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From the operators of www.GreenLivingRocks.com — providing education regarding how to make a home made solar panel, solar panel kits, and how does solar power work.

One of the reasons that constructing your own photovoltaic panels has become so popular is that there are really very few parts involved. A regular solar panel consists of just a few basic parts, namely an enclosure, photovoltaic (pv), a substrate and wiring. Here’s a summary of what’s involved.

Solar panel case or enclosure
This is what most people see when they think of a solar panel. It’s the clear glass top, the frame and the backing that the photovoltaic cells are mounted on. The case can be hefty enough to need a custom built metal rack for mounting on a rooftop, or small enough to be a plastic box that can be placed almost invisibly near an outdoor floodlight. It needs to be resistant to ultra violet (UV) rays so that it doesn’t deteriorate with relentless exposure to sunlight. And the glass (usually Plexiglas) needs to be durable enough to withstand harsh weather, including hail and wind storms that could crash tree branches and other debris into it.

Substrate
This is the piece of wood, peg board or other material that the solar cells are mounted on within of the enclosure. It too needs to be UV-resistant to survive prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

Solar cells
The solar cells are comparable to the silicon chips that power most computers. They combine the silicon, metals and other materials in a way that captures direct sunlight and converts it into electricity. The electricity can either be instantly used by direct current devices (DC) like LED lights, or stored in DC batteries and transformed into alternating current (AC) to power conventional appliances like refrigerators, TVs and other electrical equipment in homes and businesses.

Tabbed and untabbed pv (photovoltaic cells
When building your own pv (photovoltaic) panels, you can save money by purchasing untabbed solar cells and soldering the tabs on top of the cells yourself. This can be a good choice if you have more time than money, but it’s a tedious job. You can save time by buying tabbed solar cells which will cut your soldering time by one-half to two-thirds.

Pv (photovoltaic) cell wiring
As soon as the solar cells are mounted on the substrate, they are wired to each other in a series so that they can generate electricity. Copper wire is added to connect the solar cells to storage batteries for using the electricity later, or to connect directly to the device that the solar panel is powering like an attic fan or a solar powered toy.

Blocking diode

The blocking diode is a little component that prevents electricity that is stored in a battery from draining backward into the pv (photovoltaic) panel. Bigger photovoltaic systems use a charge controller for the same effect.

Support Climate Denial Crock of the Week – go to www.greenmanstudio.com This video inaugurates a new series, that will augment, but not replace, “Climate Denial Crock of the Week”. Many people seem to think dealing with climate change will bring poverty and limit human development. The truth may be exactly the opposite. Moving to a world of where we aren’t fighting each other over the last few drops of oil, where energy is free, will mean a better life, with greater opportunities even for an expanding population. If we make the right decisions, we could be on the verge of the most prosperous period in human history. Climate Denial Crocks will be back soon to tweak trolls and ding deniers. http www.environmentamerica.org www.udel.edu www.udel.edu newenergynews.blogspot.com climateprogress.org

From the operators of www.GreenLivingRocks.com — providing education regarding how to make a homemade solar panel, solar powered, and solar hot water.

Building your own solar swimming pool heater is a fantastic do-it-yourself project if you want to add solar to your house.  You will not need to buy a lot of high-priced equipment or tools.  And you will not need highly specialized skills.  Here is a fundamental explanation of the process and benefits so you can decide if you want to tackle it.

The project payback time can be as short as 2 years in terms of energy savings.  This is because you will be saving the cost of gas to heat your pool.  And the cost of materials for building a solar pool heater is lower than with most other solar projects. You will also be saving the cost of installation if you decide to go ahead and do that yourself.

You will need to buy only a few simple components: solar collectors, piping, a controller and a diverter valve.  You will not need to build or buy a storage container, since your pool already stores the water.  And you will not need to get, build or install a circulating pump, since your solar pool heater will use your pool’s circulating pump.

Here’s a straightforward explanation of how the system works.  The water from the pool gets pumped into the solar collector, gets heated by the sun and gets pumped back into the pool. This is called an open loop design.  The controller allows you to select the warmest temperature you want the pool to reach.  And the diverter valve either sends water back to the pool if it is already warm enough, or over to the collector to be heated as required.  

The solar collector is a simple system of black polypropylene UV-resistant tubing.  The choice of materials is important so that the tubing doesn’t break down from exposure to the sun or from exposure from the chlorine in the pool.  The suitable materials will last up to 20 years.

Although it is attractive to think of doing it all yourself, including making the solar collector, it is really easier and more cost effective to purchase ready made collectors for your project.  The reason is that adhesives will not stick to polypropylene, and the equipment you would need to thermal weld it would cost more than buying the ready-made collectors.  What’s more, experts advise against using a cheaper rubber or plastic tubing that will break down too quickly because of exposure to the sun and chlorine.

If you decide that you really want to install your solar pool heating system yourself, the easiest method is to buy a kit.  You will still need to design measure and install your system.  And you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your efforts for years afterwards.

Solar hot water heating systems are fairly simple to install, simple to maintain and the most cost effective way to introduce your home to solar energy. They can save significant energy and cost when they replace an electric hot water heater. And they can be successfully used even if you live in a climate where freezing temperatures are common during the winter.

If you live in a climate that does not have sub-zero temperatures, and your household consists of fewer than five people, you can install a batch heater. This is the least expensive solar water heating option, and it is relatively easy to build if you have the inclination to do-it-yourself. It is simply a water storage tank that also serves as the solar collector.

The tank is enclosed in a glass-covered box that is positioned to allow maximum exposure to the sun. The water in the tank heats up and hot water is accessible for use. However, it is not the most efficient system, since it takes longer to warm up an entire tank of water than to heat a flat panel solar collector. And as the tank cools at night, there is less hot water available for use.

There are two better systems that can be used even in freezing climates. The direct pump system circulates water between a solar collector and a storage cistern. With this design, water in the solar collector can heat up quicker, and the tank can be insulated for better temperature holding capacity. The pump can be designed to run on electricity from a photovoltaic cell if you desire to keep your system completely solar powered.

A thermosiphon system also uses a separate solar collector, along with the pull of gravity. And it allows for the use of an insulated storage reservoir for more consistent hot water delivery. When using either of these systems in cold climates where freezing is an issue, both the piping and the storage tank should be placed indoors and properly insulated to provide hot water even on the coldest days.

For more information regarding solar technology and how you can utilize solar power in your home or business, please visit http://www.GreenLivingRocks.com and http://build-a-solar-panel.info.

Look for our other posts. We are dedicated to providing information about solar power. Without using solar power as an alternative energy source, we are destined to completely wipe the world clean of natural resources. When we use renewable energy, we all win.

From one of our articles that can be found on our blog:

“A solar panel design has a specific set-up needed to make it work efficiently. The design has been refined over the years. Solar panels started out as very cumbersome pieces of technology. Today, these panels can be used in something as small as a calculator. When deciding on the placement of panels for home use. It’s helpful to know exactly what you need to get an entire solar energy system hooked up and running smoothly.”

From the operators of www.GreenLivingRocks.com — providing education regarding how to make a solar panel, solar powered, and solar hot water.

Are you looking for a quick and uncomplicated solar energy project for your house that you can do by yourself?  Putting in a solar attic fan may be just the ticket.  Not only is it rather easy to do, but it will keep your residence cooler through hot summer days and nights.

You may not have even realized how much a hot attic contributes to your air conditioning bills.  Attics trap and hold all of the hot air that rises in your house.  This is good in the winter, but it can prevent your house from cooling off in the summer.

Attic temperatures can easily rise above 120 degrees Fahrenheit even when outside temperatures are only in the eighties or nineties.  Most building codes require attics to be vented, but these vents are simply not designed to cool off the entire attic.  And a roof that has no shade gets sun for most of the day.

Installing a usual attic fan would require a licensed electrician because it would need to be connected to a power source in order to operate.  But solar attic fans are constructed with built-in pv modules powerful enough to run the fans.  Not only are they quieter than electric attic fans, but they require no electricity to run since they are installed on the roof and receive direct sunlight.  

If you are handy with a saw, drill and screwdriver, and self-confident enough to cut a hole in your roof, you can install a solar attic fan in a couple of hours.  You will have to to locate a place on your roof that receives sunlight the whole day, is close by the peak and also near the middle of the attic space.  You will be cutting a hole through the composition shingles and roof decking that will accommodate the size or your solar fan.

The trickiest and most vital part will be finding the optimal location and cutting the hole the proper size for the fan.  A location that faces south will receive the most sunlight.  If that is not viable, you can consider buying a model that has a solar module that can be tilted and positioned to face south.  

Once the hole has been cut, it is only a matter of securing the solar attic fan to the roof, and caulking around the fan to waterproof your installation.  You will be able to immediately feel the cooling effects in your attic.  And you will be able to have a more comfortable house and lower cooling bills throughout the summer.

From the operators of www.GreenLivingRocks.com — providing education regarding how to make a homemade solar panel, solar lights, and solar heating.

From the operators of www.build-a-solar-panel.info — providing education regarding how to build a solar panel, green home tips, and green DIY projects.

Solar hot water heating systems are a basically simple design.  Solar collectors warm up water during the day, which is stored in an insulated container to keep it warm for ongoing use.  But icy temperatures can bring this kind of system to a standstill.  But new and improved methods have been developed that allow solar hot water systems to operate effectively even in cold climates.  Here is a basic depiction of how they work.

After a few decades of testing with solar hot water systems, most qualified users have decided that the closed loop design is the most successful for climates with freezing temperatures.   Because oxygen is eliminated from the system, pumps will not corrode and will have a greater lifespan, saving you time and money for upkeep and replacement parts.

The system is filled with an antifreeze blend (propylene glycol) at the time it is installed.  It then circulates between the solar collectors (where it is heated by the sun all through the day) and the storage tanks, which provide heat during the day and night.  There are several smaller components that allow the antifreeze to expand and contract, and which inhibit too much pressure from building up in the system, among other things.  But the solar collectors, the pump and the tank with heat exchanger are the central components.

Drainback systems are so named because the solar collectors drain when they are not being used.  Due to this, you can utilize either water or antifreeze in the system.  But for maximum assurance that the system will not freeze, people regularly choose to use antifreeze as an extra precaution, principally in regions that frequently experience temperatures below zero.  

A thermosiphon system also uses a detached solar collector, along with the pull of gravity. And it allows for the use of an insulated storage tank for more dependable hot water delivery. When using either of these systems in cold regions where freezing is an issue, both the piping and the storage tank should be placed indoors and suitably insulated to provide hot water even on the coldest days.

Even though the collectors drain when not in use, they drainback system is still a closed loop system. It needs a strong pump in order to return the drained liquid to the solar collector as soon as it has been drained.  But it is a first-rate choice for a homeowner who wants a solar heating system that is painless to maintain.

Solar hot water heating systems are relatively simple to install, easy to maintain and the most cost effective way to introduce your home to solar energy.  They can save considerable energy and cost when they replace an electric hot water heater.  And they can be successfully used even if you live in a climate where freezing temperatures are common during the winter.

The sun can provide us by way of huge amounts of useable fuel from heat to power. There are two main reasons why we should use solar fuel to heat our homes, company in addition to even swimming pools. Firstly, the price of energy is constantly mounting. For many people, heating now is a luxury as they find it hard to afford to heat their homes as they once did. Therefore this makes it particularly hard to warmth a non-essential space such as a swimming pool. Many people are also no concerned over the impact of using fossil fuels on the natural world. The emissions generated from using fossil fuels are now known to cause carbon emissions, which raise the global temperature.

Learn more about Solar Heating For Pools

So its clear we necessitate to move away from using fossil fuels such as oil plus gas to warmth our homes along with pools, however how else can we source warmth in a low carbon and ‘green’ fashion. Well, solar fuel maybe highly promoted as a way to generate electricity with solar cells, however it is much better to capture solar fuel for thermal uses, such as heating pools. There are a variety of solar air heater designs, however a more appropriate solution for heating swimming pools is the solar water heater. A solar water heater, if built correctly can generate huge amounts of warmth. By means of a little bit of knowledge, its amazing how uncomplicated it is to be able to build your own solar water heater from dwelling. A solar water heater for your pool could be assembled for only a few hundred dollars along with will give you free warmth pretty much all year round by way of little or no maintenance as well as running costs at all. On the net there are a mixture of videos of home owners who have built their own solar water heaters, such as the one below.

Read more about Solar Heater For Pool

The parts needed to build a solar water heater for pools is actually very limited. The main component is the hot water vessel which is where the solar thermal energy will be captured into the water to heat the pool. You could find suitable water storage vessels from most DIY or hardware stores. If a black tank cannot be sourced, it must be painted black. Much more solar fuel will be captured into a black water storage vessel. Once you have your tank. You require to build an enclosure to abode the tank that will let in solar fuel plus enlarge the heat of the tank and the water. Making your own solar water heater for your pool can be very rewarding as well as save you a lot on buying.

More information on Solar Blankets For Pools

The sun, its crucial for all life on earth, and it will now have to play a more prominent role in providing the fuel to power as well as heat our modern lifestyles. As a modern society we have depended too heavily on using fossil fuels to provide by means of the heat along with power we need. Fossil fuels are simply not sustainable. We now are seeing the repercussions from this by rapidly inflating prices along with resource problems. Also, the concerns for the natural world due to the use of fossil fuels grows everyday. Heating your pool for example is obviously a none essential, along with heating by fossil fuels are was the norm is now not morally or financially viable. On the other hand, many people see their pool as a crucial part of their habits. The pool is a well-liked way to relax and carry out light exercise, along with entertain along with hold parties. A cold pool is not an inviting space, and does hold back the potential of the pool. Therefore some heating is required. On the other hand, without using a oil or gas heater how can we get enough heat into the pool. The answer is by way of solar heater due to using a solar water heater, while will generate heat in the pool all year.

Learn more about Pool Solar Heating

Through using a solar water heater to get warmth into your swimming pool can do two things. It can provide a free source of heat as well as it can also help to save the natural world, removing the require to use oil or gas heaters. The important thing to remember about heating a swimming pool is the volume of water which needs to be heated. If you set up perspective how long a kettle takes to heat water as well as the amount of energy it uses, you can start to understand the amount of fuel required to heat an entire swimming pool, by way of even only a few degrees. To increase the heat of the pool plus keep it there requires a fairly constant resource of warmth. This is what pool solar heating can provide each along with every day, even in mild climates. This means solar water heaters can amplify the temperature of the pool along with keep it there for when ever you use the pool the heat will be a nice ambient warm.

Read more about Solar Blankets For Pools

On the other hand the source of fuel maybe free, to produce solar energy as appealing as possible, the way we capture it must also be low price. It is possible to build a solar water heater for as little as $200. It can even be constructed from reclaimed materials. One of the easiest along with cheapest designs to manufacture is the passive solar water heater. This design is also of of the most efficient and reliable. Also, its the prefect design of solar water heater to be used to warmth your pool. The video below is of an case which can easily be constructed by way of anyone in addition to generate free warmth all year.

More information on Solar Covers For Pools

The pool can be a place to relax as well as exercise, its many people favourite place to be. It is important though to keep the pool in good condition, by means of cleaning it regularly. Additional than cleaning, to manufacture the pool a more pleasant experience, it helps to get the heat to a nice ambient heat, heating such a large volume of water however can be tricky, plus expensive. Firstly, as the volume of water is so large it takes time as well as a fairly constant reserve of warmth to increase the temperature by means of even only a few degrees. Therefore is needs a heat source running most of the time. In the past a wide selection of warmth sources were used, from oil, gas in addition to electric heaters. Though for most people the running costs of these solutions are no longer affordable, as well as will not be any more affordable in the future. There is a pretty much abundant source of fuel that pool owners can harness to warmth their pools, the power of the sun. Even in mild climates, the sun generates a huge amount of energy which can be used to warmth your swimming pool. There are a range of ways to capture solar energy into the pool, one of the greatest answers is to set up a solar water heater.

Learn more about Solar Heater For Pool

As stated, using traditional forms of fuel to warmth your pool is far to expensive for the average person. Also, its very hard to relax plus enjoy using the pool when you calculate its costing you a small fortune. Therefore installing a solar water heater is the answer. There is a video of a design of solar water heater which can be used to warmth a pool, plus which can even be build from dwelling. This specific design is known as a passive solar water heater. The passive solar water is one of the first, but still one of the best designs. Its very reliable and due to its uncomplicated design is one of the cheapest solar water heaters to construct and run.

Read more about Solar Water Heater Plans

The design of the passive water heater is build on simplicity as well as efficiency, to capture as much solar fuel within a giving space for the lowest fee probable. The design uses parts which can be purchased from any hardware store as well as for minimal price. The first part is a black water storage vessel, sized appropriately for the size of swimming pool you wish to warmth. A solar collector box is then manufactured to dwelling the tank as well as enlarge the heat around the tank. It is then simply a case of flow along with return pipes as well as a pump to move the water. The design of solar water heater is easily simply ample for even a starter into DIY as well as dwelling builds.

More information on Solar Water Heater Panels

There are many dissimilar uses for solar fuel. One of the most commonly perceived uses is to generate electricity directly by means of the use of photovoltaic panels. However, the truth of the matter is, this is not the most efficient way to capture solar energy is due to taking advantage of the solar thermal energy the sun produces. Some power stations now use solar thermal fuel to generate electricity, on the other hand in this case in point we are more interested in capturing solar energy directly for heat, by means of solar pool heaters. In the past, when energy was cheap, most consumers used electricity or gas to warmth their pool. Yet, those days are gone, plus by means of concerns over global warming there prices are set to enlarge year on year. So how do you heat your pool, after all a cold pool isn’t half as inviting. This is where solar thermal fuel comes in, and capturing that energy to heat your pool to a warm ambient temperature. One form of solar pool heaters, are solar covers. These basically look similar to bubble wrap, just on a much larger scale. The cover allows solar fuel into the pool, yet the cover has insulating properties which then keep that warmth within the pool. Solar covers are great, they help to keep the pool clean as well as also generate some warmth. Yet, to get the pool to an ideal temperature, more warmth is required. Solar thermal fuel can do this, but in a more concentrated form such as a solar water heater.

Learn more about Solar Pool Heaters

Solar water heaters capture more solar heat within the smallest space potential, increase the heat from the sun plus insulating against warmth loss. Using a solar water heater will provide you will all the warmth you’ll call for. The video below is of an example of a solar water heater which would be ideal to be used a pool heater. This particular design is known as a passive solar water heater. The video shows how simply the solar heater can be produced in addition to put to good use immediately. The parts required to build a solar water heater can be sourced from any local hardware store.

Read more about Solar Water Heater Plans

One of the first parts to obtain is a suitable water storage vessel, the container should be black to absorb as much solar fuel as possible. The volume of the container will be calculated on the size of swimming pool you wish to warmth. This is where the warmth is captured. Building solar pool heaters is a realistic project for anyone by even only a basic knowledge of DIY skills.

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