Using Solar Panels To Power Your Home

December 19, 2010 by ftsword37  
Filed under Green Living

If you?ve ever thought about getting your own solar panels to help save the environment as well as your hard-earned cash, then you?re in luck. Our handy guide gives you a quick overview of what?s involved with installing solar panels. First things first, equipment. You?re going to need the panels themselves, mounts, rails, a conduit, tape measure, laser sight, stud finder, bolts and a drill. Double check your panels in case you need any additions as they can vary depending which ones you get.

Before you begin installation, you need to carry out an energy audit on your house so you know how many solar panels the roof of your property will be able to take and how much you will save by using them. The Department of Energy will be able to give you advice on how to do this. You also need to make sure the panels are in prime position for catching the sunlight: don?t install them in the shade or they won?t work properly. Cut away any low branches.

Next, determine what kind of mounts you?ll need based on the type of panels you?ll be using and where they?ll be positioned. After this, use a stud finder to locate your house?s rafters, as these will support the solar panels once they?re installed. Use a laser sight to mark exactly where the mounts will be positioned above the rafters, then use a pilot bit to drill holes for the mounts without damaging the rafters. Then secure the mounts to the roof, using lag bolts to do so.

Your next job is to use bolts and attach the rails to the mounts. Then it?s time to individually install the solar panels on the rails, carefully securing them in place before moving onto the next one. The final job is to attach a conduit, running it from the converter in your house and then connecting it to the solar panels. Secure it properly so you don?t have to worry about it moving or being damaged in bad whether. Lastly, check to see your new panels work properly.

Overall, it isn?t too complicated to install your own solar panels but you do need to be careful and take care, especially when you?re working on the roof. You should also alert your local electricity provider before installation as they may purchase some of your power off you, and some of them require you to have one of their technician?s present. Also get an expert to check your work before and after you do it to make sure the panels are secure and you meet any regulations.

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How To Create Your Own Solar Thermal System In 3 Straightforward Steps

July 31, 2010 by ftsword37  
Filed under Green Tips

The Net is vast where there are hundreds of millions of men along with women linked to it. Subjects for just anyone are being discussed. Perhaps you would like to know further about how to make your own solar thermal system. There’s a great deal of curiosity about the finest way to create your own solar thermal system via the Internet. There’s a great deal helpful info available on that if you are interested. If you wish to know how to create your own solar thermal system then this informative article can help you. Please read on to discover ways to produce your own solar thermal system in 3 uncomplicated steps.

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The very first step you requirement to take is you need to find a superior source of information on the best in addition to simplest way to construct a solar thermal system. This will be crucial because without a good supply of information you will squander a lot of age in addition to cash simply going through the process by means of trial plus error. You will want to avoid building mechanism that simply don’t work, or don?t work efficiently.
Finish this task promptly, correctly in addition to completely. This is very important. It it’s not done right, for whatever reason, then you will be left by a solar water heating system which is essentially wasting obtainable energy.

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The next step will be source a superior hardware store or online store to purchase your parts. Things that you will need to avoid here are buying the cheapest components, as you wont get a unit, which lasts. Plus you will also want to avoid paying around the odds for workings where you will see no noticeable benefits in terms of efficiency or in product life.
The last step is to test the apparatus, so see that is performs adequately previous to installing it into your system. This is significant because you do not want to put the system in, in addition to then find it doesn?t work properly for some reason. What is significant to avoid is a low flow owing to the system, a first-class flow is crucial to capture the heat as well as distribute it.

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Keep to the definite steps outlined above plus you ought to have minimum difficulties by way of the best way to produce your own solar thermal system rapidly and well, without difficulty. Just do the things you must, for the reasons given in addition to avoid the problems and traps explained. Then pat yourself on the back! In addition to relish the benefits plus rewards of having manufactured your own solar thermal system, which you earned by way of your personal efforts!

Basic Photovoltaic Panel Parts

June 14, 2010 by ftsword37  
Filed under Green Living

From the operators of www.GreenLivingRocks.com — providing education regarding how to make a home made solar panel, solar hot water heater, and solar energy facts.

One of the reasons that constructing your own pv (photovoltaic panels has become so popular is that there are really very few components involved. A regular solar panel consists of just a few basic parts, namely an enclosure, solar cells, a substrate and wiring. Here?s an overview of what?s involved.

Solar panel container or enclosure
This is what most people see when they think of a solar panel. It?s the clear glass top, the frame and the backing that the photovoltaic cells are mounted on. The case can be large enough to need a custom built metal rack for mounting on a rooftop, or small enough to be a plastic box that can be placed almost invisibly near an outdoor floodlight. It needs to be resistant to ultra violet (UV) rays so that it does not deteriorate with continuous exposure to sunlight. And the glass (usually Plexiglas) needs to be durable enough to withstand harsh weather, including hail and wind storms that could crash tree branches and other debris into it.

Substrate
This is the piece of lumber, peg board or other material that the solar cells are mounted on inside of the enclosure. It too needs to be UV-resistant to survive prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

Photovoltaic cells
The photovoltaic cells are comparable to the silicon chips that power most computers. They combine the silicon, metals and other materials in a way that captures direct sunlight and converts it into electricity. The electricity can either be instantly used by direct current devices (DC) like LED lights, or stored in DC batteries and converted into alternating current (AC) to power conventional appliances like refrigerators, TVs and other electrical equipment in homes and businesses.

Tabbed and untabbed solar cells
When constructing your own solar panels, you can save money by purchasing untabbed solar cells and soldering the tabs onto the cells yourself. This can be a good option if you have more time than money, but it?s a tedious job. You can save time by buying tabbed solar cells which will cut your soldering time by one-half to two-thirds.

Photovoltaic cell wiring
Once the solar cells are mounted on the substrate, they are wired to each other in a series so that they can produce electricity. Copper wire is added to connect the solar cells to storage batteries for using the electricity later, or to connect directly to the device that the photovoltaic panel is powering like an attic fan or a solar powered toy.

Blocking diode

The blocking diode is a little component that prevents electricity that is stored in a battery from draining backward into the pv (photovoltaic) panel. Bigger photovoltaic systems use a charge controller for the same effect.

What Kinds Of Hot Water Solar Powered Collectors Can You Make Yourself?

June 11, 2010 by ftsword37  
Filed under Green Living

From the operators of www.GreenLivingRocks.com — providing education regarding how to make a solar panel, solar panel cost, and solar power generator.

There are 3 main types of hot water solar collectors universally used in homes: flat plate and evacuated tube systems.

Should You Build Your Own Solar Swimming Pool Heater?

June 10, 2010 by ftsword37  
Filed under Green Living

From the operators of www.GreenLivingRocks.com — providing education regarding how to make a home made solar panel, solar panel, and solar installation.

Building your own solar swimming pool heater is a great do-it-yourself project if you want to add solar to your home.

Using The Suns Fuel To Heat Pools And Homes Throughout The Globe

June 3, 2010 by ftsword37  
Filed under Green Tips

The sun can provide us by means of huge amounts of useable fuel from warmth to power. There are two main reasons why we should use solar energy to heat our homes, company along with even swimming pools. Firstly, the fee of energy is constantly rising. For many people, heating now is a luxury as they find it hard to afford to warmth their homes as they once did. Therefore this makes it particularly hard to warmth a non-essential space such as a swimming pool. Many people are also no concerned over the impact of using fossil fuels on the nature. The emissions generated from using fossil fuels are now known to cause carbon emissions, which raise the global temperature.

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So its clear we necessitate to move away from using fossil fuels such as oil plus gas to warmth our homes along with pools, on the other hand how else can we source heat in a low carbon in addition to ‘green’ fashion. Well, solar fuel maybe highly promoted as a way to generate electricity by means of solar cells, though it is much better to capture solar energy for thermal uses, such as heating pools. There are a range of solar air heater designs, yet a more appropriate solution for heating swimming pools is the solar water heater. A solar water heater, if built correctly can generate huge amounts of warmth. With somewhat bit of knowledge, its amazing how simple it is to be able to build your own solar water heater from abode. A solar water heater for your pool could be assembled for only a few hundred dollars and will give you free heat pretty much all year round by means of little or no maintenance along with running costs at all. On the net there are a mixture of videos of abode owners who have built their own solar water heaters, such as the one below.

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The parts needed to build a solar water heater for pools is actually very limited. The main part is the hot water vessel which is where the solar thermal energy will be captured into the water to heat the pool. You could find suitable water storage vessels from most DIY or hardware stores. If a black container cannot be sourced, it must be painted black. Much more solar energy will be captured into a black water storage vessel. Once you have your tank. You require to build an enclosure to home the container that will let in solar energy and amplify the temperature of the tank in addition to the water. Making your own solar water heater for your pool can be very rewarding as well as save you a lot on purchasing.

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Capturing The Solar Warmth Produced From Solar Radiation Along With Heating

June 3, 2010 by ftsword37  
Filed under Green Tips

The search is on, we now more than ever are searching for alternatives to generate the warmth and power we necessitate to keep us accustomed to our western habits. This lifestyle was driven from cheap fuel from fossil fuels such as oil plus gas. Though, now by means of escalating prices as well as global demand rising, the oil tycoons really do have us where they want us. We are addicted to their products, to run our cars plus heat along with power our homes. We require alternatives, it?s now even past the argument of climate change, we call for alternatives to be able to afford energy in addition to fuel. Many people originally dismissed the require for solar, wind in addition to wood energy as purely for people who thought climate change was happening. Yet no more than ever people are looking at options such as solar heating as well as solar water heater as purely a financial decision.

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So how can we use solar fuel in our modern lifestyles, as well as can it really generate the volumes of energy we call for. Well, it needs to be a two-sided approach, we call for to use options such as solar wind along with biomass, but we also necessitate to try in addition to use less energy. Western society has been extremely wasteful with the energy we generate, and this does necessitate to block. By trying to use less energy, options such as solar really can generate the heat as well as power we necessitate. Solar water heaters for instance are now becoming very accepted, to provide hot water for washing as well as to provide warmth for the house, even the swimming pool.

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In fact using solar energy for warmth is a much better idea than trying to save money on your electricity bills with solar panels. If you have the resources, by way of all means do both, yet for many people this isn?t the case. Solar water heaters can actually be built from abode, from even salvaged parts. They have virtually no running or maintenance costs, as well as provide heat for most of the year. Even someone by means of only basic DIY skills can produce their own solar water heat.

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Capturing Solar Energy For Heat Along With Power For Just A Few Hundred Dollars

June 2, 2010 by ftsword37  
Filed under Green Tips

The sun, its crucial for all life on earth, along with it will now have to play a more prominent role in providing the fuel to power in addition to heat our modern lifestyles. As a modern society we have depended too heavily on using fossil fuels to provide by means of the warmth as well as power we need. Fossil fuels are simply not sustainable. We now are seeing the repercussions from this by means of rapidly inflating prices plus resource problems. Also, the concerns for the environment owing to the use of fossil fuels grows everyday. Heating your pool for case in point is visibly a none essential, and heating with fossil fuels are was the norm is now not morally or financially viable. Yet, many people see their pool as a crucial part of their behavior. The pool is a accepted way to relax as well as carry out light exercise, in addition to entertain as well as hold parties. A cold pool is not an inviting space, in addition to does hold back the possible of the pool. Therefore some heating is required. Though, without using a oil or gas heater how can we get ample heat into the pool. The answer is by solar heater through using a solar water heater, while will generate warmth in the pool all year.

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Due to using a solar water heater to get warmth into your swimming pool can do two things. It can provide a free source of heat in addition to it can also help to save the nature, removing the call for to use oil or gas heaters. The important thing to remember about heating a swimming pool is the volume of water which needs to be heated. If you install perspective how long a kettle takes to warmth water as well as the amount of energy it uses, you can start to understand the amount of energy required to warmth an entire swimming pool, by means of even only a few degrees. To enlarge the heat of the pool and keep it there requires a fairly constant resource of warmth. This is what pool solar heating can provide each plus every day, even in mild climates. This means solar water heaters can amplify the temperature of the pool along with keep it there for when ever you use the pool the temperature will be a nice ambient warm.

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On the other hand the source of fuel maybe free, to manufacture solar energy as appealing as likely, the way we capture it must also be low cost. It is potential to build a solar water heater for as little as $200. It can even be manufactured from reclaimed materials. One of the easiest plus cheapest designs to manufacture is the passive solar water heater. This design is also of of the most proficient along with reliable. Also, its the prefect design of solar water heater to be used to warmth your pool. The video below is of an example which can easily be manufactured by anyone as well as generate free warmth all year.

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Swimming Pool Solar Water Heater Plus Free Warmth As Well As Green Fuel

June 1, 2010 by ftsword37  
Filed under Green Tips

Today, as I’m sure you are aware fuel is expensive, and heating is expensive. Using conventional fossil fuels to warmth our homes is sufficient of a concern, never mind try to get our swimming pools to a heat we would prefer. However, a swimming pool to many is a crucial part of their lifestyle, its a place where they can relax on their own, do some light exercise in addition to entertain friends. A freezing cold pool is hardly as inviting as one which has been heated to a nice ambient heat. This is where the point really lies, as a swimming pool is a huge asset to many people which they wish to create the most of. This therefore means to swimming pool does require to be heated, yet they also don’t want the costs of heating the pool to become a small fortune as this would also create enjoying the pool that bit harder. The uncomplicated solution is to capture a source of fuel to heat the pool that many of us today still ignore, the power of the sun. The sun, even in mild climates produces a enormous amount of heat which we can capture to be used to heat our homes in addition to our swimming pools. It can also save thousands in heating costs while helping to combat climate change.

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Heating a pool is not an instant process. Think for case in point of a kettle, we all know that a kettle uses lots of fuel to heat water. Now, for a pool we are clearly not going to boil the pool, but just think of the volume of water which needs to be heated compared to the volume of your kettle. What this means essential is warmth needs to be generated pretty much constantly heat in addition to maintain the heat of the swimming pool to a preferred level. This is where a solar water heater can really produce a difference. It can provide some heat each plus every day, raising the temperature of the swimming pool in addition to keeping it there.

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There are more than a few dissimilar designs of solar water heater that can be used for your swimming pool, as you would expect. Below is a video of a suitable heater. The design of solar water heater, which is more appropriate for your swimming pool, is a passive solar water heater. The unit is made from a black water storage vessel placed within a solar thermal collector. The benefits of a passive solar water heater is the design is straightforward sufficient for practically anyone to create there own and save thousands in buying costs.

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Solar Heater For Pool Plus Combating Climate Change As Well As High Oil Prices

May 31, 2010 by ftsword37  
Filed under Green Tips

The pool can be a place to relax as well as exercise, its many people favourite place to be. It is important on the other hand to keep the pool in good condition, by way of cleaning it regularly. Additional than cleaning, to manufacture the pool a more pleasant experience, it helps to get the temperature to a nice ambient temperature, heating such a large volume of water however can be tricky, along with expensive. Firstly, as the volume of water is so large it takes time plus a fairly constant reserve of heat to amplify the temperature by way of even only a few degrees. Therefore is needs a heat source running most of the time. In the past a wide range of heat sources were used, from oil, gas and electric heaters. On the other hand for most people the running costs of these solutions are no longer affordable, in addition to will not be any more affordable in the future. There is a pretty much abundant source of energy that pool owners can harness to heat their pools, the power of the sun. Even in mild climates, the sun generates a huge amount of fuel which can be used to heat your swimming pool. There are a variety of ways to capture solar fuel into the pool, one of the greatest solutions is to set up a solar water heater.

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As stated, using traditional forms of fuel to warmth your pool is far to expensive for the average person. Also, its very hard to relax along with enjoy using the pool when you calculate its costing you a small fortune. Therefore installing a solar water heater is the answer. There is a video of a design of solar water heater which can be used to heat a pool, along with which can even be build from abode. This definite design is known as a passive solar water heater. The passive solar water is one of the first, but still one of the finest designs. Its very reliable plus owing to its easy design is one of the cheapest solar water heaters to construct as well as run.

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The design of the passive water heater is build on simplicity plus efficiency, to capture as much solar energy within a giving space for the lowest fee probable. The design uses parts which can be purchased from any hardware store plus for minimal fee. The first part is a black water storage vessel, sized appropriately for the size of swimming pool you wish to heat. A solar collector box is then made to dwelling the tank as well as enlarge the temperature around the tank. It is then simply a case of flow plus return pipes in addition to a pump to move the water. The design of solar water heater is easily simply adequate for even a starter into DIY and abode builds.

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