Shifting Solutions

As technology becomes more sophisticated and the prices of solar components plunge over time, it’s ever easier to set up a solar-powered home. Configuring a home solar system can take considerable time and effort, but the environmental and cost-saving benefits make the process more than worthwhile. You might already be familiar with the concept of solar panels, but they only make up the most visible part of the enterprise.

A solar charge controller is equally essential as it prevents the batteries from taking in too much energy at once. The controller is the first stop for solar energy after it’s been captured with the panels. Controllers keep tabs on the condition of the batteries and whether or not they are receiving a flow of energy. Without the protective barrier created by the charge controller, solar batteries would be overcharged and rendered useless in no time flat.

Day four and five ” It is like a puzzle with a number of options for connecting the parts”

I decided to run the wire that goes to the PV panel through the mounting rails to keep it out of sight and reduce the weather exposure. This 50 foot wire will follow the plumbing umbilical run all the way to the solar powered pump above the water heater.

There is also a small sensor mounted to the end of the expansion tank that responds to a float in the tank. If the tank level falls too low, this sensor lights a small red light n the home. I ran this wire through holes in the rails too.

I spent over an hour looking at the manual to get it clear in my head how the Solar Wand plumbing will assemble together after it is installed on the hot water tank. It is like a puzzle with a number of options for connecting the parts. Again I am impressed by the considerable attention to detail and the unique and unorthodox plumbing design.

This system has the “fingerprints” of an inventor who thinks outside the box and reminds me of my own design methodology!

The day before installing the collectors, my neighbor John Rogers (in the red shirt) came by to look over the equipment and discuss installation strategy. He is an experienced home builder, and he helped convince me that using ladders would be trouble. So we went over to his place and got his fancy aluminum staging equipment and put it up in preparation for the next day. This is very cool equipment and will definitely make the job mu ch simpler!

John quickly mounted the support brackets to my window frames with 1/4″ lag screws while I steadied the ladder and handed him tools. That’s me in the white shirt! Since the platform remains several inches from the wall we will be able to lift the collectors up between the staging and the wall. This will really make the job easier, and having a work platform while attaching the mounts and finalizing the plumbing will be very helpful!

The installation Manual and Owner’s Manual are both thick and extremely detailed

The boxes arrived with a lot of thoughtfulness in the packing, so well in fact to survive Fedex ground. Noticed all these little baggies of parts that were attached to each sub-assembly and the inclusion of the little things such as electrical tape, Teflon plumbing tape and ABS cement. NOW that’s thorough!

The installation Manual and Owner’s Manual are both thick and extremely detailed. You can pre-download the Installation Manual a few weeks ahead of time to read it through page by page. My impression then was that the installation job did not seem too daunting if taken carefully and slowly. But today looking at ALL these parts it feels overwhelming, but then that’s how I felt when I started on my solar heating system for my workshop!

I called Barry Butler to get some clarification about some of the parts that I didn’t recognize and to get a better idea about how the collectors mount. He spent nearly an hour talking with me about the system design theory and how it all goes together. Since he is in the process of revising the manual, I will be a beta tester for some new hardware and design revisions.

I realize now that I will need several strong friends to help me get these collectors mounted on the wall, and Barry helped me figure out the best strategy for assembling and mounting the collectors. It’s not that they weigh that much – the 4 solar collectors and mounting brackets are under 90 pounds total, it’s just getting them hoisted up there that will be tough. Most folks would be mounting these to a roof, which has it’s own challenges. I also would guess that most homeowners will contract a professional installer to do the work, but I’m a do-it-yourself kinda Guy!

We are on our way! As we progress through this series, you will definitely lose any inhibition you may feel about building your own solar panels or installing your own wager heater system powered by solar! One of the things AI would do over, is build my own solar panel system rather than have it included in the package. I could have saved another $700 – $800 dollars and would have just a few days at making them. The kits I found at the attached link here for HOME SOLAR ENERGY were very clear and informative, showing in detail where to find the cheapest material locally , how to assemble them and the install the units. Very fundamental dear Watson! The instruction are so clear and easy to follow that my 12 year old son could comprehend them. Just a thought if your into saving money.

Tomorrow part 4 of the this series.

The sun’s energy is a source of power. Its heat can be put to efficient use using glass and other materials. These devices capture the sun’s heat and convert it to solar energy that can be used for everyday living. Solar panels can now be found in almost anywhere from cars, space crafts, satellites, and even small gadgets like calculators and wristwatches.

Even houses can now be equipped with home solar power systems to help conserve electricity. Instead of using up electric power during the night, batteries that stored up the sun’s energy during the day can be used to power lights and appliances instead. Thankfully, more and more organizations have committed to create ideas and products that will be available to everyone who wants to live a cleaner and healthier lifestyle.

People in Bangladesh are converting to solar energy in droves, according to a recent news report from Reuters. The country’s rural villages often lack fundamental resources, which inhibits their ability to trade. For many years, the Bangladeshi infrastructure has been almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels. But Western subsidies have allowed villagers to set up solar panels on their rooftops, supplying renewable energy 24 hours a day.

This is just one of the multitudes of success stories related to home solar systems. The practice of placing solar panels in strategic locations to provide power is beneficial to consumers as well as the environment at large. It’s an effective cost-cutting technique for Americans on a budget, and ultimately it could help us cut the cord from dependence upon fossil fuels.

PV & Wind Systems Tech Specs

Overview
System type: Battery-based solar- and wind-electric
Location: New England to Trinidad
Solar and wind resource: Varies with location
Photovoltaics
Modules: 2 Shell SQ80, 80 W STC, 17.5 Vmp
Array: Two modules in parallel, 160 W STC total, 17.5 Vmp
Array installation: Self-fabricated flush mounts made from stainless-steel tubing, installed horizontally over the boat’s cockpit
Orientation: Varies with the movement of the boat
Wind Turbine
Turbine: KISS (Keep it Simple Sailor)
Rotor diameter: 58 in.
Rated energy output: 7.5 A, 12 VDC nominal, at 15 knots
(17.3 mph)
Rated peak power output: 25 A at 12 VDC nominal
Mount: Home-built stainless-steel pipe, rubber-mounted on the stern
Energy Storage
Batteries: Two Deka 8G4DM, 12 VDC nominal, 183 AH,
sealed gel
Battery bank: 12 VDC nominal, 366 AH total
Balance of System
Charge controller: Morningstar SunSaver, 10 A
Inverter: Xantrex Freedom Marine 10, 1,000 W, 12 VDC nominal input, 120 VAC modified square-wave output
Battery capacity metering: CDM Systems BT2000

Welcome back and into the new year! Well I trust you have got over the head ache and stupor from all the wine or champagne this past long weekend. You’ve made your news resolutions and I am sure that one of those resolutions include building and installing a renewable energy system on your home or building— right? We are all well of aware of , bu now, of global warming and carbon footprints, and even if you have had your head stuck in the sand these past few years, I am sure you know your electric bills have and still are increasing each year. A plan to reduce your share of the carbon footprint AND reduce your monthly utility bills kis easy to implement. Over a fun filled weekend, even the most knowledgeable female ( such as myself) could build your own solar panel with the easy to follow directions and video instructions in the DIY home solar, wind power energy kits. Click the link now, and find out how easy it really is to build a solar panel system.

Tomorrow, check back for part 6 of this story

Solar in Safe Harbor

“It’s a double-edged sword with wind,” Mike says. “We like the wind, and we need the wind, but we also like to get out of the wind.” Before, anchoring in low-wind spots or seeking shelter in harbors meant that the couple had to rely on the diesel generator. For that reason, Mike chose to supplement the wind generator with a simple solar-electric system-two Shell 80-watt PV modules mounted horizontally on the bimini (awning) over the cockpit. He purchased the modules from Marine Warehouse in Trinidad, and sourced from a local hardware store the electrical cabling and other parts-stainless-steel tubing, mounting brackets, and nuts and bolts that resist the corrosive effects of salt water.
Because the position of the boat is always changing and shadows are inevitable, the placement of the modules is not critical to the system’s overall performance. “On a boat, it’s usually a matter of finding free space where the modules are out of the way and won’t get damaged,” says Mike, who chose not to tilt the modules, and instead, flush-mounted them to the bimini frame. “I probably could have gotten slightly better performance if I’d made the mount adjustable, but the sun is so strong and the days are so long here that the slight gain didn’t seem all that important.”

Have you got your plans made? Today’s the day! The big new decade, celebrations for new beginnings! Have fun, but please remember not to drink then drive, have a non drinking buddy around to be your driver or call a cab.

Resolve this year to clean up your space in the planet. Reduce the carbon footprint just a little, by learning how to build your own solar panel or wind generator. Click the link, and learn how to acquire a DIY Home solar system kits that explains all you need to know for the novice on where to find the supplies cheaply and locally, how to assemble them and install and hook up the renewable energy system to your homes power grid. I am not a sales person, so just click Hubbies link and read what you need to know on renewable energy systems, green construction, sustainable living ( not sustainable loving) and some great products you can buy to illuminate your yard and charge your battery ( which we all may need after tonight’s party!)

See you in the new year!

Sustainability at Sea

For cruisers, who generally sail in areas where the sun and wind are abundant, combining solar and wind power is a no-brainer-especially when the alternative is burning diesel fuel to charge batteries. “When you use the power of the wind to move your home,” Mike says, “you feel good. And when you can power the rest of your needs with renewable energy, it completes the picture.”
In 2003, after talking with fellow cruisers and observing different wind turbines at work, Mike purchased a wind turbine manufactured by Kiss Energy Systems (KES) in Chaguaramas, Trinidad. Designed for marine conditions, the KISS (Keep It Simple Sailor) turbine is durable yet quiet enough for the confined quarters of a sailboat. Elliptical blade ends minimize tip noise, while a 9-foot tower mounted to the stern provides plenty of headroom-nearly 7 feet.

Mike and Joanne saved on labor costs by installing the turbine themselves. Instead of using the mast mount kit offered by KES, they fashioned a mount from stainless-steel pipe-which cut costs some but added hours to the project. “Measuring, cutting, and fitting the turbine mount took several days. What made the installation more difficult was that we did it at anchor. It would have been much easier if the boat was on land or docked, but we managed,” Mike says.
Three blades make up the 58-inch-diameter rotor. The aerodynamic fiberglass two-piece housing is hand-molded in KES’s Chaguaramas shop, as are the blades. The manufacturing of the three-phase, permanent-magnet alternator is subcontracted to local fabricators. The alternator’s three-phase AC output is, in turn, converted to DC for battery charging. In typical 15-knot (17.3 mph) winds, the turbine can produce up to 7.5 amps for the 12-volt nominal battery bank. If batteries are full, the wind genny can freewheel or an electrical brake can minimize the rotation in winds up to 30 knots (34.5 mph). Stronger winds require the freewheel mode, and a thermal switch reduces the output and prevents the alternator from overheating.
Because the turbine does not include additional regulation other than the thermal switch, manually furling the turbine is necessary to prevent excessive battery voltages. Mike does not worry too much about overcharging the batteries, since he’s never far from the boat for long. On the rare occasion when the turbine needs a break or, in trade winds, makes too much noise, he stops the rotor manually by switch. “If we’re lucky enough to make that much energy, it’s time to do some ironing, use the microwave, or make some other use of it,” he says.

Geez..tomorrow comes around fast! Oh wait, it’s is still Sat. I’m writing ahead, so I can get to those parties this coming weekend and not have to worry about getting this article finished, while Jaye and I party under the cracker lit sky! Remember , don’t drink, then drive! Stay safe!

You’all getting those new years resolutions written down and etched into your memory? As you do, don’t forget your plans to make your own renewable energy system, click the link here and explore the DIY kits available that teaches you all you need to know on Home solar power systems and residential wind power generators. Learn to build your own solar panels, the fun, simple, easy and cheap way as shown clearly in those videos and manuals that come with the kits. Heck if this old lady can ( I’ve found ,not just a few Grey hair today and I’m freakin some here!) then you can too, if you can hold a hammer, and turn a screw driver and climb a ladder, your good a gold in proficient enough to assemble your home solar system! Anyway, just click hubbies link and find DIY home renewable energy system kits, books and sustainable living, green construction, green power solutions and many more. Try out the Solar Oven on the solar products page!

Have fun, be safe!

Tomorrow comes part 4

Beer and sunshine land farmer in hot water

While I was searching for ideas to blog about, I ran across this little tid bit of information!

A Chinese farmer has made his own solar-powered water heater out of beer bottles and hosepipes.

“I invented this for my mother. I wanted her to shower comfortably,” says Ma Yanjun, of Qiqiao village, Shaanxi province.

Ma’s invention features 66 beer bottles attached to a board. The bottles are connected to each other so that water flows through them.

Sunlight heats the water as is passes slowly through the bottles before flowing into the bathroom as hot water, reports China Economy Network.

Ma says it provides enough hot water for all three members of his family to have a shower every day.

And more than 10 families in the village have already followed suit and installed their own versions of Ma’s invention.

Just goes to show, just how easy building home solar power systems for your home is NOT all that difficult! If this farmer can build his solar hot water unit with beer bottles, then, really….

DIY Home solar systems are becomeing more popular than ever, mostly due to the latest economic crunch we were in. The DIY home solar kits are really quite descriptive in how they show you through video and drawings, to find the materials you need locally and cheaply, how to assemble them and install the units to your homes roof. They make it so easy to follow that many not so handy around the house people can even do it. It makes for a fun weekend project where you end with tons of savings in construction and much lower if any utility bills.

Be creative but have fun! click this link to learn how to build your own solar panels and residential wind power systems today!

For those of you who are still looking for that special gift to give this season!

Why not a gift of solar?

Solar gift giving solutions for Do It Yourself home solar systems can make a fun weekend project for any home handy person to accomplish. The directions included in both video and manual forms are easy to follow and include such things as showing where to buy the materials you need locally and cheaply. It tells you step by step how to assemble those materials and install the completed project on your homes roof and hook it up to your buildings power grid. What a way to save money, both in the home solar panels and in your monthly utility bills…. a PERFECT gift! Check out the highlighted link for more information on this and other gift giving ideas!

Click this link HOME SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS AND RESIDENTIAL WIND POWER. DIY Kits, books and home solar products

Other gift giving ideas are good resources in reading materials!

We have a whole library of books and articles on home solar power systems, residential wind power, sustainable living, green construction and renwable energy.

Learn how to make your home, energy efficient, build green project around the home, and a lot more on this up coming wave of “going green”!

Click the link above for more information and details

Give the gift of Illumination !

We have so many solar products to choose from for in and around a home, such as solar garden lights, christmas light strings, back packs, battery chargers for cell phones and GPS units, shed lights and security lights. Many mopre items too numerous to mention here! Click the link above, for more information on these perfect gift giving ideas!