Posts Tagged Solar Array

A Brief Look At Solar Energy System Design

Posted by outside_voices on Friday, 29 January, 2010

At present it’s a good time to take a position in a solar electricity system as the costs of the hitherto pricey solar energy panels have come down from the year 2008. Similarly , resources as well as tax motivations are helping to bring down the expenses of a solar power system to cheaper levels and even recovering costs on your solar electricity system only takes between 6 and 8 years. Best of all, the power acquired from a solar power system is almost free that means that it is past time that you actively got curious about installing a good solar electricity system in your house.

Array Orientation

If you are interested in learning about solar energy system designs then the following information can prove to be interesting. The first important aspect to proper solar energy system design is array orientation. It certainly means that you need to first realize that the proper direction in which the solar panel array should be facing is due south, or at 180 degrees. If the panel faces in any other direction then it will not be able to generate maximum possible power.

Secondly, when making the right solar power system design you also must know how much area should be put aside for the solar cells and a rough rule is that about sixteen sq. feet of area helps to create about 200 watts of power. This implies that if you want to generate 4000 watts of power from your solar electricity system you’ve got to have about 300 and twenty sq. feet of space available on your roof and the panels must of course be made to face to the south.

Another important solar energy system design aspect is getting the array tilt angle right. This in turn means that the right angle is when the panels are at 180 degrees angle for the greater part of the day. If the angle gets too oblique less power will be generated. What’s more, you need to also take into account yet another solar energy system design aspect which is to ensure that no shadows fall on the solar panels as this will result in loss of power generating capacity and so it is best that you ensure that your panels get maximum exposure to direct sunlight.

Some people decide to install an active solar power system rather than a passive one. The reason being because they would like to get the power from the sun through use of an active or mechanical or electronic system. Today, a number of new technologies have been developed that are helping to make sure that you get most out of your active solar energy system. So, get active!

If you are interested in Homes Of Solar Power, you will get more information at DIY Solar Powered House.

Evans D. Smith

Modern Advances in Home Solar Systems

Posted by outside_voices on Saturday, 14 November, 2009

Many homeowners can save a lot of money each year by using a solar power system to reduce or eliminate their electricity bill. If they install a properly sized solar panel array they can easily generate all of their power from sunlight and never have to worry about another utility bill again. Some homeowners, though, encounter problems that prevent them from getting the return on investment that they had hoped for. However, many of these issues can be overcome with recent innovations and improvements in solar technology.  You can make use of these innovations whether you’re purchasing solar panels or making a DIY solar panel.

Having a house with proper orientation to the sun is probably the biggest concern for most homeowners. For people in the northern hemisphere, their home must have one side that faces south in order for solar panels to operate at peak efficiency. This ensures that the solar panels have a good amount of sun exposure throughout the day, as the sun travels across the sky. In years past, this was a major concern as the older panels had a very specific need for constant sun exposure. Even it positioning was just a little off, it could have a major impact on power output.

This problem is solved in modern solar panels by using more efficient solar cells. Besides producing more electricity with similar amount of sunlight, these newer solar cells can also tolerate a more severe angle relative to the sun. Because of this, they have a wider tolerance for locations that would not have been good choices for older systems. So, these newer solar cells are ideal for installations there is less than perfect alignment. These modern solar panels will produce more electricity when there is dimished sunlight, like on cloudy days, and also in these situations that are out of standard alignment with the sun.  Because these newer solar panels don’t need to pointing directly at the sun all the time, they don’t need to be turned during the day like a lot of older panels.  This makes them well suited to a homebuilt solar panel installation.

This is much better than older solar panels that needed a large, continuous amount of sunlight to generate electricity. Older panels were inactive early in the morning and late in the afternoon because of this. The amount of sun at these times doesn’t cross the electricity production threshold required by these older panels. The newer solar panels can take advantage of these lower levels of sunlight and will produce power proportional to the level of sunlight available. This means they will produce their maximum output during the day when the sun is brightest and will still produce power in lesser amounts when less sunlight is present. So, these more modern solar panels can produce more average power per day and therefore more total power through the year. This additional power can have a big impact on savings and can make all the difference to homeowners that are trying to justify a solar power system for their home.

One of the best ways to increase the resale value of your home is with a solar power system.  No matter whether you supplement the electricity provided by the power company or supply all of the electricity needs of your house, a solar power system will definitely increase the value of your home.  A simple diy solar charger can be a great first solar project.

Solar Panels: How Do I Safeguard My Roof From Damage?

Posted by outside_voices on Monday, 19 October, 2009

Residential solar panels are most often installed on the roof because that is where they would usually get the best sunlight exposure. That being said, you may have concerns about whether the panels causes damage to the roof. Here are a few facts to help you know from the start what’s likely to happen once you decide to have solar panels installed onto your roof.

See For Yourself How To Self-Build A Solar Panel!

Most roofs are made to withstand weight of at least eight to ten pounds per square foot above that of the roofing material. That is normally more than sufficient weight bearing ability to hold solar panels. That said, each house should be surveyed individually. Your local building inspector or a professional solar panel installer should be able to provide an accurate assessment of your roof’s ability to bear the weight of your solar power system.

Many installers fasten the solar panel mounts to the beams. This makes the installation very stable and distributes the load better than when the mounts are attached to roof decking. As rooftop installations have been going on for over 30 years, you can rest assured that professional installers know the best ways to ensure stability and avoid damage.

Solar Panels: Do They Cause Damage To The Roof? Watch How The Panel is Made. See For Yourself

Before you schedule your solar panel installation, consider the age and present condition of your roof. Since the mounts are installed atop the roofing material, they would need to be removed and reinstalled if you decide to replace your roof. So if you think you might want to replace your roof in the next five to ten years, consider doing it prior to getting your new solar panels to avoid the expense of removal and reinstallation.  

Of course, if you are still have concerns about having solar panels installed on your roof, you may be able to use a ground mounted system. The same criteria apply to selecting the solar panel array site whether on a roof or on the ground. The panels must be able to get sufficient sunlight to produce the amount of power your houselhold requires, and you have to make sure nothing is blocking the sun. If there is such a location on your property, it may be a good alternative to using the roof.

Three Top DomesticHome Solar Energy Methods Find Out Here