photo credit: Paulo Brandão

NASA estimated that the Sun gives or irradiates the earth 174 Petawatts (Pw) of solar energy every day. Out of this approximately 30% of energy is reflected back to space, and another major share is absorbed by our atmosphere. Even if we get only 10% of this energy which is about 17.4 Pw per day, it is still more than the whole daily energy requirement worldwide.

If this much energy is freely available then why there are energy crisis. The answer is that we are not able to canalize fully all this energy to meet our requirements. Most Solar Cells which are available in the market are quite expensive to be accessible to our purchase power. But now we have an option of DIY Solar Panels. You need some good instructions and simple materials. By building your own DIY Solar Panels with patience and dedication you will start saving in energy bills and generates your own electricity.

Science behind the Working of your DIY Solar Panels:

Our DIY Solar Panels have photovoltaic cells or Solar Cells which are arranged in a grid-like pattern on its surface. Solar cells are made of special materials such as silicon. When the solar energy falls on our DIY Solar Panels, this energy knocks electrons loose and allows them to flow freely. The solar cells have the electric field that makes the loose electrons to flow in certain direction, which is a current. To draw this current off for external use we place metal contacts on the top and bottom of our solar cell.

This is the basic process. But to understand it better let’s consider one example of solar cell: the single-crystal silicon cell.

Silicon in its crystalline form has some special chemical properties. One single atom of silicon has 14 electrons which are arranged in three different shells. The first two inner shells which are closest to the center or nucleus are completely full. The outer shell has only four electrons. The outer shell is short of four electrons; therefore a silicon atom will always look for ways to fill up its last shell. For completing its outer shell, it will share the four electrons with its adjacent silicon atoms. This forms the crystalline structure. This was the description of pure crystalline silicon, which is a poor conductor of electricity. It means all the electrons are completely locked.

Solar cells have the silicon but with impurities and these impurities are actually put there for making it more conducting. Let’s think about an atom of silicon with that of phosphorous which has five electrons in its outer shell. When it bonds with its neighboring silicon atoms, there is one electron in phosphorous which is free. When energy or heat is added to it, most of these electrons go free, and hence we have a lot of free carriers. The process of adding impurities is called doping. When silicon atom is doped with phosphorous, then the resulting silicon which we get is called N-type (”n” for negative) because of the dominance of free electrons.

In fact, by this we got an N-type part of our solar cell. To get the other part silicon atom is doped with boron, which has three electrons instead of four in its outer shell, to turn into P-type silicon. In this P-type silicon (”p” for positive) we have free holes.

When we put N-type silicon together with P-type silicon, the free electrons from the N side, which requires holes to fall into, found the free holes on the P side, and they rush to fill them in. This completes the electric field, which makes our solar cell work.

Ralph Somers, Editor
DIY Solar Panels Information Portal

YouTube DIY Solar Panels Videos.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ralph_Somers
http://EzineArticles.com/?Science-Behind-DIY-Solar-Panels&id=3242138

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1. Substantial Energy Savings. By supplementing home energy consumption with energy produced by solar panels from solar panel kits, you can cut your energy bills in half. While solar home kits are not usually able to fully power a conventional home, they can make an enormous difference. Make your own home solar power using solar power kits, and you save up front as well.

2. Use of Renewable Energy. Once all the oil and gas are gone, they’re gone for good. But solar power is renewable.

Unless you plan to stick around for another five billion years when the sun’s lifetime will be over, you’ll have enough solar power for the rest of your life. Depending on your climate, solar energy from solar power kits can be very abundant and go a long way toward reducing the use of fossil fuels for generation of electricity. The more of the process you are able to undertake yourself, such as by building panels from solar panel kits, the smaller you make your own environmental footprint.

3. Lack of Pollution. Other than whatever fossil fuels were used in the creation of the solar panels themselves, solar panels do not cause air pollution. Emissions data from 13 manufacturers of solar cells in Europe and the United States from 2004 through 2006 showed that solar power is 90% less polluting than power produced by fossil fuels, and the pollution that does come from manufacture and transport of solar cells ends after it is shipped and installed. If you make your own panels from kits you’re doing your part to minimize the impact of solar cell technology on the environment.

4. Ability to Customize Applications. There’s almost no limit to the number of common devices that can be powered by solar power from solar power kits: water heaters, satellites, landscaping lights, and even cars can be powered by solar energy. When people supplement their home’s power by building panels from solar panel kits, they can customize how that home solar power is used.

5. Availability Remotely. Running electric power lines to remote areas is not always the best way to provide electricity to those areas. But there are many remote areas, particularly in the desert, that can benefit greatly from using solar panels from solar panel kits. A new home built to be powered by solar panels can be self sufficient in terms of energy production and consumption. Even in areas with power lines nearby, solar may provide a viable alternative to connecting to the electric grid.

Home solar power is getting a tremendous boost in popularity with government tax breaks in the United States, and also around the world as people realize that alternatives to the use of fossil fuels are necessary for the health and future of the planet. Building solar panels from solar panel kits is one way people are taking environmental and energy concerns into their own hands.

Derrek Buttron is an Internet Marketer and IT Consultant who’s passions include helping people, spending time with family, good food, the mountains and recently solar panel kits and saving on energy bills.

http://www.solarpanel-kits.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derrek_Buttron
http://EzineArticles.com/?Solar-Panel-Kits—5-Reasons-to-Build-Your-Own-Solar-Panel-Kit&id=3149853

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photo credit: Jesse Wagstaff

Author: Nick Molinar

Research solar power for the home and you’ll quickly find out that the cost is prohibitive. Over 50% of the cost is in the panels.

Used solar panels are a great way to help make the entire project affordable However, before purchasing any used solar panels, the consumer must understand what to look for and whether the available panels will fit their need. That’s because not all solar panels are the same, and no two solar installation projects are the same. Projects will vary by the location of the project and how much direct sunlight it gets and by the amount of energy you need to produce.

Particularly with used solar panels, the condition, prior usage history, type and age must all be taken into account before deciding whether or not the panel is right for the project. Now on to evaluating used solar panels.

A solar panel is just a frame that holds a number of individual solar cells all connected together. The energy from the sunlight is collected by these individual cells and then moved along through the panel and out into the system. Generally, panels with higher numbers of cells can collect more energy and that corresponds to a higher wattage rating for that panel, but there are some important exceptions to that rule.

Keep in mind that even new solar panels are only usually warranted to produce some number below the stated wattage (as an example, a 200 watt panel may only be warranted to 180 watts). This is helpful to know when evaluating a used panel.

A panel’s efficiency rating describes the amount of power per square inch that the cells can be expected to produce. This matters because a large panel with a lower efficiency rating could possibly output less power than a smaller panel with a higher efficiency rating. Panels rated as less efficient will require more roof space to generate the same amount of electricity as higher rated panels.

It is also important to keep in mind that the inverter used has an impact on the true panel performance. Briefly, the inverter is what changes the energy from direct current (DC) to Alternating current (AC). Like the panels, inverters have an efficiency rating to consider. A higher rated inverter will lose less of the generated power than will a lower rated inverter.

The age and usage history of the panel are the next items to scrutinize. Each solar panel has an expected lifespan and is usually guaranteed for 25 years when purchased new. Solar panels should be expected to lose performance after being placed into service and by general comparison. This is something to keep in mind when inquiring about used solar panels for sale.

Buying the wrong solar panels can end up costing you a lot of wasted money in the long run, while buying the correct panels for your project can drastically reduce the cost of installing solar power in any home. You can learn a lot more about used solar panels, and building your own DIY solar energy system here.

About the Author:

Nick Molinar runs DIYHomePowerGrid, where he discusses home grown power generation systems including solar, wind and automotive alternatives.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Watch Out For Used Solar Panels

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photo credit: mjmonty

Once upon a time it was nearly impossible for the average person to use solar power in their home. Buying the parts and having them installed cost more than most families could hope to afford. It seemed that solar power was only for the rich and famous. Thankfully that is a thing of the past! Modern technology has made many things affordable and available to everyone, including solar power.

What is the cost?

The first thing a person interested in having a solar power system needs to do is determine their energy needs. Look back through your energy bills to see what your average kWh, kilowatts per hour, is. Make a note of the months that you use more energy and the months you use less. This will let you know how much solar power you are going to need to power your home all year long.

Some people have the option to consult with a solar power system contractor to determine your needs. Most small to medium sized homes will only need 1-5 kW of solar power, yet installing a system that can handle more will mean if you choose to extend your system in the future you can do so easily. Some families continue using their traditional utilities services along side solar power. This will keep your bills low and reduce any worry you might have of not being able to meet all of your energy needs.

Calculate the total cost

Here is an easy way you can compute the total cost of solar power: cost of the system plus any building permits, labor, and additional tools. Subtract the Federal Tax Credit and any local and state rebates or credits offered. If you search the you will find a detailed listing of ways you can get money back for going solar.

Many people have reduced the cost even lower by making their own solar power system. Having diy solar panels is a great way to go solar without spending a lot of money. There are many solar power kits available that you can put together for only a few hundred dollars.

Whether you use a diy system or have a professional system installed, using solar power is a sound investment. A one time cost can earn you twenty to thirty years of free solar energy for your home.

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photo credit: Trebosc

Over the last several years people have faced ever increasing electricity bills. Because of this, solar power systems have become a popular alternative energy source. Sunlight is readily available almost everywhere, waiting to be harnessed for energy. With the yearly improvements in modern technology, solar power is affordable and simple to use.

With just a little amount of sunlight, you can already get more electricity than you might imagine. With only a few solar panels, you can generate all of the needed electricity for your home. Even if you live in a small house, you can install a solar panel somewhere and enjoy the free power of the sun.

Most of today’s homes are not properly oriented to get a lot of sunlight, and this can become a problem. New solar power systems, however, are much more efficient and can generate quality electricity with less sunlight. Modern solar panels can be installed at steeper angles and can still tolerate sunlight well. So if you’re home does not have an ideal orientation, it would still be possible to generate solar power.

Solar panels are usually installed on top of the roof together with an effective rail system. The panels are able to slide to be at the best position for sunlight. The system is also ideal in case you want to expand later on. However you do not have to be limited to your roof. You can just as easily install solar panels in other areas that would work better for you and your home.

Before you install solar panels, you need to determine the electricity requirements of your home. To calculate your monthly electrical consumption, you will need to go over your electrical bills and determine the average usage. After that, you can now pick the right system size. If this is your first time to use solar power, it would better to start with the simplest project you can find. Make room for expansion as well so that you can expand the system little by little especially if you have limited resources. Even if you use solar power as an alternative, you will surely be able to cut your bills by 80%.

For simple projects, you can start working on outdoor lights, garden fountains, etc. There are many low cost, simple solar powered you can purchase and set up in your yard. When you are ready for more advanced projects you can begin to use solar power for your indoor electrical requirements.

When installing a solar power system, one of the most important considerations is the inverter. Make sure that the inverter size is properly chosen; this will be responsible for converting DC into AC. Pick the appropriate size inverter so that you can meet all your electrical needs. It is a good idea to purchase a bigger inverter even if you’re only planning to install a smaller system. That way, when you finally decide to expand in the future, you will just wire them in.

If you are not an electrician and you have limited knowledge about electricity and electrical components, you can hire someone to connect the inverter. The solar power system needs to be connected into your home’s electrical system. Dangerous voltages are present, with the threat of electrocution. Only a licensed electrician can comply with the local codes so that your project can pass the inspection.

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