Your Questions About Solar Generators For The Home
Chris asks…
Is it possible to make solar panels for generating electricity out of everyday materials?
I have made a wind generator out of cheap, everyday materials.
Is it possible to make solar panels for generating electricity from everyday materials, perhaps something like a thermocouple with two different metals?
admin answers:
Not unless you can figure out a way to produce a semi-conductor at home. Basically a solar cell (photovoltaic cell) is a couple of layers of silicon P type and N type. Electrons become excited when light quanta penetrates into the P layer. The excited electrons move to the N type and (very oversimplified) create electricity.
I doubt you would have the facilities to create the materials at home.
Susan asks…
I want to power my new home I am building on solar power alone what will the cost be roughly?
I also want to stay off the electric grid . It would cost an additional ten thousand dollars to be hooked into it and I want to be independant from utilities. Would solar panels and batteries power lights and T.V , computer , washer dryer ect.
admin answers:
TV, lights and small appliances, yes. Washer, maybe. Dryer, not likely unless it’s gas – consider a clothesline. Electric range or oven, no. Hot tub, no unless it’s converted to a gas heater.
The raw panels are about $3-8 per watt. So for 6Kw figure about $18k for the panels. The charger/inverter and batteries, figure $2-3k more. Figure about $30k including the installation.
You might also consider a generator. The off-grid houses I’ve seen tend to have them, even if they have batteries too. Add $3k for that.
Do you have a creek? Consider small-scale hydro too.
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Portable AC Outlet Battery Pack by ChargeTech – 54000mAh 250W / 110V [8-18 Extra Hours For Most Laptops] – External Power Bank Charger for MacBooks, Laptops, Cameras, Camping, CPAP Machines [BLACK]
![]() | ChargeTech - PLUG 54,000 mAh Portable Battery w/ Pass Through Charging and 250 Watt Output - 2 USB Ports, 2 International AC Wall Outlets, USB-C Output (Model: CT-600011) (Black). ULTIMATE PORTABILITY - Take power where you need it with the PLUG Portable Battery. It's compact size, universal compatibility, high capacity and solar recharge capability (sold seperately) means you can enjoy and charge and provide power to your products anywhere. The PLUG weighs 2lbs 3oz with dimensions of 5.6in x 1. | |
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CyberPower PR750LCD Smart App Sinewave UPS System, 750VA/525W, 6 Outlets, AVR, Mini-Tower
![]() | Shipping Depth: 19.2 Shipping Height: 10.8 Shipping Width: 11.2 Master Pack Qty: 1 General Information Manufacturer: CyberPower Systems, Inc Manufacturer Part Number: PR750LCD Brand Name: CyberPower Product Line: Smart App Sinewave Product Model: PR750LCD Product Name: Smart App Sinewave PR750LCD 750VA Pure Sine Wave Mini-Tower LCD UPS Marketing Information: The CyberPower Smart App Sinewave PR750LCD uninterruptible power supply (UPS) with LCD Control Panel and Active PFC compatible pure sine wa | |
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6.5 Ft Wind Generator – Rainbow
![]() | A colorful adaptation of the large power generators seen in Europe and on windy plains in America, our version uses a unique governor arrangement to keep them turning at a constant yet mesmerizing rpm. Based on designs by Mike Delfar of Gravity Works in Franklin, Wisconsin. | |
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ExpertPower Omega 288 Portable Generator Lithium-ion 12V 26AH 288WH Uninterruptible Power Supply with 500W PURE SINE WAVE inverter Charged by AC Input|12V Car|Solar Power for Outdoor and Indoor Use
![]() | The Omega 288 provides clean AC power to your electronics with a Pure Sine Wave DC-to-AC inverter. With its 500W power rating and 1000W peak power limit, this portable 288 Wh (Watt Hour) device is perfect for your energy-hungry devices. And it can also support many smaller devices with its 4 DC outputs and 4 USB outputs rated at 12V/10A and 5V/6A. Besides traditional wall-charging, this light-weight device can be recharged through solar power, wind turbines or car cigarette sockets, making it co | |
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TalentCell 12V 100 Watts/155Wh Lithium ion Battery Portable Solar Generator Power Station with Inverter Outputs AC 110V, 3USB 5V/2.1A, 3DC 12V/15A, Charged by Solar/AC/Car
![]() | Thank you for applying our multi-function portable solar generator. Please read the user manual carefully and properly keep it for reference. How to charge the Portable Power Generator? 1. Charge through AC wall charger: Using the included ac wall charger, plug the unit into any wall outlet to charge the unit. 2. Charge from solar panel: Place your solar panel where it will get as much direct sunlight as possible. Plug the output of the solar panel into the input of the unit to start charging. | |
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Your Questions About Solar Energy Generators For Sale
Linda asks…
Did anybody see the list of extras added to the $700 billion Wall Street bail out?
Remember when that bail out plan kept going back and forth, back and forth and THEN got signed? Hmmmm……. did anybody see all the “extra” stuff attached to it? You know the old saying “scratch my back ….”? Isn’t it amazing how much other stuff gets tacked on to a bill that we only know the title of — granted some of this is necessary and helpful, but come on: Children’s wooden arrows, rum excise tax revenues to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands; and does THIS sound fair: Accelerated depreciation for property used mostly on an Indian reservation?
More on the Bill
Apart from the Troubled Assets Relief Program, the bill before the Senate includes:
* Extensions of the AMT patch, tax deductions on state and local sales taxes, tuition, teacher expenses and real property taxes and tax credits for business research and new market investors
* Energy tax credits and incentives to encourage wind and refined coal production, new biomass facilities, wave and tide electricity generators, solar energy property improvements, CO2 capturing, plug-in electric drive vehicles, idling reduction units on truck engines, cellulosic biofuels ethanol production, energy efficient houses, offices, dishwashers, clothes washers and refrigerators, and fringe benefits for employees commuting by bicycle.
* A requirement for private insurance plans to offer mental health benefits on par with medical-surgical benefits
* Tax relief provisions for victims of this summer’s Midwestern floods, and Hurricane Ike
* Freezing of deductions for sale and exchange of oil and natural gas, mandatory basis reporting by brokers for transactions involving publicly traded securities and an extension of the oil spill tax
But it also extends the following tax provisions:
* Economic development credit to American Samoan businesses
* $10,000 tax credit for training of mine rescue team members
* 50% immediate expensing for extra underground mine safety equipment
* Tax credit for businesses with employees from an Indian reservation
* Accelerated depreciation for property used mostly on an Indian reservation
* 50% tax credit for some expenditures on maintaining railroad tracks
* 7-year recovery period for motorsports racetrack property
* Expensing of cleaning up “brownfield” contaminated sites
* Enhanced deductions for businesses donating computers and books to schools, and for food donations
* Deduction for income from domestic production in Puerto Rico
* Tax credit for employees in Hurricane Katrina disaster area
* Tax incentives for investments in poor neighborhoods in D.C.
* Increased rehabilitation credit for buildings in Gulf area
* Reduction of import duties on some imported wool fabrics, transfers other duties to Wool Trust Fund to promote competitiveness of American wool
* Special expensing rules for film and TV productions
And there’s more:
* Increasing cover of rum excise tax revenues to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
* Making it easier for film and TV companies to use deduction for domestic production
* Exempting children’s wooden arrows from excise tax
* Income averaging for Exxon Valdez litigants for tax purposes
admin answers:
What a bunch of crap. It really shows how corrupt our legislators are when they’ll only support the bailout bill if there are some goodies for their own causes. I wonder how many of them actually thought it was a bad idea but decided it was a good way to get what they wanted.
Susan asks…
HOW IS SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCED AND USED?
admin answers:
Solar energy can be produced from solar radiation. Sunlight travels through the upper parts of the earth’s atmosphere. Once this sunlight reaches the surface of the earth, it must be captured so it can be turned into an usable energy source. At the earth’s surface, it is called infrared radiation where it is captured through the aid of photovoltaic or solar cells.Once captured, the sunlight is absorbed into these photovoltaic/solar cells. These photovoltaic/solar cells are then used to convert the sun’s energy into electrical energy. These cells are non-mechanical devices that are made from silicon alloys. Most of the solar collectors resemble black, flat boxes that sit on building rooftops. In the most common design, pipes in the box carry liquids that transfer the heat from the box into the building. This heated liquid then heats the water in a tank or is passed through radiators to heat the air. Below are the common usage of Solar Energy:
Residential
The number of PV installations on buildings connected to the electricity grid has grown in recent years. Government subsidy programs (particularly in Germany and Japan) and green pricing policies of utilities or electricity service providers have stimulated demand. Demand is also driven by the desire of individuals or companies to obtain their electricity from a clean, non-polluting, renewable source. These consumers are usually willing to pay only a small premium for renewable energy. Increasingly, the incentive is an attractive financial return on the investment through the sale of solar electricity at premium feed-in tariff rates.
In solar systems connected to the electricity grid, the PV system supplies electricity to the building, and any daytime excess may be exported to the grid. Batteries are not required because the grid supplies any extra demand. However, to be independent of the grid supply, battery storage is needed to provide power at night.
Holiday or vacation homes without access to the electricity grid can use solar systems more cost-effectively than if the grid was extended to reach the location. Remote homes in sunny locations can obtain reliable electricity to meet basic needs with a simple system comprising of a PV panel, a rechargeable battery to store the energy captured during daylight hours, a regulator (or charge controller), and the necessary wiring and switches. Such systems are often called solar home systems (SHS).
Commercial
On an office building, roof areas can be covered with glass PV modules, which can be semi-transparent to provide shaded light. On a factory or warehouse, large roof areas are the best location for solar modules. If the roof is flat, then arrays can be mounted using techniques that do not breach the weatherproofed roof membrane. Also, skylights can be partially covered with PV.
The vertical walls of office buildings provide several opportunities for PV incorporation, as well as sunshades or balconies incorporating a PV system. Sunshades may have the PV system mounted externally to the building, or have PV cells specially mounted between glass sheets comprising the window.
Industrial
For many years, solar energy has been the power supply choice for industrial applications, especially where power is required at remote locations. Because solar systems are highly reliable and require little maintenance, they are ideal in distant or isolated places.
Solar energy is also frequently used for transportation signaling, such as offshore navigation buoys, lighthouses, aircraft warning light structures, and increasingly in road traffic warning signals. Solar is used to power environmental monitoring equipment and corrosion protection systems for pipelines, well-heads, bridges, and other structures. For larger electrical loads, it can be cost-effective to configure a hybrid power system that links the PV with a small diesel generator.
Remote Applications
Remote buildings, such as schools, community halls, and clinics, can benefit from solar energy. In developing regions, central power plants can provide electricity to homes via a local wired network, or act as a battery charging station where members of the community can bring batteries to be recharged.
PV systems can be used to pump water in remote areas as part of a portable water supply system. Specialized solar water pumps are designed for submersible use or to float on open water. Large-scale desalination plants can also be PV powered using an array of PV modules with battery storage.
PV systems are sometimes best configured with a small diesel generator in order to meet heavy power requirements in off-grid locations. With a small diesel generator, the PV system does not have to be sized to cope with the worst sunlight conditions during the year. The diesel generator can provide back-up power that is minimized during the sunniest part of the year by the PV system. This keeps fuel and maintenance costs low.
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Goal Zero Nomad 20 Solar Panel
![]() | The Nomad 20 Solar Panel combines highly efficient mono-crystalline technology in a foldable, portable, plug-and-play form. With a built-in junction box and innovative smart chip, the Nomad 20 can directly charge handheld USB and 12 Volt devices directly from the sun, just as fast as the wall. Combine the Nomad 20 Solar Panel with any of Goal Zero's power packs and store power to charge your gear day or night. | |
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Go Power! GP-3000HD 3000-Watt Heavy Duty Modified Sine Wave Inverter
![]() | Go Power! 3000-Watt Heavy Duty Modified Sine Wave Inverter takes in 12 Volt DC power and converts it to AC household power to run loads up to 3000-Watt of continuous AC power. This inverter comes with four AC outlets and can be hooked up to the batteries . | |
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Rockpals Foldable 60W Solar Panel Charger for Suaoki Portable Generator/Goal Zero Yeti 100/150/400 Power Station/Paxcess Battery Pack/USB Devices, QC3.0 USB Ports
![]() | Compatibility - Solar Generator: Suaoki Portable Generator, Goal Zero Yeti 150 Power Station, Paxcess Generator Battery Pack. - 5V USB devices: Smartphones and tablets(iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, etc.). 3 USB Charging Ports Intelligently detects your device, provides its fastest possible charging speed up to 2.4A per port. Foldable Design Easy to be folded to the size of magazine, can be put in your bag, as a portable direct power to carry. Tips: 1, It is not recommended to charge laptops. 2 | |
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Aeiusny UPS Backup Battery 500W Portable Generator Parts, Uninterrupted Power Supply for CPAP Mask Home Camping Laptop Emergency Battery Backup 288Wh Charged by Solar/AC Outlet/Car for Outdoor&Indoor
![]() | A must have for every one! It is a compact portable multipurpose power source which combines outdoor rechargeable power supply with the indoor computer on line UPS Frequently Asked Question ( FAQ): 1.Calculate the Working Time for Your Device: Working time = 288Wh / Your device power, For example, Your device power is 50 watt. Then the working time= 288wh/50w=5.76hrs.(theoretical) 2.Suggested Related Solar Panel: We suggest you can choose 40-100W solar panel which Optimum Operating Voltage (Vm | |
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SUAOKI Solar Charger 60W Portable Solar Panel Foldable High Efficiency 5V USB 18V DC Dual Output Charger for Laptop Tablet GPS iPhone iPad Camera Other 5-18V Device
![]() | The Briefcase-Style Solar Charger The 60W solar panel is foldable, portable and stylish. Whenever your laptop and phone run out of juice, simply unfold the solar panel and power up your device away from the socket with an eco-friendly way. Suitable for Tablet GPS Camera iPad iPhone Radio Router and other 5-18V device Charge Fast, Charge Smart An intelligent chip (TIR-C technology) inside the unit will automatically adjust the electrical current in order to offer the fastest possible charge for w | |
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Your Questions About Solar Energy International
Donna asks…
How much energy/petrol does the international space station require per year?
And is solar power the only source of energy to supply it?
admin answers:
Petrol? 🙂
You can’t use a fossil-fuel-burning generator in space because it would cost a huge amount to transport the fuel and the oxygen to burn it from earth. Also you would have to get rid of all the heat, which is not easy in a vacuum.
The ISS uses solar panels to provide all its electrical power. The panels are only illuminated half the time of course; when it is on the night side of earth they generate no electricity so the station runs off rechargeable battery packs during this time.
The total power available at any time is 110KW.
Linda asks…
What is a good current international topic to write about that is portrayed differently in certain countries?
I need to write a paper about an international issue (not involving the u.s.) that is controversial, which would lead to a different storylines or portrayal of the event from media all around the world. I am thinking about an event that has happened in the Middle East within this past week, but after doing some research I cant seem to find different newspaper articles that have their own opinion or spin to it.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
admin answers:
Energy. Powerplants to fossil fuels to wood stoves to solar cookers?
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Suaoki 222Wh Portable Generator Power Source CPAP Lithium Battery Pack Power Supply with Silent 110V/60Hz, Max 200W AC Power Inverters, DC 12V & USB Ports, Charged by Solar Panel/ Wall Outlet/ Car
![]() | Simple to UseUp to 220 watts of power in a small, silent, portable, zero-emissions electric generator of Suaoki, and it requires no electrical know-how to simply charge the unit via AC wall adaptor or 15V above solar panels. Meanwhile, it is a gas-free generator to power up your lights, smartphones, tablets, appliances or electronic devices. Efficient Power and InversionDon't waste an ounce of electricity: our inverter provides a pure sine wave output, which is efficient for smaller household el | |
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Renogy Rugged Power Pack – Multi Functional Portable Solar Generator
![]() | Application 1x12V10A:power car refrigerator and other car devices 2x12V3A:power laptops,LED bulb,etc. 4xUSB:charge phones,tablets,Pads,digital cameras,bluetooth devices,etc.2xAC Outlets:Power various standard AC devices below 300W togetherJump Starter: 400A peak starting current at 12V to save you from unexpected car emergencyPS5B Technical SpecificationBattery Battery capacity 400Wh Battery Type Li-ion Battery Charge AC Wall Charger 7~8hours(70W) DC Car Charger 10~11hours(48W) PV Input Volta | |
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12v 100ah (Group 30H) Gel Type Battery for YAKea R100+ Solar Generator
![]() | 12v 100ah (Group 30H) Gel Type Battery for YAKea R100+ Solar Generator | |
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12V 100Ah SLA AGM Battery for Goal Zero Yeti 1250 Solar Generator
![]() | 12V 100Ah SLA AGM Battery for Goal Zero Yeti 1250 Solar Generator | |
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HPL ELECTRONICS CO.,LTD Portable Lithium Battery Generator 12V 444Wh 40Ah with built-in Lithium Polymer Batteries
![]() | TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Voltage: 12V Capacity: 444Wh / 40Ah Built-In Battery: High Quality Lithium Polymer Batteries Solar Panel Charging: 12.5V~24V/6.2A Max Fully Charged Time: DC 15V/6A: about 7 hours USB Output: 3 x USB 5V/2.1A DC Output: 2 x DC Output 9~12V/15A Max AC Output: 400W, Pure Sine Wave AC Continuous Output Lifecycle: >1500 times at 80% DOD Dimensions: 307 x 138 x 184mm Weight: about 4.8kg Excellent Gear to Power up Your Life The portable solar generator is made not only for emerg | |
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Your Questions About Solar Generators
Thomas asks…
In a survival situation would it be a good idea to use a bug zapper to capture bugs for food?
I have a solar generator and a bug zapper. In a survival camp situation, would it be a good idea to run the bug zapper at night and gather the dead bugs off of it to boil in a stew in the morning? It sounds like a good source of protein to me, but would there be anything unhealthy or infectious about eating the bugs?
admin answers:
All you need to know is on this site
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/
And also yea eating bugs which carry thousands of diseases and putting a lot of them in one bowl will get you sick or could possibly be fatal
Lisa asks…
Are the sun’s rays more powerful at higher altitudes?And would a solar power Generator produce more power?
If you live in a high elevation, will the sun be more intense because of thinner air? And would a solar power generator produce more power because of this?
admin answers:
Yes, because at a high altitude, the sunlight would pass through a thinner atmosphere . This means that the atmosphere would scattered less energy away.
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CBCGT Pure Sine Wave Portable Uninterruptible power supply 500W (Peak 1000W) UPS Power Backup with Built-in 26AH Lithium battery USB DC AC devices for Indoor Outdoor Use
![]() | Notice: When indicator shows 100% during charging the UPS, it will take extra 2 to 3 hours or more in tiny stream charge, then the AC CHARGE LIGHT will turn green. Before that the light will still be in red. Portable Uninterruptible Power Supply, Pure Sine Wave Output, 500W UPS Battery Backup 12V 26AH 288WH Online UPS for Outdoor or Indoor, Emergency power back up, Convenient to use, AC power unit, also used as lithium generator, can connect with solar panel (solar panel canbe Mono & Poly with | |
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