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View Full Version : I was thinking of buying a solar panel



DaJe
06-03-2007, 09:38 PM
Though I have no idea what to look for, or where to get one, or what would be needed to hook one up. So, does anyone here know anything about this? I wouldn't need a lot of power. Even just enough to power one room would be good. Even just something to power my computer could do I guess, though my computer isn't my biggest use of power.

jdbnsn
06-03-2007, 09:49 PM
I don't know much about implementing solar power, but I believe it's quite expensive to setup. The savings come in the long term. Drawing power directly from the panel is not how I think most solar systems work, I think they are mainly used to charge storage batteries which provide the power. Maybe someone who has more knowledge than can help out further.

DaJe
06-03-2007, 09:57 PM
Yeah, I was thinking about how it would be setup with the batteries. I do have a place to put them.

jdbnsn
06-03-2007, 10:04 PM
I think the cost of buying the necessary batteries is pretty high. When I was in college, my friends and I had designed a monster sized battery using a freezer and it was still too expensive for us to do because of the plates and chemicals.

simon275
06-03-2007, 10:18 PM
Yeah basically the solar panels are hooked through a transformer into the mains of your house. When you are not using much power or when you are out you can sell power into the local grid (depends on local considerations) the sale of power leads to a deduction off your power bill along with the saving made from using solar. Though in winter they aren't that efficient and also at night duh! Due to the high price of panels you see savings after roughly any where from 10-25 years.

One payment system that we have in Australia is for people with panels is. The output of the panels is monitored and so is the input into your house. The panel output is taken from the mains input and you pay the difference.

You are better off buying a small-medium wind turbine if you live in a good spot. Otherwise stay on mains power.

Eclecticos
06-03-2007, 11:49 PM
Try P3 Folding solar panel Kits.

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/5711/foldingkitsbigxu3.jpg

12v-30v Regulated. Charge your battery in the wilderness.

HERE (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=folding+solar+panel&category0=)

Olen
06-04-2007, 04:06 AM
If you actually want to save money get a water heating solar panel and not a solar cell panel. It just heats your hot water for you but here (scotland, at the same latatude as hudson bay) you get free HOT (like 80*C hot) water right tough the summer. For money savings thats the way to go, they're easy enough to make and install yourself.

So down there you shoulod make better saving.

Of course saving money isn't really the aim so yea solar cells are cooler but you need a bank of batteries which the cells charge which then go though a rectifier to make them mains voltage.

As already said wind and especially water are better - you haven't got a stream in your garden have you? :)

It would be cheaper but more difficult to wire it all yourself as opposed to buying kits.

Let us know how you get on!

AJ@PR
06-04-2007, 11:30 AM
This thread is going to be nice!

Well, I'm a pretty avid fan of these energy sources....
Question::::
What do you want to power? (kW, or watts)
For how long? (kWh)

YEAH!

Redundant
06-04-2007, 03:56 PM
Though in winter they aren't that efficient and also at night duh! Due to the high price of panels you see savings after roughly any where from 10-25 years.

You are better off buying a small-medium wind turbine if you live in a good spot. Otherwise stay on mains power.
I second the wind turbine. :up:

If you do get a solar panel, having mirrors around it gives it more light (not glass mirrors, just polished metal)

Something that's more efficient than solar panels but also uses the sun is the setup where you have oil in a glass tube surrounded be mirrors and it heats water that drives a turbine which then makes electricity. Surprisingly, it's very efficient but hard to maintain.

I have a link to some solar panels but I have to find it...

EDIT: Here's the link. (http://practicalinstruments.com/) (I saw this in Popular Science, I'm not sure if you can buy them yet but look at their attached mirrors.)

Eclecticos
06-04-2007, 05:50 PM
If you do get a solar panel, having mirrors around it gives it more light (not glass mirrors, just polished metal)

Thats not a bad Idea. My Grandparents have a couple of those on there roof.
They look like this: Solar Water Heater

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/401/solarh2ovh4.jpg

Redundant
06-05-2007, 09:16 PM
Thats not a bad Idea. My Grandparents have a couple of those on there roof.
They look like this: Solar Water Heater

Here's the "redneck" version of that solar heater:
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/04/4-28-07-solar_furnace.jpg (http://www1005.engadget.com/2007/04/30/diy-solar-heater-constructed-with-aluminum-cans/)


Here's an example of the mirrors and oil thing (http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/04/spanish-solar-tower-could-eventually-power-an-entire-city/). (On a MUCH larger scale though...)

If you do get a solar panel, having something to make it always face the sun (http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/15/portasol-solar-tracker-continuously-faces-the-sun/) might be useful.