Solar Attic Fan

5 Advantages Of Getting A Solar Attic Fan

Author: Brett Stephens

Are you currently using an electric attic fan or some sort of electric ventilation system at home? Then have you ever thought of installing a solar attic fan? When most people think of solar products, they immediately think "expensive!", but when we investigated getting a solar powered attic fan and compared it to conventional ventilation systems, it was obvious which way we were going to go.

There are so many clear benefits for getting a solar attic fan, that you would be crazy not to invest in one. But before we delve into the reasons for buying one, we will quickly explain how a solar powered attic fan works:

A solar attic fan is a solar powered vertical turbine, that is installed on the highest point on your roof - usually the attic (hence the name). As soon as the sun hits the solar panels, the turbine starts to spin, drawing warm air out of the house.

As the sun rises further and the temperature in the house rises, the warm air in the house naturally rises to the attic, where it is then sucked out by the fan. This warm air is replaced by cool air that is drawn in from outside. And your house stays cool!

Okay, now that you understand how it works, let's explain why a solar powered attic fan is such a good investment:

1 - Easy Cheap Installation:

When electric attic fans are installed, they need to be wired up to your electricity. This wiring obviously needs to be done by a qualified electrician with an electricity permit and inspection. This costs money, and it can take up to 6 hours to get the system working.

On the other hand, a solar attic fan has its own power source - the sun - so no wiring is needed. This means you require no electricity permits to install the fan. All you need to do is follow the accompanying step-by-step instructions. And at most it will take you 2 hours to get it working.

2 - Non-Stop Operation:

With an electric attic fan, to save power, it is usually equipped with a thermostat. This regulates the operation of the fan, so that it only spins once the attic reaches a certain temperature - usually 125 degrees Fahrenheit. The drawback to this is that by the time the ventilation starts the house is already warm (remember warm air rises), so it will take some time for it to cool down.

However, since a solar powered attic fan uses no electricity, it can operate all day long, from when the sun rises until a little after the sun sets. So air is constantly circulating in your home, regardless of the temperature, keeping your home well-ventilated and cool.

3 - Prolongs Roof Life:

If you haven't installed an attic fan yet, then maybe it is time you invested in a solar attic fan. The reason?

During cold winter months heat trapped in your attic can melt snow on your roof. As the the water trickles down, it collects and refreezes in the cooler eaves or gutters, leading to costly and destructive ice damming. By having a solar powered attic fan, it requires minimal sunlight to operate and keep the attic cool.

Furthermore, warm moisture from showering and cooking tends to rise and get trapped in the attic. This leads to mold and mildew that can saturate your insulation and cause fungal decay and destruction of your roof frame and decking. With a solar attic fan, the attic stays well-ventilated, preventing any mildew from growing.

4 - Did We Say Free Energy?

Electric ventilation systems tend to use a lot of power, leading to higher electricity bills, especially during summer months.

Whereas, with a solar powered attic fan, it requires none of your household power to operate. All it needs is some sunlight - which when we last checked was FREE. So the only cost you have to worry about is the initial investment. After that, it costs absolutely nothing to operate it.

Also, most states offer tax incentives for installing renewable energy technology at home. This lowers the initial cost of a solar attic fan.

5 - Reduce Your Carbon Footprint:

Electric fans need power to operate. And where does that power come from? Well, burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil, and nuclear power station - which all emit carbon that pollutes our air and causes global warming.

A solar attic fan, on the other hand, use no electricity, so it helps reduce your carbon footprint, thus helping the environment.

So many people talk about "green this" and "green that", but very few actually get involved. Now that you know how easy, cost-effective, and "green" it is to install a solar powered attic fan, you can "walk the talk" and actually live a greener, cleaner life.

A DIY installed solar attic fan starts at around $400 (excl. tax and incentives), which is a small price to pay for free ventilation and reducing your energy dependence.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/5-advantages-of-getting-a-solar-attic-fan-852856.html

About the uthor

Tim McDonald and his wife have been living off the grid since June 2008. He recommends you Try Earth4Energy For FREE before you go out and start any home solar power project.

Solar Electric Power Systems-Cheapest Solar Electric Power Systems

Author: N Jamal

Solar power is the energy of the future. Learn how to get cheapest solar electric power systems. A few of the several advantages of solar energy are first and foremost its free, easy to harness and is capable to provide more energy than what is needed by most homes.

You may be aware that a commercially sold solar panel has its worth in thousands of dollars. But, did you know you can go solar for a fraction of that cost. To be specific, you can go solar for as little as $200!

Why Go Solar?

Solar panels are made up of small PV cells, also known as photovoltaic cells. The PV cells capture sun light and store it in a battery. The energy stored in the battery is then transformed into usable electricity using an inverter. Solar power is a renewable resource of energy and free to harness once you have installed solar panels.

Installing ready made solar panels can be pretty expensive and can cost you anywhere from $10,000 - $18,000 to solar power you entire home. You can solar power your whole house for a fraction of this amount if you learn how to build solar electric power systems. Building these systems from scratch is cheap and easy; all the required raw materials can be easily bought from the local electrical or hardware store. This also cuts down on any further impact on the environment as the solar panels do not go through any manufacturing processes.

Going Solar Is Easy!

Various kits are available to download from different vendors that will teach you to build solar electric power systems. The downloaded kits include steps for calculating the actual electricity that you need from solar panels based upon your electricity bills. Once you have that information you can start building your own solar panels, typically you can easily build a 100 watt solar panel in a day very easily.

Now, that’s not something very substantial, but when you can easily redo the whole process over and over again, you can completely go off-grid with a few days of work and perhaps sell back the extra power back to the utility company. Now, how is that for a change? You’ll get a check from the utility provider!

Save Heaps!

Once you install solar electric power systems, the systems will pay for themselves many times over the course of their life. Generally, solar panels have an average lifetime for 25-30 years requiring no to little maintenance. So, you do the math here and calculate how much you are set to save!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/solar-electric-power-systemscheapest-solar-electric-power-systems-1483741.html

About the Author

Stop paying your energy bills and throwing money out of the window. Learn how to build Solar Electric Power Systems for a very small and affordable investment! Learn how thousands of people worldwide have slashed their electric bills by 80% and at times completely eliminated them by using the Best DIY Solar Power Guides on the planet, that have step by step instructions and videos that even a novice teenager can follow to make solar panels.

Solar Electric Power Systems-Learn How to Build Solar Electric Power Systems

Author: N Jamal

The best thing about solar power is that it has an unlimited potential. Learn how to build solar electric power systems easily and save $1000’s on utility bills forever. You just need to know how to make your own renewable energy source and today I am going to tell you exactly how to build your own solar panel for electricity

If you want to learn how to build solar electric power systems, you'll need to learn some basics on how exactly do solar panels work. This way, the entire procedure will be much easier to handle.

The process starts with solar modules. They are the main components exposed directly to sunlight. Their main function is to convert the sun's energy into usable electrical power for your home appliances. To get them correctly installed, solar modules are to be mounted on a steel frame and positioned on your roof top.
Power produced by the solar modules is converted from Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC) through a inverter. Usually, Alternating Current (AC) is the usable electrical power that we need to power the home appliances.

Next, the electrical power transfers from the inverter to the electrical service panel. The electrical service panel is used for distributing the electrical power to different parts of your house or office for use.

The unused electrical power produced by the solar panels will then be brought into the grid all the way through the utility electric meter. As a result, the meter will be made to spin backwards and this establishes a credit with the utility company in offsetting future usage. This method is known as Net Metering and is completely approved by State Level Electricity Policy.

Learning how to build solar electric power systems isn't really a difficult task. You don't require many skills beyond being able to handle wiring & basic tools with care and safety measures.

The components needed for constructing solar panels include:-

1. Solar Cells
2. Sheet Plywood
3. Copper Wire
4. General Tools (Drills, screwdrivers, woodwork glue etc)
5. Clear PVC Sheeting

All these components can be easily picked up by you from the local hardware store. Photovoltaic cell is the only component that you might have to search online and it can be found easily on eBay.

Quality directions that are easy to follow are vital to find when trying to build your own solar panels. This will make the building process less stressful and make you happier that you made the choice to do it yourself. Online is just one of the places you are able to find some of these manuals. We have reviewed the best guides available to help you to learn how to build your own solar panel system for electricity. Go ahead and check them out NOW……learn how to build solar electric power systems and STOP paying for electricity…FOREVER!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/solar-electric-power-systemslearn-how-to-build-solar-electric-power-systems-1497744.html

About the Author

Stop paying your energy bills and throwing money out of the window. Learn how build Solar Electric Power Systems, easily and save $1000’s on utility bills forever! Learn how thousands of people worldwide have slashed their electric bills by 80% and at times completely eliminated them by using the Best DIY Solar Power Guides on the planet, that have step by step instructions and videos that even a novice teenager can follow to generate solar power.

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Adventure in Living off the grid

Off grid living is obtainable for anyone and you too can enjoy the life of off grid living no matter where you make your home.

Is a Solar Electricity System Right For You?

If you are thinking about purchasing a solar electricity system for your home or business then you are joining millions of other energy-conscious individuals around the world. Solar electricity systems provide reliable, pollution free energy from a renewable resource better known as the sun. Solar electricity systems are becoming more affordable as advancements are made in photovoltaic designs and construction.

Adding to the affordability, many solar electricity systems are able to participate in net metering in several states. This means that as your solar electricity system generates more power than you are using, your meter runs backwards resulting in an even swap of power that you use at other times when you exceed the power supplied by your own solar electricity system.

Before you invest in a solar electricity system for your home or business, it is best to understand exactly what you are purchasing and how solar electricity is generated. The building block of any solar electricity system is the photovoltaic cells, which are wired together to produce solar electricity modules. The electricity produced from the modules or panels is then passed through an inverter that changes the current from AC to DC, making it usable to power household appliances and the utility grid. It is often a popular choice to include batteries in a solar electricity system to store backup power to be used in times of low sun light and power outages.

It is important to realize that solar electricity systems work intermittently or only when the sun hits them. This is not a problem if you utilize battery backup systems or are connected to the grid. Installing a solar electricity system can also come with an initially high investment cost and it can take years before the system pays for itself. However, with net metering and government funded rebates, many are able to pay off systems much more quickly.

You definitely don’t need to know the physics of solar electricity systems to understand its appeal. A solar electricity system will never run out of fuel nor will it increase our dependency on foreign oil. Stop thinking about a solar electricity system for your home or business and start investing in your freedom by starting your research of solar electricity systems today.

Benefits of Green Solar Energy

To truly understand the benefits of green solar energy, you must first understand how solar energy is harnessed. There are two types of green solar energy-thermal and light. Thermal energy is considered passive solar. This type of green solar energy is harnessed through the design and materials used to construct a building. By integrating south facing windows and materials that retain heat, like brick and stone, you can lower your energy needs and build an energy efficient structure. The thermal energy produced by green solar energy is also used to heat water for solar hot water systems. The rays of the sun also produce light and radiation that can be captured by solar panels to create electricity.

The most popular use of green solar energy is for saving money. Although green solar energy systems can come with a large initial investment, they generally pay for themselves in a few years by providing either supplemental electricity or all of the electricity to your home or business. Building your own solar panels, participating in government refunds and net metering, in which you sell unused electricity back to the power company, can reduce the cost of implementing a green solar energy system. In addition, green solar energy systems require little to no maintenance after installation, as most have no moving parts.

The most important benefit of utilizing green solar energy is completely environmental. With polar ice caps dwindling away and climate changes creating tragic storms world wide, it is increasingly obvious that steps must be taken to decrease global warming and our dependence on fossil fuels. Green solar energy provides a clean energy alternative as it creates little pollution and does not contribute to global warming.

Green solar energy systems can be used by homes and businesses alike. If going solar cannot meet all of your energy needs, it can certainly reduce them. Utilizing green solar energy can save you money, but it’s greatest benefit is to the environment and our future.

Build Solar Electric System: How to Make a Home Made Wind Generator

Build Solar Electric System: How to Make a Home Made Wind Generator

How to Make a Home Made Wind Generator

Free Wind Power Generator Plans Instructions

Can Anyone Live Off The Grid?

When you talk about alternative energy and living off the grid, a lot of people feel instantly that they will have to give up most of their modern amenities to live in such a fashion. Many more think this is an endeavor solely for granola loving hippies, whose modest ways coincide with fewer technologies, TVs, ACs, etc. The truth is, living off the grid is a possibility open to anyone. Granted, you may have a larger investment if you are powering three chest freezers and all high-energy appliances, but this would simply mean you need a larger system.

The increased demand for renewable energy technology has led to the development of more efficient and easy to use components to make living off the grid a reasonable option for anyone willing to be mindful of their energy consumption.

Using renewable energy sources to produce electricity is a fairly simple process. You need a power source-sun, wind or water-from which you will harness a low voltage direct current that is then converted, using an inverter, into usable house current (AC). Excess current generated by your system is stored in battery banks where it can be retrieved during more high demand times or times when the direct energy source is unavailable.

Living off the grid with renewable power resources is almost completely automated as well. Except for the maintenance of your batteries, there is almost no special attention needed, other than monitoring your energy use to make sure you do not exceed your supply with your demand. The key to success in living off the grid is making sure you size your system to meet the demand of your energy needs.

Living off the grid can be an exhilarating experience. The feeling of energy freedom is like no other and you can be proud of your efforts to combat global warming and best of all, you may never have to worry about a power outage again. It is important to conduct your research and determine which alternative energy sources will work best for you in your geographical area, but it is definitely worthwhile to learn how to live off the grid and feel the rush of freedom being off the grid can give.

Generating Solar Electricity: Use The Power of The Sun

When asked about alternative energy or renewable energy, most people think of solar electricity. Generating electricity from the sun is a technology that everyone knows well. Whether it is your pocket calculator, home, or workshop, regardless of your power needs, solar electricity can get the job done.

Solar electricity has a number of unique advantages over conventional or grid-based electricity. Solar electric systems can be designed for a variety of applications and are extremely beneficial in remote areas where other electric opportunities do not exist. In addition, photovoltaic systems that generate solar electricity have no moving parts therefore requiring minimal maintenance, are easily expandable, and with many smaller units, transportable.

Environmental compatibility is a huge selling point for converting to solar electricity. The fuel for generating solar electricity is a free renewable resource, the sun. Solar electricity offers no noise pollution and actually almost no pollution from their operation. Another appealing factor for many who choose solar electricity over conventional electricity is simply the independence. It is an attractive offer to many rural dwellers to know that when the lights go out due to storms or blackouts, theirs are still working. No longer a slave to waiting on hold to report an outage to find it will be 10 hours before their service will be restored.

The hardest part of converting to solar electricity is the cost of the system. Investing in a solar energy system can be a substantial upfront cost. The value of solar electricity is realized over several years. A professionally installed solar array for an average dwelling (avg. $100/month in electric bills) could pay for itself in 5 years. You could reduce that number by building your own solar panel system or by purchasing a used system. With many solar energy systems in less rural areas and only in some states, you can sell your unused solar electricity back to the electric company. In these situations the return on your investment is realized much more quickly.

Using the power of sun with solar electricity is a benefit to the environment and to your home. Solar electricity is already being used to supplement power for a number of large cities in North America. Take time to learn more about solar electricity and how you can have trade in your electric bill for a carefree life with solar electricity.

Off Grid Living-You Can Do It Too

More and more people are realizing that you can still enjoy modern amenities while enjoying the independence of off grid living.  Being off the grid means being exactly that, off the grid.  No power lines, no electric bills, and being free of utility grid demands, not to mention their ever-rising rates.  Off grid living is environmentally friendly and cost effective and it is an option available to almost any one owning a home.

The principles of off grid living may be applied to any home in the world, even those currently tied to the grid.  From solar panels, hydropower and windmills, there is growing curiosity in off grid living and breaking free from fossil fuel burning power plants.  The technologies have advanced and the costs have dropped greatly.
Even do-it-yourselfers can take leaps into off grid living with many kits, resources and manuals available for instruction.  As energy demands increase globally, those living off grid can rest easy knowing their own energy costs are diminishing.

The idea of off grid living can be scary to some who believe they will have to give up some of their most prized possessions and electronic gadgets to achieve such freedom.  This is very far from the truth.  Off grid living is simply about learning to moderate your use of electricity.  It can be as simple as turning off lights that are not really in use.  Purchasing appliances that don’t use energy when not in use (like clocks on microwaves and stoves).  Learning to unplug, not just turn off.  Things like computers and printers, well anything with the little green light that is always on, these items are stealing precious energy and adding to your bill.  Wanting to become part of the off grid living adventure, doesn’t always mean giving up everything, sometimes it just means getting smarter about the things you have.

Off grid living has gotten so popular that even completely re-locatable high efficiency homes are being produced to meet those needs.  Very similar to mobile homes and travel travelers in layout and definitely only designed for a one or two person dwelling, these housing units use solar power, passive solar design and a small amount of natural gas to provide off grid living that you can take with you when you move.

If you are interested in off grid living, but need more success stories to drive you over the teetering point then start your research on the Internet.  There are tons of great resources available and individuals who took the plunge into off grid living with great success telling their stories.  Imagine, no more gathering around that one little candle when the power goes out, or having the neighbors over to watch their favorite shows when there is a blackout.  Off grid living is obtainable for anyone and you too can enjoy the life of off grid living no matter where you make your home.

Learn To Build Wind Turbines

How would you react if your neighbor told you she was going to build wind turbines? Pretty impressed? The truth is that it is not difficult to build wind turbines and many homeowners are taking the challenge to build their own wind turbines as a cost-effective means to utilizing renewable energies. It isn’t exactly snap-your-fingers easy to build wind turbines either, but with the proper plans and a motivated builder you can be building wind turbines in no time.

It is definitely your best bet, before setting out to build wind turbines, to purchase an instruction manual or guide to follow. Remember that you get what you pay for when it comes to instructions. Make sure you find a manual that is easy to read with detailed instructions. There are also many online resources and forums to help guide you through your wind turbine building process.

To familiarize yourself with the basics, before you get started on your project to build wind turbines, there are four basic components to wind turbines. To build wind turbines you must be familiar with the towers, the batteries, the turbines and the tail and propeller assembly. The tools generally required to build wind turbines are simple as well, you will need wrenches, a saw and a drill. There may also be a need for additional tools depending on how of the wind turbine you will be building yourself.

One part that you will probably be ordering when you decide to build wind turbines is the motor. The motors on wind turbines do require regular maintenance and oiling for continued efficiency, but this is a small price to pay for the excellent energy these systems provide. In addition to the motor, you are definitely going to need a good-sized workspace. Depending on your target energy output, your propellers or blades could get up to 8 feet in diameter (4 ft blades).

It takes a little work to build wind turbines, but there is really nothing overly complicated about the process and generally the process can be fairly inexpensive once you are operational and your electric bills are dropping each month. Building wind turbines is also a fast growing occupation worldwide as technicians are tough to find. So learn how to build wind turbines for yourself and take advantage of the opportunities free electricity and know how can provide.

Build solar:How to Use Your Roof As a Solar Space Heater

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How to Use Your Roof As a Solar Space Heater

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Use your existing roof and insulation membrane to supply solar heated air to your home. Whenever the roof is heated by the sun the air trapped underneath is naturally heated ,it then rises to the highest point where you can collect it to heat your home. Most metal roofs and some other types of clad roofs have an insulating membrane underneath them,it becomes a very simple, inexpensive, project to automatically harvest this warm air to heat your home at almost zero cost.

  Steps

1. Access the roof space of your house and make sure that your roof has an insulation membrane under the roofing sheets.
   
2. Locate the top two purlins either side of the roof ridge
   
3. Now tidy up any excess insulation. Use a hand tacker staple gun to neatly secure the insulation to the purlins along the whole length of the ridge.
   
4. When finished each side of the roof should now have insulation running from the gutter to the height of the top purlin.The space between the purlin should be open to the underside of the metal forming the ridge.
   
5. Cut strips of insulation wide enough to fix across the underside of the top two purlins and long enough to run the length of the ridge.
   
6. Fix this insulation to the underside of the top two purlins with your hand tacker, thus forming a header between them. The air between the roof sheeting and the insulation will be heated by the radiation of the sun.It will rise toward this header and collect there.
   
7. Near the center of the ridge fit a suitably sized duct outlet.( if you intend to use a six inch ducted fan then you should use a matching 6 inch duct) Fix it to the underside of the purlins. Seal to the foil using silicone or similar product , making sure that the portion of foil directly under outlet is removed to allow the heated air to flow from the duct.
   
8. Fit a ceiling duct outlet to the ceiling of the area you wish to heat.
   
9. Fit a suitably sized ducted fan somewhere between the duct from the ridge and the duct to the ceiling.Best practice would entail suspending the fan from the roof structure using a heavy duty spring . This will prevent vibration from the fan if it becomes out of balance due to dust building up on its blades)and will insure quiet operation.
   
10. Measure cut and fit two lengths of foil ducting.One to connect your ridge duct to the fan and one to connect the fan to the ceiling duct.
    
11. Fit a thermostatic switch near the duct at the header and position the sensor bulb inside the header near the duct opening. Secure the bulb to the perling.
    
12. Wire the fan to the thermostatic switch so that the fan will only run when the temperature of the air in the header, exceeds the control temperature of the area to be heated.
    
13. Move to the outside of the roof and seal any air gaps between the ridge of the roof and the roof sheeting profile.( you could use expanding foam or a proprietary profile seal.)
    
14. Your heater is ready to use at this stage and it will contribute many hours of free heat during days where the sun shines despite the air temp being cold.
    
15.   To really get most benefit the top meter or so of the ridge should be covered with a clear plastic cover. this how to will be amended to include this option.
    

  Tips

• A building incorporating this simple inexpensive and reliable system will provide opportunistic heating, cooling, and ventilation throughout the year and every future year ; turning itself on /off automatically for the cost of running a 60 watt fan .
  
• This system can be upgraded at any future time by providing part or all of the upper roof surface with a transparent cover of any description, but even without a cover there is significant heat to be gained at no cost.
  

  Warnings

• You will need an electrician to connect your fan and thermostat unless you can access a low voltage ducted fan
  

  Things You'll Need

• Some foil insulation
  
• Six inch ducted fan
  
• Foil ducting
  
• A hand tacker
  
• Thermostatic switch
  
• A thermostatic switch to control at room temperature
  
• length of roof profile seal
  

  Related wikiHows

• How to Landscape With Solar Lighting
  
• How to Make and Use a Solar Oven
  
• How to Design and Install a Radiant Floor Heating System
  
• How to Use Solar Energy to Heat a Pool
  
• How to Make a Solar Hot Air Balloon
  
• How to Heat Water Using Solar Energy
  

  Sources and Citations

• http://doingmybit.blogspot.com/
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Use Your Roof As a Solar Space Heater.  All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Considering Solar Power for Your Home

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Written by Cristian Stan

Monday, 23 November 2009

Due to the ever rising cost of electricity and because of environmental issues, many householders are seeking information on the alternatives, particularly solar power generators. This is not a new idea; however, with today's demands on our pocket and our planet's finite resources it is a serious and viable option.

Firstly, it must be said, that one does not have to live in a perpetual sun blessed climate on the equator for the suns ray's to provide free and convenient power. Even some of the world's gloomiest climate areas can benefit from this green energy.

Generally there are two types of solar power generators:

1. Photo-thermal.

2. Photo-voltaic.

Photo-thermal:

Photo thermal solar power generators, as the name suggests, generate heat from the sun's rays. This heat can be utilized to heat ones domestic water supply, central heating system or swimming pool.

These systems work by focusing the sun's energy on to collectors that heat water, the heated water is then circulated or pumped on demand. This type of system can be used on a large industrial scale when the water is heated to high temperatures creating steam, this steam then goes on to turn large turbines to generate electricity, however, we are discussing home use in this article and this method to generate electricity is not practical for the domestic environment.

Providing useable heat from the sun's energy is expensive and some local authorities and governments are funding or subsidizing installations in the interest of reducing carbon emissions.

Photo-voltaic:

Generally people think of solar panels as devices that directly generate electricity; these panels are photo-voltaic and that is exactly what they do. This method of providing free electricity is becoming more available and can be very inexpensive. For example, have a look around your local DIY store and you will find many gadgets and devices for the home and garden that are powered by the sun such as pond pumps, garden lighting, security alarms to name but a few.

Solar power on this scale is becoming very cheap and convenient not only saving money on the electricity itself but on having to install cables to these devices.

Considering powering one's home in its entirety using photo voltaic or solar panels although initially expensive, overtime, will provide free and green electricity and, today, is a serious and viable option.

Other Considerations:

There are considerations than one has to bear in mind before embarking on a large scale solar panel installation.

Check with your local planning office to make sure you are not contravening any local by-laws and obtain any relevant permission. Also make sure your property can withstand the added weight of solar panel arrays before going ahead with a roof or terrace installation.

Large solar installations are not really the realm of the DIY enthusiast and will require experts to calculate the number and size of panels you require for your power needs. There is much information on the Internet also you may be able to get advice from a local solar panel specialist who will be able to design a system for your individual needs.
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Visit HomemadeSolarEnergyPanels.Com to learn how to make homemade solar panels, advantages of DIY solar panels and homemade solar energy!

How to Create a Solar Panel

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
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This article outlines how to build a low-cost solar panel to heat water. It uses components normally available from glazing companies, home improvement and car parts shops.

Steps

1. Get a double-glazed unit for the sunlight to pass through. Glaziers and window manufacturers sometimes have scrap units for patio doors or large windows that can be bought very cheaply. Glass with a low-emissivity coating such as Pilkington K glass is ideal.
   
2. Get a single-panel room radiator that is slightly smaller than the glass unit. Scrap yards sometimes have old radiators, or ask a plumber who is refurbishing a central heating system.
   
3. Build a strong wooden box to fit the double-glazed unit. Use 12mm plywood for the back and 150mm x 50mm timber for the sides. Make sure it is deep enough to accommodate 50mm of insulation plus the radiator. The glass should exactly fit the box on three sides but overhang the box on the fourth side so that rain water will drip off the glass when the box is set at an angle.
   
4. If the box will sit on a flat surface build a support so that the box can be installed perpendicular to the sun. In the UK an angle of 35º from horizontal works well.
   
5. Treat the outside of the box to make the wood water resistant.
   
6. Glue aluminum kitchen foil to the plywood inside the box.
   
7. Screw two radiator brackets inside the box to support the radiator.
   
8. Insert a layer of 50mm thermal insulation slabs over the kitchen foil.
   
9. Fit the radiator onto the brackets and drill 20mm holes in the side of the box where the pipes will come out. You can route one pipe inside the box to make both pipes exit the same side of the box if your installation requires it.
   
10. Plumb in the radiator so that two pieces of 15mm copper tube extends 100mm from the outside of the box. Use threaded straight connectors rather than radiator valves to fit pipes that go straight out of the box.
    
11. Spray the front of the radiator matt black using heat resistant paint, such as that used for spraying the radiant parts of coal and gas fires.
    
12. Screw two angle brackets onto the bottom edge of the box and bend them up to stop the glass sliding off the box.
    
13. Run a bead of silicone sealant around the edge of the box and place lengths of electrical tape over the bead so the glass doesn't stick to it.
    
14. Place the glass on the box and leave the silicon to set. This will create an airtight seal between the glass and the box and increase the thermal insulation.
    
15. Screw L section UPVC strips to the three sides where the glass is flush with the box to prevent rain ingress. 45º mitres on the two corner joints makes a smart finish.
    
16. Get rubber engine hose with an internal diameter of 15mm from a car parts shop and attach it to the 15mm copper tube with jubilee clips. If your hose is slightly too big solder straight connectors onto the ends of the tubes to increase their diameter.
    
17. Finished. You now have a solar panel ready to heat water. In order to have a functioning system you will also need a water tank, a water pump and (if the pump does not run on mains electricity) a photovoltaic panel and control unit to power the pump.
    

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