Posts Tagged ‘solar energy advantages disadvantages’
Home Solar Panels
December 1st, 2009 | 
Author: The rising prices and decreasing supply of fossil fuels are leading many homeowners to make the switch to solar power systems. A homemade solar panel is pretty easy to build, and can save you a lot of money in comparison to pre-made units. You can even save a lot of money when installing a solar power system by using a solar panel kit. It provides the instructions needed to build a solar panel at home. More information about this kit can be seen at Solar Panel Kit.
The part of the solar power system that converts sunlight into electricity is the solar cell. If you know what type of power you require, you can get started, as solar cells, depending on how they’re connected, can produce virtually any amount of voltage and current.
The two standard kinds of solar cells available offer different levels of production. Monocrystalline solar cells offer the highest level of efficiency available at present. Thanks to its unified structure, a monocrystalline cell will be very reliable in addition to performing at such a high level of efficiency. Their durability makes them a superior value in most cases, even though they tend to cost a bit more than the alternative. The alternative is the polycrystalline cell, which is comprised of many smaller crystals. Polycrystallline cells aren’t as efficient, but they are more affordable.
The next step is to connect the solar cells together, making sure that it’s done in such a way that the proper voltage and current will be produced. The majority of DIY solar panel directions will include wiring diagrams. The diagrams should always be followed closely. The individual solar cells must be mounted on a piece of thick plywood, so that they are facing the same direction. The necessary size for the backing board can be seen by laying out the cells as shown in the wiring diagram. Refer to the diagram again once the cells have been mounted; you can now begin the soldering. If the wires are secured neatly to the backing board, they can’t interfere with the cells’ gathering of sunlight. The next step is to expose the panel to the sun and use a meter to verify the voltage to make sure that it’s what you intended. Check your wiring if there are any discrepancies. When you’ve got the output you need, you can attach sides and a transparent front part to the backing board. Weatherproof caulking is a must, as the enclosure will need to protect the solar cells from the elements.
The ideal spot for your finished solar panel is one with plenty of sun exposure. The DC electricity generated by the panel can be used to charge batteries or power some small appliances. Connect your system to an inverter to get AC power, which is used by most devices in the home.
If you would like to know the pros and cons of solar energy, take a look at Solar Energy Advantages Disadvantages.
Can you build your own solar panel for less than 200 dollars? You can get more info by looking at this guide Homemade Energy Review. In this guide, you will get specific instructions on what is best to build based on the size of your house and your location. You will also get step-by-step diagrams on how to build your own solar power system.
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The Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Power
It seems like people everywhere are talking about solar energy, from advocacy groups to the media to the Obama administration. Why is everyone so interested in solar electricity? While it is the many advantages that excite so many people, there are also a few disadvantages. Most of the disadvantages can be overcome if you have some knowledge and are willing to put in some work yourself.
Advantages
Never-ending source of energy
Because solar energy is produced by the sun, there is an infinite supply. Every day, all year the sun is producing energy. While fossil fuels like natural gas and oil will eventually run out, solar energy will continue to be available until the sun disappears and at that point we’ll have a lot bigger problems to be worried about than how to power our air conditioners. As fossil fuels become more and more scarce, the cost will continue to rise. The opposite is true of solar electricity! It will never run out and the cost will continue to go down as technology gets better and better.
Free energy
Assuming the sun will continue to shine, solar energy will continue to be free. There is an initial cost for solar panels and equipment, but there is no ongoing cost for solar power aside from maintaining of the equipment and battery replacement if batteries are used. If you install enough solar panels, you can disconnect from the power company and never pay an electric bill again. This is called off grid living. Some people intentionally stay connected to the electric grid, are able to generate more power than they use and actually get paid for the extra electricity by the power company!
No greenhouse gasses
If you are one of the people worried about global warming, solar energy is the solution! While fossil fuels produce greenhouse gasses, solar electricity produces none whatsoever. If you wish to reduce your carbon footprint, solar energy is a great way to do it. Solar power doesn’t generate any CO2 of emissions of any type.
Reduce dependence on foreign oil
One of the biggest threats to national security is widely considered to be dependence on foreign oil. Dependence on foreign oil is considered by many people to be one of the biggest threats to national security today. Using solar power will reduce dependence on foreign oil. Any domestically produced solar electricity would directly replace energy that is produced with foreign oil.
Disadvantages
Initial cost
The biggest disadvantage to solar electricity is generally considered to be initial cost. The ongoing cost of solar power is very small, but the cost of buying and installing solar panels can be quite high. You can figure out how much it would cost to install enough solar panels to power your home and download a spreadsheet to do the calculations by visiting Solar Panel Cost.
If you have a good set of plans, a few common tools and enough time, you can build your own solar panels and reduce the initial cost significantly. If you are looking for instructions on how to build your own solar panel, take a look at Do It Yourself Solar Panel.
Required space
Solar panels must have a clear view of the southern sky and need sufficient space. Solar panels produce the most electricity in parts of the world that a great deal of sun. Areas that get a great deal of sun are ideal for solar panels. The average sun in all parts of the country are shown on solar maps. Solar panels located in areas with larger scores will produce more electricity with a solar panel of the same size. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t use solar power if you live in an area with a low score, but you will need more solar panels to generate enough electricity to power your house.
As you can see, there are advantages and disadvantages to solar power. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, I think you’d agree. Builiding your own solar panel is one way to avoid many of the disadvantages. For the best guide to building your own solar panel, visit Review of GreenDIYEnergy.
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