Posts Tagged ‘Solar’
During the summer months camping is one of the funnest things we can do with our time and with our families. Whther you truly rough it with any comforts, or you decide to take the RV or the generator, spending time in nature with friends or family is totally freeing and relaxing.
Many people are starting to use solar powered lights and heaters when camping, making it easier to cook and spend time with each other at night. There are some great advantages to using solar powered camping gear.
1 of the main advantages of solar powered camping gear is that you can avoid things like lanterns, that use oil and/or batteries. the solar powered light practically pays for itself after just a few trips. And there is no need to risk fires or burns on tents.
Another great solar powered item is the solar powered heaters. They can be used anywhere, inside tents, or in rafts and canoes as well. Simply let the heaters and lights cgarge in the sun, and you are ready to go.
Solar Powered Camping Gear - Go To The Solar Powered Camp Site
1 of the most widely used solar powered items is the Solar Powered radio’s. They are known to work much better than regular radios. They last for many, many hours when fully charged. You can get radio stations from all over due to the specially made solar panels. But there is something eles that is truly awesome.
These solar powered radios have plug-in’s on them that will aloow you to plug in things that have to run on electricity. Although you can most anything to work with solar energy, sometimes we already have items that use electricity, and when you can plug these items into something solar powered, why not?
Some of the main items that can be plugged into the solar powered radio’s are:
Coffee makers
Small TV’s
Laptops!
Battery Chargers
Phone Chargers
Microwaves
And all kinds of convenient items.
As a matter of fact there are ven solar powered battery chargers that just need to be left out in the sun. Than they charge using nothing more than the natural power of the sun.
There is also water purification equipment that can be used with solar power. There is the Steripen solar power charging kit that comes with a carrying case that has a full solar panel side on it, making it easy and convenient to charge your CR123 batteries.
For more information on the many great solar powered camping supplies and survival gear, just follow the link bhelow:
The energy crunch is a real worldwide crisis as fossil fuel supplies decrease and populations increase. Utility costs are going up in pace with the increasing demand for electricity. It’s no wonder that the alternative energy arena is a quickly growing market with millions of dollars invested every year. And of these great clean renewable energy sources, solar wind power show the most promise.
What is really exciting is the realization of the incredibly high level of abundance of energy that is radiated by the sun. The amount is actually quite unfathomable. Studies have shown that the amount of energy received from the earth by the sun in just one hour is enough to satisfy the entire world’s electricity demand for an entire year! It really puts in perspective the grandeur of this almost endless source of energy.
When you think about it, the sun is really the source of all life on the planet as well as the driving force for all the weather patterns on earth. It is also the driving force behind every web of life and all of the earth’s cycles. This leads us to the other nearly endless abundant source of energy: Wind.
As long as the earth spins on its axis and the sun radiates upon it, weather patterns and the winds that are produced will always occur. Weather patterns consist of the complex and often chaotic relationship between water, the sun’s energy, and the cooling and heating of air masses throughout the atmosphere. It’s a constant interaction and clashing of cool (low pressure) air masses and hot (high pressure) air masses with water molecules usually in vapor or condensed states. It’s a very complex dance, but the result in many parts of the world is constant wind. One of the many places where winds blow constantly is the Great Plains region of North America, from northern Texas all the way to Canada.
Constant winds and the very simple yet efficient technology of wind turbines lead to a very clean and renewable source of electricity. Once again, the abundance of the source of energy is so great that it is difficult to put it in perspective. A study by Stanford University in 2005 showed that there is enough wind energy worldwide to satisfy 7 times the global demand. And that’s if only 20% of all the wind is captured!
So why is it that the human beings on the planet have not collectively headed toward usingefficient technology of wind turbines to meet global demands on a large scale and fully replace fossil fuels? Why haven’t large energy corporations and all governments invested trillions in wind and solar power by now? We all have a pretty good idea why, but that’s a whole other article. The purpose of this article is to inspire a call to action for solar and wind power, and to inform the reader that the revolution toward renewable energy starts with you the individual! How you may ask? By making your own do it yourself solar wind power.
Making your own do it yourself solar wind power is totally double today and without having to spend too much money. Home solar power systems these days can run between $20 and $50 thousand depending on capacity. But there is a resource where you can learn how to make your own photovoltaic panels and your own wind turbines for under $200. If you are interested or inspired to supplement your electricity and cut down costs, you have to check out Michael Harvey’s do it yourself energy manual. Remember the massive abundance of these energy sources, and you’ll be inspired to help yourself and the earth as well.
In the early days of solar power there were huge installations necessary to make use of this energy source. The solar panels that were needed were larger than the average full grown man. This made the collection of solar power a bit of a challenge. Therefore making use of solar power was not suitable of everyone. It was expensive and a bit of a chore as well.
These huge solar panels still exist in solar power plants, which produce energy for certain parts of the world. But over the years technological advancements have made solar power affordable and portable enough so common people can use it for their everyday lives. Nowadays solar panels have become so small that pocket calculators use these as an alternative power source to the usual single cell batteries.
But the use of portable solar power did not stop with the use of pocket calculators. Numerous inventions have made use of portable solar power and some of these are available all over the world. Let’s take of look at 5 affordable uses of portable solar power.
1) BRUNTON BATTJACK Batteries and Chargers
The charger comes with the SolarPort 4.4, wall transformer and 12V car cord to charge batteries from AC or in a vehicle. The charger can hold 4 AA or AAA rechargeable batteries. The kit has 4 1500 mAh NiMH AA battery cells. The charger will switch to trickle charge when the batteries are fully charged. It also has a discharge option for maintaining NiCad batteries. This will cost $30.
Batteries are NiMH AA dry cells, have a 1500 mAh capacity, can recharge for hundreds of times, and come in a package of 4 AA batteries. These cost $14.
2) SS-PVSMALL Power System
This portable solar power system from Silicon Solar Inc is easy to use and needs no assembly. Included in each system is an inverter/battery carrying case and 8.5 or 17-watt solar panel/charge.
This system can power a laptop computer, portable audio devices, small coloured TV, and most devices that need less than 140 watts AC 110-120v, and 60Hz input. Power time can range from 30 minutes to 56 hours, depending on the equipment being powered up.
The system is also used for indoor/outdoor lighting, and is lightweight. The system also includes inverters, cables, battery box, and sealed gel cell battery. The system comes with a 1-year warranty. The system costs $149.95.
3) UNI-KIT
The Uni-Kit system is a portable, durable, solar powered lighting system that can provide extended lighting hours to its users. This is powerful enough to let even a 12-volt radio or TV operate, and easy to install. The Uni-Kit system also comes with a basic power controller that maximizes battery life of its 12-Volt Deep Cycle SLA Battery by controlling its charging and load use, and protects the system from overcharging and excessive discharging.
Uni-Kit can be used in the garage, tool sheds, remote homes, isolated buildings, surveying sites, construction sites, camp sites, and even during water pumping operations.
Uni-Kit comes with an 11-watt fluorescent lamp that has a 1-year warranty. The 15-watt solar panel has a 20 year warranty. You can add up to 4 lamps to increase the system’s illumination capacity. The default kit weighs 10 pounds and can be purchased for $249.95 from Silicon Solar Inc. If you have additional 4 lamps, all 4 will cost an extra $235.
4) BRUNTON Portable Solar Panels
Brunton has portable CIGS (copper indium gallium diselenide) solar array panels that are thin and lightweight to save weight for backpackers. These panels produce standard 12volts outputs, and come with basic 12V vehicle socket, 4 different jack plugs, and battery clips. Solar array panels come in a 6 and 12 foldable, and 14 roll able series. Prices of these panels range from $129 to $399.
5) EN-R-PAK AC/DC Backup Power Supply
The EN-R-PAK backup power supply 200 series are compact solar power backup supplies that have built-in electronics that store, control, and produce energy from the sun, wind, or flowing water. The system can accept additional solar panels, wind turbines, or water turbines. These power supply systems use renewable stored energy to produce 115 volts and 12 volts DC. A 230-volt unit is also available for international use.
The EN-R-PAK can provide emergency power for a home or office, remote areas, a cabin or cottage, for communications, wherever and whenever you need power! This system has no parts that wear out, is environment friendly, quiet, does not emit harmful fumes, easy to operate, requires no assembly, needs almost no maintenance, and is designed to survive rugged weather conditions. These can also power energy efficient lights, a laptop computer, a small TV, rechargeable power tools, and other electrical equipment.
The EN-R-PAK has a 1-year system warranty, 20-year solar panel warranty, 2-year battery warranty, and is built to conform to UL, NEC, and CSA electrical standards.
EN-R-PAK 50-watt solar panels are liquid-proof and shatter proof. These also come with a blocking diode, 30 feet of cable with a connection plug. Wind turbines are also configured to the EN-R-PAK so changes to the power centre are not needed.
The basic system will cost $1500. Additions to the system will make the cost reach a maximum of $2950.
This sums up the possibilities for portable solar power. As time and knowledge progress other devices and possibilities will be available on the market. The prices mentioned here can give you an idea, but are by no means accurate.
Solar power systems for camping are increasing in availability, but what about practicality? Can solar power systems for camping be put to use readily? Are they portable enough? Are they durable enough?
Solar power practicality for camping must address those questions and more. Are solar power systems for camping cost effective? Do they produce enough energy for normal needs?
RV Camping
Solar power systems for camping can readily be used in RV camping. But are they practical?
Many people spend most of their RV camping time in RV camping spaces with full hook-ups. They plan trips according to where the next RV camp is, and reserve a full hook-up space for the end of each day. For them, solar power practicality is questionable. It makes a good back-up system, if there is a power outage at a campground. On the whole, however, it is an unnecessary expense – just another toy.
Others enjoy the freedom of being able to camp without hook-ups. They want to get off the beaten track – be pioneers. They want the opportunity to be in a remote, quiet place for a few days. They may want to go off road, or stop beside a quiet stream, even though it is in the middle of nowhere. They don’t want to rush to make it to the next full hook-up campground.
Solar power practicality for camping is real for the second group of campers. Solar power serves a practical use for them. It breaks the leash of energy needs and lets them wander as they please.
Operating an RV’s electrical system with a solar power system is simple. Charging its batteries with solar power is also simple. You need to plan your system, of course. You need to know how much energy you want. Then you need to purchase and install solar panels, batteries, and inverters that will produce that amount of energy for you.
Many Internet websites will guide you through the necessary steps of determining how much solar power you need. They will explain which components will provide that amount of energy. Solar power systems for camping in recreational vehicles are increasingly available in a range of sizes, and you are sure to find one to fit your needs. Most are easy to use.
Solar power systems for camping may make you think twice about appliances you take for granted in RV camping. For example, suppose you have a coffee maker that requires 15 minutes to brew coffee, and then keeps the coffee warm on a warming plate. This will consume a lot of your solar power. You may want to replace that coffee maker with one that will brew in 10 minutes and shut itself off. Pour your coffee into a thermos and it will remain hot without using more energy.
Non-RV Camping
Solar power systems for camping are also practical for non-RV camping. The same two groups of people are to be found. One group likes to make camp in a KOA campground, with electrical power close at hand. The other group likes to hike into the back country with lightweight backpacks, and camp wherever darkness overtakes them.
Solar power practicality can easily be seen in the array of lightweight, portable units hitting the market. Solar power can be generated by the backpack in which gear is carried. Flexible solar panels can be rolled up and carried to the campsite, where they can be stretched on the ground to generate additional energy.
Solar power systems for camping are small and portable, but can generate enough energy to run a small heater or light bulb. Solar collected by a backpack while hiking can recharge a cell phone, camera, or iPod. Small solar power units will run appliances made for use in a vehicle. The coffee maker that will plug into your cigarette lighter can be run by a flexible solar power panel.
Solar power practicality for camping is sure to increase, and products for this use will multiply. Those who appreciate the environment enough to want to be far out into it will demand clean energy, i.e. solar power.
It should first be noted that “solar powered pump” is actually a description of a two phase process. You have 1: the actual pump and 2: an energy source being powered by the sun, with a cable or wire connecting the two devices. Solar powered pumps can be used to pump water for humans, livestock or plants. Since the need for water is greatest on sunny hot days the technology is an obvious choice for this application.
Pumping water using solar powered technology is simple, reliable, and requires almost no maintenance.
To date the greatest use for solar powered pumps has been in agriculture where the pumps can be used on remote farms and outback stations to supply water to livestock. The remoteness is the key thing here as powering the pump by any means other than solar would be costly and inefficient. In a like manner, solar powered pumps are used extensively in developing countries to pump water from wells and rivers to villages for domestic consumption and irrigation of crops.
A typical solar powered pumping system consists of an array of Photo Voltaic (PV) cells that powers an electric motor, which drives a pump. The water is often pumped from beneath the ground or from a stream into a storage tank that provides a gravity feed. No energy storage is needed for these systems (save from maybe a rechargeable back-up battery source). Solar powered pumping systems are a cost-effective alternative to windmills (particularly on still days) for remote area water supply.
The most inexpensive solar powered pumps cost less than $1,500 while the larger systems can run to over $20,000. Most PV water pumps rarely exceed 2 horsepower in size. A well installed quality PV water pumping systems can provide over 20 years of reliable and continuous service.
Whilst it has been the needs of developing countries and agriculture that has initially driven the demand for solar powered pump technology, a greater environmental consciousness around the world has seen many householders use solar powered pumps (rather than a less environmentally friendly internal combustion engine) to create solar powered waterfalls or solar powered fountains in a pond display.
A solar powered pond, powered directly from solar panels, will work whenever there is direct sunlight; the brighter the sun the stronger the flow. Some solar powered water fountains will include a remote solar panel with enough wire that allows for the solar panel to be placed well away from the fountain. Solar power offers a great alternative when convenient electrical installation is not possible – as is often the case with gardens.
Decorative additions to a solar powered pond display such as solar powered glowing frog lights and solar powered floating lily pad led lights can usually be purchased at the same place that you purchase your solar powered pump kit.
Do you want to know how to make solar power? Have you heard of the benefits of generating solar power? The need of having alternative sources of energy is becoming more and more essential day by day. The cost and supply v/s demand ratio of conventional fuel is going for a toss. Moreover, the byproducts and other harmful emissions by burning fossil fuels are threatening the very existence of life on our beautiful planet, Earth. Now itâs about time that we start looking for an alternative resource of energy.
In fact, clean and renewable energy sources have been there for a long time: hydro power, wind power and solar power.
Out of these three resources of power, solar power is the more apt for homes. Once solar power systems are installed they do not require any maintenance. The average life-span of solar panel is more than 35 years, they come in a lot of shapes and sizes that blend together greatly with all sorts of structures, functionally as well as aesthetically. Solar panels do not emit any gases, are completely soundless and require only sunlight to produce energy.
By knowing how to make solar power thousands of people worldwide are witnessing a change in the lifestyle, from being self sufficient in regards to production of electricity, to having this great feeling of doing their bit to help preserve the environment.
Numerous ways are there to make use of solar power and residential solar power generators are the choice of a majority of people. The model is simple yet powerful. Solar energy is simply harnessed by solar panels and renewed to electrical power by the circuits present in the power generators. It is then wired on to the mains of the house for utilization and also perhaps inter-connected to the grid where extra electricity created can be sold.
It is safe to say that nearly all homes can gain from having a residential solar power generator but a viability study is suggested to conclude for sure. If you want to make solar power at home, the primary factor is sunlight, followed by direction, configuration and shading of the house. As the amount of energy produced is directly associated to the amount of sunlight captured. Thus all these factors should be kept in mind.
Small-scale residential solar power generators can be afforded by everyone and they can even be built from scratch by DIY (do-it-yourself). Guides and manuals are abundantly retailed on the internet and those who are handy can save more money than they spend.
To start on the right footing and get a head start you need to find a DIY solar power guide that will show you even the minutest details about how to make a solar power plant in your home, the tools and the raw materials that you would need. A free lifetime online support and an online forum where you can chat with other DIY enthusiasts will be an added bonus.
Want to know about the advantages and disadvantages of solar power? Well, there are a lot of advantages of solar energy. I’m going to first tell you about the advantages of solar energy over that of energy generated from oil.
Advantages Of Solar Power
Solar power is a renewable energy source. Despite the fact that we cannot make use of sun’s power during night, or on days when there is no sunlight available, we can count on the next day being sunny, when there will be sunlight to give us more energy and light. As long as we have the sun we can generate solar energy from it (and it’s a no brainer that when we no longer have sun in existence, we won’t find ourselves alive, either!). When compared to solar energy, oil is non-renewable source of energy. Once it finishes, it is gone forever. We might find a different source of energy but that might finish off one day as well. So its just about time that we start looking for other renewable sources of energy to end the power crisis and the answer is- Solar Power Solar cells are totally silent. They create energy from sun without making any noise. Now think over the noise made by huge drilling machines that pump oil Solar cells/panels need no maintenance (as they do not have any moving parts within them, so there is no wear and tear that need replacement) The most important advantage of solar energy as compared to oil is that the solar energy is non-polluting, whereas oil when burnt releases harmful toxic, greenhouse gases and carcinogens in air. Although the initial setup of solar panel or solar lights might be pricey but in the long run saves us a lot of money, as we will never have to pay the electric bill again! On the other hand we all are aware of the increasing prices of oil and thus the generated electricity worldwide. Solar powered products and lights are very simple and easy to install.
Evidently, there are many advantages of solar power. The advantages of solar power range from benefiting in reducing to completely eliminating the cost of your monthly electric bills to benefiting the environment.
Disadvantages of solar power
Just for the records…..
Solar cells/panels can be expensive at times specially when you order them to be made or buy them. Solar energy can not be created during night.
Evidently when we look at the advantages and disadbvantages of solar power and compare them, its advantages greatly outnumber the disadvantages. Also the current disadvantages are the things that are always worked upon to improve as technology advances
Because of the rising energy costs sweeping the country and the world, many homeowners are turning towards alternative solutions to meeting their energy needs. One cost-saving option many are examining is solar power for the home. Installing solar power for the home can be a cost-prohibitive endeavor when done by a professional. What most people don’t know is that they can install solar panels themselves. By accomplishing this task personally, a homeowner will reap all of the benefits of solar power for the home, but none of the drawbacks in cost.
The way to make solar panels is a far more simple process than most people think. You don’t need an engineering degree to make solar power for the home and you don’t need to be some electronics whiz-kid either. All you need is a little patience and some free time and you could find yourself on the path of energy freedom. Making and installing solar power for the home can even be a fun and educational activity for your kids, especially teenagers.
The big advantage to building and installing your own solar power for the home is that you’ll save a large amount of money. Some professionals charge thousands of dollars to install just a few panels. You will be able to implement a system that can, at very least, power many small appliances and save you money on your energy bill each month. Appliances like DVD players, TVs, computers and coffee makers could all be powered with small solar panels. You could even install a series of panels on your rooftop, giving you complete solar power for the home. You’re only limits are that of time and your imagination.
In order to properly build and implement your solar panels, it’s important to make sure you have a high quality manual or instructions before you begin. These manuals and instructions for building solar power for the home are available from a number of websites or retailers. However, make sure you are purchasing one that is efficient and reputable. There are a variety of companies that claim they have solar power for the home solutions, but their instructions are overly complicated and lack real insight. Make sure you spend the money to get good instructions; it will pay off in the long run. The supplies themselves are very cost effective. You can purchase lumber, copper wiring and pains of glass from a local hardware store. The photovoltaic cells themselves can either be purchased online or from a local retailer.
The best part about building solar power for the home is the fact that the time it takes is very little. An average person with a little bit of knowledge in building small objects like birdhouses, can build and install a 100-Watt solar panel in less than a day. That solar panel will be enough to power a small appliance or even tools to build more solar panels. Once you build your own solar power for the home in even a small way, the energy savings begin to add up. The money you’ll save can be reinvested into more solar panels until eventually you are living off the grid entirely.
Deciding on a proper goal before you begin to install solar power for the home is important. Make sure you understand the proper procedure and exactly what you would like to accomplish first. One easy place to start is in a garden or on a porch. Because the photovoltaic cells will have the ability to accumulate more energy in the open, these spots make prime candidates. You can power lighting or other devices without raising your energy bill.
Again, the most important concept in building solar power for the home is to make sure you have the proper instructions, tools and ability to follow through with the plan. You are making a long-term investment for the future. Not just the future of the planet, but of your own well-being. Besides the financial benefits of installing solar power for the home, you will also reap the rewards of thinking ahead. You’ll sleep soundly knowing that the next time the power goes out in your neighborhood, you will have solar panels in place to power daily necessities until the power company can fix the situation.
This article will show you how will show you how you can save more money with solar energy producing panels by following these proven energy saving tips. As prices continue to go up on almost everything and it seems like they will never come back down, we all need to find ways to save money in our everyday lives. Here are a few ways to save energy and keep some money in your pocket.
Convert your current electric, gas or oil hot water heater to a solar hot water heater. Hot water uses up a tremendous amount of power. If you’re willing to implement this one simple upgrade you will see a huge decrease in future utility bills. Solar energy producing panels will more than cover the cost of this upgrade.
Brand name energy-efficient appliances are available in 12-volt models.These extremely energy-efficient refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers,need only a tiny amount of power to function, proving them to be perfect alternatives to operate on solar power. Energy Star rated appliances use 20-50% less energy than traditional models. The Whirlpool Duet front load washers use only thirty-three percent of the water that regular washers use and is able to wash 3 times as many clothes per load. It’s easy to see how fast the savings can increase.
By switching off electrical devices when not in use, could keep a lot of that electric bill money in your pocket. Devices such as TV’s, modems, satellite dishes, printers and computers use electrical energy although they’re turned off. Disconnecting them from an electric outlet will guarantee they’re not eating up your income. Should you eliminate an extra freezer or refrigerator you can easily cut 10-30% off of your electric bill.
Install a programmable thermostat to regulate the air conditioning and heat to reduce your electric bill. By shutting off these units when nobody’s home and by regulating the temperature of your home, you’ll surely experience a 5-20% drop-off on your monthly electric bill.
Here is the number one benefit of you reading this article about solar energy producing panels :
You can personally install – without a contractor – a solar photovoltaic (or PV system) for an active solar power system to run your home. It is possible and there are some simple steps you can follow on how to build your very own energy producing solar panels.
Now that I have shown what you could benefit from using solar energy producing panels , I hope I have sparked a desire in you to learn how to create your own energy source. Imagine saving yourself time and literally thousands of dollars by learning from an easy to follow set of instructions on making solar panels using solar and wind power to cut your utility costs. To download a set of step-by-step instructions follow this link: http://www.cleanenergytech.info
In this age of rising electric bills everyone is feeling the pinch. Unfortunately, too many people think that rising utility cost is just a fact of life that can not be changed. Yet, you can save money on electric bills by making your own solar power for the home. Solar power used to be an expensive option, but not anymore. More and more people are installing their own solar power and saving money on their electric bills or cutting out the bill entirely.
The central component of making solar power for the home is the solar panels themselves. You can make the solar panels with a few simple components or purchase a kit, either option will save you hundreds over the cost of pre-made panels. The basic materials used in a solar panel are plywood, glass, copper wire, silicone, UV protectors, and of course, the solar cells.
Solar cells are what turn light into electricity, thus saving you money from not using the grid power. This is why the cells are the most important part of creating solar power for the home. While solar panels are available for purchase, they are often pricey and the upfront costs alone may negate any potential energy savings for years to come. By making your own panels in order to provide solar power for the home, you can reduce the upfront costs and begin recouping the cost of your panels much sooner.
Making your own panels in order to provide solar power for the home is not complicated and only requires modest skills that most people can learn quite easily or already possess. While electric rates continue to rise every year, a solar panel made today will continue to produce electricity for at least thirty years, all for the cost of the initial investment. Solar power for the home is inflation proof and will leave more money in your pocket over the long run.
With a small investment, a single solar panel can be built in order to supplement utility company electricity. While you will still be drawing energy from the grid, you will not be using as much. This alone can save hundreds of dollars over the cost of electricity every year. When building your own system in order to create solar power for the home, you have the additional benefit of adding to it and enlarging it as time and finances allow, instead of purchasing a large and expensive ready made system out right. You have a lot more freedom to grow your system as your needs and situation allow.
If you are building a home in a rural area that is not currently already hooked to the grid, you will pay thousands of dollars up front just to have the electric lines laid to your home. In this case, it is always less expensive to make and install solar power for the home. A solar panel kit you build yourself is much less expensive than bringing electricity in from the power company and will continue to save you money every year there after. Solar power for the home is the best option in rural areas that would otherwise be prohibitive in cost to run power to.
Solar power for the home is also a sound environmental option. Many states and the federal government offer programs to reimburse some of the initial costs of installing solar power. This can offset the initial investment of switching to full solar power dramatically, thus making your energy savings more evident in a shorter time period. All in all, solar power for the home will save you money on rising electricity costs in very little time and with very little effort.