses about 18 kWatt of electricity per day. A 1-kWatt system provides about 4.8 kWh per day (depending on location), which means to be self-sufficient you would need a 4-kWatt system costing well over 25/30 grand to install. Even with government rebate this is still expensive!

It makes far more sense to work on minimizing your household energy use first, before you draw power from your solar panels.

That is why Bret parker has produced a complete guide to home solar energy by making your own solar panels. … http://www.make-a-solar-panel.com


Grid connected versus stand-alone


Solar panels can be connected to the grid, in which case you won’t need a battery. A grid-connected system consists of PV modules, a meter and an inverter. The panels create DC electricity, which is converted (by an inverter) to AC electricity.

You need AC electricity to be able to run appliances. A meter allows you to measure how much electricity you generate versus how much you buy back from the grid at night.

Homeowners realize that grid connection means that during a blackout your system will also lose power because it will be automatically turned off for safety reasons. If you want uninterruptible power, a battery system is required, which will substantially increase costs and maintenance.


Renewable Energy ....  http://www.make-a-solar-panel.com


If, however, you live in a remote area you’ll want a stand-alone system. Remote users will need a battery to store energy, a back-up system and a solar regulator, which controls the amount of charge going into the batteries to prevent them from being overcharged.

Installing solar panels in remote areas is usually very cost-effective when compared with paying to connect to the grid, even factoring in the additional costs of batteries and back-up systems.

# # #

Please visit

Make your own solar panels.

http://www.make-a-solar-panel.com

Bret Parker’s... Make a Solar Panel package is a self contained training program, engineered and designed to teach the skills Bret has mastered to everyone interested in the renewable energy as alternative power.

Comprehensive manuals and Videos GUIDE to your own solar panels
®