Comments for Solar Energy Panels http://solar-energypanels.net DIY Solar Energy Panels can be Built Easily by Almost Anyone - for Less! Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:43:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on How do places with wind and solar energy sustain their power? by Jerry Lee http://solar-energypanels.net/260/how-do-places-with-wind-and-solar-energy-sustain-their-power/comment-page-1/#comment-670 Jerry Lee Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:43:20 +0000 http://solar-energypanels.net/260/how-do-places-with-wind-and-solar-energy-sustain-their-power/#comment-670 Small places, like a remote house or an island, might have batteries. A large place, like a city, would be connected to a "Grid", or electrical energy transmission system. If the wind stopped blowing, deep in the night, they would pull energy off the grid, from a nuclear plant, or coal-burning generation station, or hydroelectric project many miles away. A town on an island might have a large diesel generator. Small places, like a remote house or an island, might have batteries. A large place, like a city, would be connected to a “Grid”, or electrical energy transmission system. If the wind stopped blowing, deep in the night, they would pull energy off the grid, from a nuclear plant, or coal-burning generation station, or hydroelectric project many miles away. A town on an island might have a large diesel generator.

]]> Comment on How do places with wind and solar energy sustain their power? by campbelp2002 http://solar-energypanels.net/260/how-do-places-with-wind-and-solar-energy-sustain-their-power/comment-page-1/#comment-669 campbelp2002 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:39:31 +0000 http://solar-energypanels.net/260/how-do-places-with-wind-and-solar-energy-sustain-their-power/#comment-669 Basically a big battery. Or a bunch of big batteries. But almost no place actually relies 100% on only wind and solar, because the batteries are expensive and not really green (full of toxins like lead and acid or whatever). So most places rely only partly on wind and solar, and use regular power company power when there is no wind at night. Basically a big battery. Or a bunch of big batteries. But almost no place actually relies 100% on only wind and solar, because the batteries are expensive and not really green (full of toxins like lead and acid or whatever). So most places rely only partly on wind and solar, and use regular power company power when there is no wind at night.

]]> Comment on How do places with wind and solar energy sustain their power? by White Polar Bear http://solar-energypanels.net/260/how-do-places-with-wind-and-solar-energy-sustain-their-power/comment-page-1/#comment-668 White Polar Bear Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:13:43 +0000 http://solar-energypanels.net/260/how-do-places-with-wind-and-solar-energy-sustain-their-power/#comment-668 You don't control when the wind will blow or when there is cloud covering the solar panel. You design enough windmill and solar panel so the system can generate enough and stable energy year around.Obviously, you need to store the energy somehow. You don’t control when the wind will blow or when there is cloud covering the solar panel. You design enough windmill and solar panel so the system can generate enough and stable energy year around.Obviously, you need to store the energy somehow.

]]> Comment on can i save the power from my solar panels during the day and use the energy at night? by Yosua http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-667 Yosua Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:28:17 +0000 http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/#comment-667 yes you can if you have battery charged by the solar panels at day. yes you can if you have battery charged by the solar panels at day.

]]> Comment on can i save the power from my solar panels during the day and use the energy at night? by SunnyFunny http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-666 SunnyFunny Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:12:11 +0000 http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/#comment-666 Yes. Absolutely. In fact, it is quite the norm. Just make sure that your system can convert the current, like I believe someone else said. You can even keep multiple batteries charged for cloudy conditions. That's what we used to do in 3rd world installations. Yes. Absolutely. In fact, it is quite the norm. Just make sure that your system can convert the current, like I believe someone else said. You can even keep multiple batteries charged for cloudy conditions. That’s what we used to do in 3rd world installations.

]]> Comment on can i save the power from my solar panels during the day and use the energy at night? by earthenergy4u http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-665 earthenergy4u Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:29:23 +0000 http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/#comment-665 Absolutely. An off-grid battery backup solar electric system is actually becoming very common. It is very important to buy a quality charge controller and a properly sized battery bank. (multiple batteries linked together) I recommend that you find a local expert in the solar field to size your system and ensure that the different components are compatible. I have two links below that may give you some more information as well as an idea on pricing. Absolutely. An off-grid battery backup solar electric system is actually becoming very common.
It is very important to buy a quality charge controller and a properly sized battery bank. (multiple batteries linked together) I recommend that you find a local expert in the solar field to size your system and ensure that the different components are compatible. I have two links below that may give you some more information as well as an idea on pricing.

]]> Comment on can i save the power from my solar panels during the day and use the energy at night? by Noah H http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-664 Noah H Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:43:21 +0000 http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/#comment-664 Batteries are the only real answer to solar-off-the-grid electric power. If you're a real tech kind of guy you could install an extra couple of panels and use that current to create hydrogen gas that you could set up to turn a turbine to produce night time power, but let's be real...that's a fix for folks that love complications in their lives. The battery idea is a proven and simple setup. Of course you could also have wind turbine set up charge batteries....that works well too. Admittedly this is a big investment, but the feds are offering a fairly substancial taxbreak for these kinds of installations to get this industry off the ground....check it out! Batteries are the only real answer to solar-off-the-grid electric power. If you’re a real tech kind of guy you could install an extra couple of panels and use that current to create hydrogen gas that you could set up to turn a turbine to produce night time power, but let’s be real…that’s a fix for folks that love complications in their lives. The battery idea is a proven and simple setup. Of course you could also have wind turbine set up charge batteries….that works well too. Admittedly this is a big investment, but the feds are offering a fairly substancial taxbreak for these kinds of installations to get this industry off the ground….check it out!

]]> Comment on can i save the power from my solar panels during the day and use the energy at night? by GEIGER http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-663 GEIGER Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:28:09 +0000 http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/#comment-663 More than likely you are going to need a voltage converter in between your panel and your battery. This converter is a switching powersupply, and takes the nominal voltage of your panel and steps it up/down to the correct voltage for your battery. Switchers have the advantage of being able to take a certain amount of power and turn it into a fixed voltage output. The design of the supply sets the input voltage range, but it can swing across several hundred volt range if designed properly. This is important for one main reason: solar cells have what is called an IV curve. You plot voltage against current for your panel and it shows a nice curve with a bend at high V/I levels. At a specific point on this curve, where V and I are both maximized, is the Maximum Power Point. This is the voltage and current where you get the most power off your panel. Some converters are smart and find this point. They are called Maximum Power Point Trackers or MPPTs. They will draw as much power as possible out of your panel for you to use. The Biel school of Engineering makes some that work well, but they are not cheap. I believe Xantrex technologies makes some as well. I've only played with the Biel's during my tenure on the ISU Solar Car Team. Other converters do not track. They just draw at a certain power level, and if it's not the max so be it. They are the cheaper of the two types. If this is a home panel this type of converter is a viable option as you can set the maximum power output to your battery. Since you don't want to overcharge your battery, the unused potential power from your supply is kind of a wash. Finally, you may be thinking "Well, why don't I just hook it up directly?" Good question. Firstly, if the maximum output voltage of the panel is too high, it can damage the battery. If the maximum output voltage is too low, it will never fully charge your battery. If the voltage output of the panel is less than the battery voltage (Low light), your battery will not charge. This set up will take a long time to fully charge your battery as you are on the high voltage side of the IV curve. The converter eliminates all this by taking a certain amount of power (voltage independant) from the panel and converting it to the correct charge levels for the battery. You will have to research this, as you need to match your converter to your project and panel. Take a look at Xantrex technologies, I believe they make setups for this exact project. Also, if you plan to drive your home with this be sure to talk to your power company. They will tell you how to do it safely, and, if your system is big enough, may let you sell power back onto the grid. Good luck. More than likely you are going to need a voltage converter in between your panel and your battery. This converter is a switching powersupply, and takes the nominal voltage of your panel and steps it up/down to the correct voltage for your battery.

Switchers have the advantage of being able to take a certain amount of power and turn it into a fixed voltage output. The design of the supply sets the input voltage range, but it can swing across several hundred volt range if designed properly.

This is important for one main reason: solar cells have what is called an IV curve. You plot voltage against current for your panel and it shows a nice curve with a bend at high V/I levels. At a specific point on this curve, where V and I are both maximized, is the Maximum Power Point. This is the voltage and current where you get the most power off your panel.

Some converters are smart and find this point. They are called Maximum Power Point Trackers or MPPTs. They will draw as much power as possible out of your panel for you to use. The Biel school of Engineering makes some that work well, but they are not cheap. I believe Xantrex technologies makes some as well. I’ve only played with the Biel’s during my tenure on the ISU Solar Car Team.

Other converters do not track. They just draw at a certain power level, and if it’s not the max so be it. They are the cheaper of the two types. If this is a home panel this type of converter is a viable option as you can set the maximum power output to your battery. Since you don’t want to overcharge your battery, the unused potential power from your supply is kind of a wash.

Finally, you may be thinking “Well, why don’t I just hook it up directly?” Good question. Firstly, if the maximum output voltage of the panel is too high, it can damage the battery. If the maximum output voltage is too low, it will never fully charge your battery. If the voltage output of the panel is less than the battery voltage (Low light), your battery will not charge. This set up will take a long time to fully charge your battery as you are on the high voltage side of the IV curve. The converter eliminates all this by taking a certain amount of power (voltage independant) from the panel and converting it to the correct charge levels for the battery.

You will have to research this, as you need to match your converter to your project and panel. Take a look at Xantrex technologies, I believe they make setups for this exact project. Also, if you plan to drive your home with this be sure to talk to your power company. They will tell you how to do it safely, and, if your system is big enough, may let you sell power back onto the grid. Good luck.

]]> Comment on can i save the power from my solar panels during the day and use the energy at night? by Trevor H http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-662 Trevor H Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:42:15 +0000 http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/#comment-662 This is a very standard method of running a solar power electrical system. As you say, the panels provide electrical energy to charge a set of batteries. When required, the power is drawn from the battery, converted to the correct voltage and also changed fron DC current to AC current. During the night the curent is used to give light and also to power TV and computer etc - it all depends on the size of the installation. The batteries become partially discharged during this time. However, the next day the solar panels are again active and recharge the batteries ready for the next night. It is in reality not a good proposition to have the solar panels directly powering lights, etc, because when the panels are charging ( daylight) there is no need for electric lighting.Unless the installation is extemely large, it is not possible to run high energy consumers, wahing machines, dishwashers, clothes dryers, cookers, hot water heating etc from the solar panels. This is a very standard method of running a solar power electrical system. As you say, the panels provide electrical energy to charge a set of batteries. When required, the power is drawn from the battery, converted to the correct voltage and also changed fron DC current to AC current. During the night the curent is used to give light and also to power TV and computer etc – it all depends on the size of the installation. The batteries become partially discharged during this time. However, the next day the solar panels are again active and recharge the batteries ready for the next night. It is in reality not a good proposition to have the solar panels directly powering lights, etc, because when the panels are charging ( daylight) there is no need for electric lighting.Unless the installation is extemely large, it is not possible to run high energy consumers, wahing machines, dishwashers, clothes dryers, cookers, hot water heating etc from the solar panels.

]]> Comment on can i save the power from my solar panels during the day and use the energy at night? by ibdastevie http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/comment-page-1/#comment-661 ibdastevie Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:13:25 +0000 http://solar-energypanels.net/259/can-i-save-the-power-from-my-solar-panels-during-the-day-and-use-the-energy-at-night/#comment-661 It is and always has been standard practice to connect solar cells to deep cycle rechargeable batteries. Inverters are often used to convert the stored DC into 110 volts AC to power appliances. Just search "solar charging systems" on the net. There is plenty to learn. The main issues are matching your system to your power needs, and getting the most powerful system for your money. Some of the best deals are on ebay. It is and always has been standard practice to connect solar cells to deep cycle rechargeable batteries. Inverters are often used to convert the stored DC into 110 volts AC to power appliances. Just search “solar charging systems” on the net. There is plenty to learn. The main issues are matching your system to your power needs, and getting the most powerful system for your money. Some of the best deals are on ebay.

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