Solar Power For Home

Archive for the ‘best solar panels’ Category

Question by MissyMayhem: How would I go about installing solar panels on my ’95 Grand Cherokee?
I’ve seen a few pick-up trucks around where I live with solar panels on top, similar to the ones in this:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2009/01/02/solar-powered-toyota_w8xWc_5965.jpg&imgrefurl=http://selangor.inetgiant.com.my/Balakong/archive/Alternative-Energy&usg=__gzK-w1IUFI6VXaLMczv05pFpq64=&h=349&w=550&sz=36&hl=en&start=1&zoom=1&tbnid=SQWVTPmXH1w7gM:&tbnh=106&tbnw=167&ei=iexPTc6-INL3gAeuj9nZDw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsolar%2Bpanels%2Bvehicle%26tbnh%3D104%26tbnw%3D164%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADSA_en%26biw%3D1259%26bih%3D567%26tbs%3Disch:1,simg:CAISEglJBZVM-ZcfXCHpeVC_1vWs09Q,sit:o&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=109&vpy=112&dur=2031&hovh=179&hovw=282&tx=159&ty=105&oei=iexPTc6-INL3gAeuj9nZDw&esq=1&page=1&ved=1t:722,r:0,s:0

Would it be possible for them to lay flat on the roof of a car and still have the same efficiency?

Best answer:

Answer by Amy
That picture is hysterical! Clearly, it is photoshopped, you cannot drive around with panels sticking up like that. However, it is very common to mount panels flat on an RV to charge up batteries to power appliances without having to plug in at a campground. They have some that tilt up, once you are parked, so you can increase the efficiency over just mounted flat. http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Panel-Mounts-Trackers/RV-Specialty-Solar-Panel-Mounting/c647/

The size of the panel needed depends on how much you are trying to power.

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Question by Dozer: How much area would solar panels that produce 3,300 MW cover?
The four nuclear power plants in Virginia produce about 3,300 megawatts in only a couple of acres. What area would be required to produce the same amount of power from solar panels? For the sake of this lets just talk about during the daylight hours.
The reactor could be underground then you could still use the space. What about night time, Batteries?

Best answer:

Answer by roderick_young
To answer your question driectly, figure on 15 watts per square foot nowadays (10 if you want to be conservative). So that’s 5050 acres, or a little less than 8 square miles. The power density of the nuclear is much greater, even if that “couple of acres” figure is per plant, and does not include associated waste storage area and security perimeter. If space is an issue, like in a metropolitan area, then a centralized solar plant is not the way to go. But then again, a power plant of any kind – hydro, coal, nat gas, nuclear – would probably not go up in such a place, either.

3.3 GW is on the order of the world solar panel production for last year, so it would be unrealistic to actually set up a centralized project of that size. However, where did all those panels go? Why don’t we see them taking up vast amounts of space? That’s because solar panels can go on residential roofs, which aren’t used for anything else anyway, or commercial roofs, with the same thinking. By that reasoning, they take zero incremental space. My son’s high school recently put up 775 kW of solar panels as shade structures in the parking lot. Cars can still park there,and get shade, besides. Even if a small nuclear reactor were allowed on school grounds, the space could not be shared with anything else.

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Question by Haifa: What are some uses of Solar energy other than solar panels?
I have a project which is due at January. But Christmas Eve is coming and I am finishing it NOW!
I research some of the examples of Solar energy but 80% of the results is solar panels(PV power). Can I get some examples? Oh yes! is heaters or clothes dried outside some examples? I have huge confusions. Please help!!!!
Thank you so much!

Best answer:

Answer by Marcia
I think that the topic area you are looking for falls under the term “passive solar energy”. Try the two links below for some additional ideas and insight. The general concept is that every capture and use of sunlight and sun generated heat outside of the solar panel counts. Which yes, includes a clothes line, a skylight, or window panels under the eaves.

A number of systems include the use of sunlight to heat bladders, bags, or vessels of water. Sometimes, the heated water is used to pre-warm the water before used in a hot water tank for direct use. Sometimes it is used to pre-warm water used in a water tube radiant system (ie tubes of hat/warm water under the floor) or even a water boiler system with old fashioned metal radiators.
Sometimes filled bladders are used as insulation in the winter; if they are made of the correct materials and there is adequate room for expansion when they freeze. In the summer, these types of warming and heating systems are sometimes used to pump cool water instead of pre-warmed water to cool things down. Back in the day, these types of systems were called passive solar power systems. Sometimes, they are now refered to as geothermal power systems.

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Question by Smiley: Do solar panels use the light from the sun, the heat from the sun or both?
I was wondering if photovoltaic panels (solar panels) harness the light or the heat from the sun (or both). Also I was wondering if solar power would work in areas of the world that are sunny but not necesarily hot?

Best answer:

Answer by rustoria617
Light only

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Question by JustWondrin!: About how much will getting your household to run fully on solar panels reduce your carbon footprint?
The average U.S. household carbon footprint is 19 metric tons of CO2. I am doing a project and was wondering about how much would getting your house to run fully on solar panels reduce your carbon footprint. Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by ~DaD
Well, considering the solar panels have to be manufactured, then shipped, and will only work on sunny days… I would think it might ADD to your footprint!

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Question by Thomas T: How do i get started as a manufacturer of commercial pv solar panels?
I want to start a business making pv solar panels.

Best answer:

Answer by roderick_young
That’s kind of like starting your own automobile manufacturing business. To be profitable, you would unfortunately need a large amount of starting capital. If you look around, there aren’t a lot of little companies making pv panels. The ones that are profitable are huge and control the supply chain starting from raw materials. And even those might be taking losses next quarter. Sorry, just trying to be realistic.

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Question by Muneeba: Which states are the best to place solar panels and why?
Which states would be the best to place solar panels and why? States such as Hawaii, New Mexico, Utah, etc. But why would those be the best compared to other states?
Yes, I realize that they get a lot of sunshine but besides the obvious why are states such as New Mexico, Utah, etc, the best places to put solar panels and why?

Best answer:

Answer by Mark V
They get the most intense sunlight. Simple as that.

However, with modern technologies of both photovoltaic cells and reflection generators, there are many other areas of the country that could equally benefit from the process.

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Question by James Ritner: Is it possible to build your own solar panels?
My electricity bills are really getting out of hand. I’ve been looking into getting solar panels, and although I know they will save me money in the long run, I can’t afford to get them installed right now. I’ve heard that it’s possible to build your own, and I’ve always been good in the shop, so if this is true, I’d want to give it a try. Has anyone ever done this? Is it possible?

Best answer:

Answer by Dan H
Yes, but you still have to purchase the components. You aren’t going to be able to build an effective solar collector (a PV cell), but you could build the frame they go in, the mounts etc.

There are many ways to home build solar water heaters – look on-line.

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Question by James Ritner: Is it possible to build your own solar panels?
My electricity bills are really getting out of hand. I’ve been looking into getting solar panels, and although I know they will save me money in the long run, I can’t afford to get them installed right now. I’ve heard that it’s possible to build your own, and I’ve always been good in the shop, so if this is true, I’d want to give it a try. Has anyone ever done this? Is it possible?

Best answer:

Answer by Dan H
Yes, but you still have to purchase the components. You aren’t going to be able to build an effective solar collector (a PV cell), but you could build the frame they go in, the mounts etc.

There are many ways to home build solar water heaters – look on-line.

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Question by hk: How to use solar panels to power the autorickshaw or tuk-tuk?
Guys this is my final yr project , i am planning to use solar panels on the roof of the tuk-tuk, to power it up.Please help me as to how to go about this and what would be the approximate cost..please give any refrences or websites that might help..please help me out on this one..ill be very grateful ,thank you

Best answer:

Answer by Peter H
A tuk tuk has an engine with a capacity of about 175-400 cc, about 15-30 horsepower or 11-23 kW. At a ballpark value of 70 mW per square inch of solar panel – obtained from

http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/energy-efficiency/question418.htm

you will need an area of 600-1200 square feet to provide that power directly, and that is only when the sun is shining. If you use a smaller area to recharge a battery the tuk tuk is going to be stationary for corresponding periods of time.

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