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How much, roughly, does solar panels cost to install for hot water for a house? Just looking for a rough idea without having to go through rigmarole of signing up to loads of different contractors before getting a quote.

When I was a teen, I said to my friends and family, “Some day soon I am going to build a house, and put solar panels on it!”  My friends and family laughed at me and said that I did not know what I was talking about.  A couple years later, the economy has gone down, there have been many warnings about global warming, and every bank, gas station, retail and grocery store is shouting for everyone to go green.  Now, since more people are starting to become more and more aware of the planet and their environment around them, people are beginning to change the way they think, and the idea solar power may be worthy to look into.  Despite all that is going on in our world today, many people are still wary and uneducated about the “benefits of solar power”; however, as time goes on, I believe that things are changing.  Meanwhile, what are some of the “benefits of solar power?”

First, I have a question for you concerning the “benefits of solar power.”  If you were to get soaked in the rain, and then the sun came out, how much would it cost for the sun to dry you?  I will wait a couple moments for you to answer… three, two, one.  You are correct; it would cost nothing for the sun to dry you.  The use of the sun is free; why not use the sun to our fullest advantage. The sun is a constant, daily, and renewable source of natural energy.  Out of all the natural energies, which include water and wind, the sun is the most efficient because wind, depending on where you live is not constant, and how many people live by sources of water?  These are just a few of the “benefits of solar power.”

Another “benefit from solar power” is that it is very easily affordable, and therefore, obtainable.  Solar power has the power to cut down the cost of your electricity bill.  Wouldn’t it be great to save thousands upon thousands of dollars each month, and then a year!  While you are saving money, you are saving the lives of your children, grandchildren, and the environment that they will inhabit.  The usage of solar power has the ability to make the earth cleaner, which means cleaner water to drink, and cleaner air to breathe.  Not to mention, did you know that the earth only has a supply of 2% fresh water?  That is right, there is only 2% fresh water on all of the earth.  If we, the inhabitants of earth do not look after our planet, what will become of our fresh water and air?  The air and water are already polluted, how far will we let it go?

Fortunately, solar power is easily obtainable.  There are companies that will sale you solar panels like Whole Sale Solar (which has prices from $300- $900).  However, if you are like me and you want more information, or you just want to do-it-yourself, check out my blog at http://savemoneysaveearth.blogspot.com.

Hey, check out these auctions:
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US $275.00 End Date: Friday Jan-29-2010 8:59:58 PST Buy It Now for only: US $275.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

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Thin Film Solar Panels are made up of a lightweight and flexible material which can be rolled up and easily transported. They are therefore very useful as a source of portable solar power.

Any person who has ever used a solar-powered calculator has had “hands on” experience with Thin Film Photovoltaics. This technology has been with us for years, creating the strips which are used to power calculators

This photovoltaic technology has now evolved to a point where we can mass-produce solar panels, through the use of machines not unlike printing presses.

The substance which is used to print these photovoltaic panels is called “solar ink.”

Solar ink can be made in any color. In fact, it is possible to design the inks in such a way as to make use of different parts of the light spectrum.

Solar presses “print out” thin panels called “solar rolls.” These rolls are13 inches wide, and can be up to 2400 feet long. They can be cut to the required size, after the solar ink has been printed onto them.

The electrical connections in the roll are automatically welded in by laser. This procedure reduces the construction time considerably, as compared to the time required to construct conventional solar panels.

Once this technology reaches a cost-effectiveness of $1.00 per watt, its prices will be competitive with those of conventional fossil fuels. TFPV is rapidly approaching this benchmark, and could possibly beat it in the near future.

Solar ink can be printed onto fabrics, plastics and metals, allowing one to design panels for a wide range of products, each tailored to their specific needs.

Thin and flexible photovoltaic solar panels are not as effective as solid panels. It’s the fact that they are so much cheaper and lighter than conventional solar panels, that gives them the “edge”.

The U.S. military is extremely interested in the development of thin-film solar technology, and spent 1.seven million dollars on one laboratory last year, to facilitate the development of Thin Film Photovoltaics. The US government is interested in implementing this technology in troop communication devices, which can reduce the heat signatures which are created when troops use conventional generators.

Solar shades and tents are now available, using thin film photovoltaics, which provide up to 2kw of power. This allows them to operate laptops, communication devices, TVs, and much more.

Thin film photovoltaic devices are now widely available on the consumer market.

A flexible solar panel weighing less than a pound is now capable of recharging a laptop. Due to its flexibility, it can be rolled up and transported easily.

Flexible photovoltaic panels are also a realistic source of emergency power. They are a handy and economic addition to emergency preparedness kits and wilderness survival kits.

Current research on Thin Film Photovoltaics is aimed at increasing the power output of these panels. If this research achieves this goal, there is a very good possibility that we will have solved the problem cheap and clean renewable energy.

Hey, check out these auctions:
[eba kw=”solar panels for sale” num=”2″ ebcat=”all”]
Cool, arent they?

Hey, check out these auctions:
[eba kw=”solar panel” num=”2″ ebcat=”all”]
Cool, arent they?

The use of solar panels in residences has proved to be the best and most cost-efficient alternative for utility power. However, the use of solar power has yet to reach its full potential in the residential market.

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The use of solar panels in residences has proved to be the best and most cost-efficient alternative for utility power. However, the use of solar power has yet to reach its full potential in the residential market. Recent advances in technology can possibly change this, as the industry has seen opportunities to create solar panels with new designs, in terms of both aesthetics and functionality.

Aesthetically-pleasing designs

Solar power has only recently been given a great deal of attention. As a result, residential homes built 10, 20, or 30 years ago were not constructed in such a way that solar panels could be later added if the resident family decides to install some.

Previously, solar panels were very thick and had to be mounted with out-of-place brackets on top of existing roofs. Fortunately, the solar panel manufacturer industry has recently realized that poor aesthetics is one of the main reasons why solar power has not completely made its way into the residential market.

New panels are hardly noticeable. The tiles are seamlessly integrated into the existing roofs of residential homes, which achieve a very elegant look. The rise in number of solar installations in the U.S. rose by an amazing 45% in 2007 is widely attributed to the creation of more aesthetically-pleasing panel designs.

There are a number of companies that have already come up with more aesthetically-pleasing solar panel designs. The Sun Power Corporation, for example, the leading U.S. solar panel manufacturer, has created some panels that are compatible with Mediterranean-styled clay tiles and flat roof tiles. Lumeta, another manufacturer, has design panels that are awaiting industry certification.

The panels made by both Sun Power and Lumeta are made from silicon. The market will soon see thinner panels made of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). As of now, however, such panels are less efficient than the currently existing silicon ones. Sometime in the near future, these thin-film panels are expected to dominate residential use by becoming a standard part of the building process.

Highly functional designs

One example of a new, more functional solar panel design is that recently designed by the Georgia Tech Research Institute. This innovative design allows the panels to absorb more sunlight, enabling them to produce up to 60 times more current. This new design makes use of nano-towers that add significant surface area to the solar panels, giving the particles of light from the sun more chances to strike the part of the cell that produces electricity.

However, these new panels still have a couple of kinks yet to be worked out. These new panel designs have too much resistance in their cells, resulting in an inability to generate the kind of electricity needed.

Jud Ready, senior research engineer at the Georgia Tech Research Institute and creator of this new solar panel design, is determined to work on the design and modify its features to resolve the difficulties within it. The US Air Force is currently partially sponsoring the research in high hopes that these smaller and more efficient solar panels will replace old, bulky ones and can eventually be used to power satellites and spacecrafts in the future.

Building solar panels you need to use common hand tools and inexpensive and easy to acquire materials to build a solar panel that rivals commercial panels in power.

To start building your  solar panels you need to purchase Solar Cells and this information is readily available on the internet.

Solar cells are obviously the most important part and the best place is to search eBay for your solar cells.

It is a good idea to get complete cells for your first project, complete solar cells refer to the tabbing wire already soldered onto the cells. You pay extra but save time when you start to build.

A common sale from ebay is around 73 of 3 X 6 mono-crystalline solar cells but it only  takes a total of 36 – 3 X 6 mono-crystalline solar cells wired in series to make a panel.

Start out with just 9 cells that have had the ribbon wires soldered. Lay the soldered wire end from the front of one cell across the solder points on the back of the other cell.

Continued this until you have a line of 9 cells soldered together. Then made three more lines of 9 cells.

Used a low-Wattage soldering iron (20/30 watt) and fine rosin-core solder and used a rosin flux pen on the solder points on the back of the cells before soldering.

Use a real light touch with the soldering iron.

Note:

Your solar panel should always use the same size and same type of solar cells.

 You should always work out the final wattage, volts, and amps of your solar panel.

Each cell produces about 1/2 Volt. 36 in series would give about 18 volts which is perfect for charging 12 volt batteries.

This type of solar cell is as thin as paper and as brittle and fragile as glass and can be easily damaged.

You will also need ribbon & bus wire and a flux pen that usually comes as a lot on ebay.

When determining the total Wattage of a solar panel you should use this simple electrical equation.

Watts = Volts x Amps

Know any two of the equation and you work out the Third variable.

Directions and easy to follow steps are available from the many energy sites.

Some better than others.

Connecting your home solar power system to the power grid allows you to qualify for net metering in many states.

Net metering measures the excess power you generate with your combination of solar power panels and homemade wind power generator and direct it back into your local power grid.

Solar energy is a great renewable resource that is growing in popularity with the average consumer. As energy prices skyrocket and the average income stagnating, if not falling, consumers are looking for a way to reduce their costs of living in any area possible. The rise of renewable energy, and the desire to wean our society off of fossil fuels, makes using solar panels for the home a great alternative for power.

Solar power kits save energy for the homeowner because they allow the homeowner to generate their own electricity to power their home. In some cases, the homeowner can go completely off-grid and even sell additional electricity back to the power company. What a powerful concept to be able to take an expense and turn it into an asset.

What are solar panels?

A solar panel is a packaged interconnected assembly of solar cells that are cased in a housing unit to protect the cells from the weather and from physical damage. These panels generate electricity, which is then used to directly power devices in the home, or charge battery cells to store the power for nighttime use. A solar power kit typically includes solar panels, an inverter and interconnection wiring to connect the panel to the electrical system in the home. For those that want to live off the grid, batteries are included for continuous power during the day and night. The use of infrared solar cells also allows the homeowner to generate electricity at night, thus increasing the efficiency of these cells.

The technology of solar cells continues to advance with time. Currently, the efficiency rate of solar cells range from 5% to 19% depending upon the technology. The reason is that the solar cells (or photo-voltaic cells) only convert a limited range of sunlight frequencies into electricity. The renewable energy industry is experimenting with advanced technologies that will raise the efficiency of these solar cells by a whopping 50%.

A new technology for solar cells, also called thin film or third generation solar cells, is being researched. The plus side of this new generation technology is that it produces solar cells that can operate with a higher efficiency and less cost. These brands are both rigid and flexible thin film modules. The differences between the rigid thin film module and the flexible thin film module are due to differences in the materials that are used to make the modules and differences in the production of the modules.

Solar modules can last anywhere from 10 to 25 years while still operating at 80% of their original capacity. Every year the number of panels sold to consumers continues to grow. In 2007 over 4 million solar units were sold. There are a number of manufacturers that produce solar panels for consumer use, however the average consumer can create their own solar panels using materials from their local hardware store.

Solar panels for the home can provide renewable energy for the consumer. The initial costs can range greatly if the consumer chooses to build their own solar energy kit or have another company install a solar power kit. As the technology improves, the homeowner will have more options available to them to completely power their home with renewable solar power energy.