Off Grid Home Blog

If you are keenly interested in how to change your home to solar energy system and also curious in a grid(network of lines tied photovoltaic) system you need to calculate system size according to you energy needs. Also get knowledge of yours state as well as federal tax concessions and know how to source components.

Instructions and Information

Step 1

First look out how much your electric consumption annually; take average of your electric consumption in KWH. After that you will get the result and then divide it with 150 (monthly hours) if you live near the coastal area, it can be 155, if you live in a mountains area then it can be 160. It will provide you a rough size of solar energy system. lets say for example if your monthly average monthly use was 450kWh per month and you were living near the coastal area then you will need a 3KW PV system to offset 100% of your consumption.

Step 2

Establish and settle your incentive level. The New York Solar Initiatives provides incentives on state level. The incentives and concession level OR survey are different depending upon the use such as residential, commercial nonprofit or government entity (qualities and relations). The other states California and Texas are also having great discount in tax incentives. federal Government provide a 30% federal tax credit for you can get information from your accountant to check if you are eligible for the tax credit or not.

In many cases deductions in sum and tax credit both offset roughly 40 to 70 percent of the cost of the solar energy system installation, it will be more cost if you do the installation yourself in other words it will take more expenditure in the installation of this useful system. Commercial system are eligible for MACRS (Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System), it’s also known as accelerated depreciation (allowance made in estimation). utility rates are different by location so there can not be any exact information for the payback . Anyhow it’s usually about 8 to 15 years if installed by the a contractor, it is a monthly finance and then compared this to your monthly electric bill.

For commercial user’s the payback can be from 3 to 6 years. There is another thing need to know is that when calculating payback is the estimation value of the system to your home/building, `insulation from future electric rate hikes, and when you to paid off the system installation, you have free electricity. In majority of cases the system will be worthily after the payment of all depreciations or tax credit. And today almost all modules are warranted for 20 to 25 years. There is necessary value of energy being produced from the sun heat instead of coal or natural gas and you will get fruitful return from your investment. For more information about that contact your local utility provider.

Step 3

If your electric need is 3 KW, then it is required to find out the amount of modules and the right size of inverter. There are much places available on internet so can find all these information on internet before buying this requires system. Buy branded modules for example Sharp, Sun power and many other because these companies have been working since many years. And they have also warranties on their products.

You will pay a premium (sum additional to interest) If you need cheap modules for installation then you will search for companies who provided these utilities the companies are Sun tech and Canadian Solar they have best quality products. Most of manufacturers in the industry make modules it is a same product’s which are produced many other’s There is less different among their products. But you will search a good quality products because these companies provide less warranty you must take a clear step about to buy these products.

Grid tied inverter will be needed also for that SMA Unites States, SEIA and FSLR inventers are the standard industries. If you want to install all these by yourself then you will need an AC disconnect and DC disconnect properly sized according to the National Electric Code.Then you will also need to know about the size wire, conduits and connectors you will need to run from the modules to the DC disconnect , to the inverter, to the AC disconnect and to your main electrical service. You will also need racking and Standoff for that try Prosolar or Uniarc. prosolar is cheap than Uniarc. You will need an extra breaker also for your electrical panel.

Step 4

After to collect all your materials which are used in the preparation of solar energy panels, then you will need to calculate your result then decide what type of modules and inverter you will need for, for this reason you will also need PV Watts V2 calculator using different quantities of the modules you are selecting until you obtain a KWh output which is roughly 90 to 100 % of your current consumption. Modules are rated in DC watts, so you will need to expect less result as subjected by the manufacturers because power is being change to AC before it reached your main service panel. A 210-watt modules will provide 198 watts after conversion and losses also.

Step 5

There are local codes regarding to this installation. Which is enforced and proposed by the inspectors so should consult with an electrician. There are different locality so you will need all of these materials according to your needs. because some require fire borders around the modules while other may need extra double, triple grounding for your system. Talk to an inspector if possible at your city or country development department. May be he concerned department provide your a clear cut details and guidelines for your area. You will also need to know and should consult with your local utility provider “interconnection” or “net metering” department.

Department like these will provide you a great details and other useful information or guidelines about the entire process, and also forms online on the internet. You must meet these three entities such as local permitting agency second local utility and third your local rebate administrator. All will be having paperwork and guidelines that, if not stick with all of them, if not vigorous slow any building momentum. You must be prepared before meeting with all of them, review all your needs and have all question answers regarding to installation instead of that you will waste countless hours making corrections, paying for additional reviews and possibly get a less rebate (tax) than expected.

Step 6

Taking all of these there ate so many differences to go over all the steps of how to size every different kinds of system for that to get a solar design book. For that “Solar Energy Magazine” is good source in which you will learn about all the concerned design and source of people who had installed their own system are published. And other related issues. here is a quick review of the things you should know: building permit requirements, inverter string size, wire and conduit sizing, building permit requirements, interconnection requirements, fire department requirements and building code requirements.

Step 7

You should have to take first the rebate paperwork because is is a multi step process than other requirements. You should first reserve the rebate after that install the solar energy system and then claim the rebate. The rebate reservation will expire and become void if the system is not installed within a reasonable and moderate amount of time. Always make follow up call to ensure that the rebate paperwork arrived.

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We are living in a world where there are limited resources. Our needs are unlimited and these resources are not enough to meet our demands. We need energy to run our electric devices that are a part of our daily life.  We are currently using wind, water and other petroleum products to create energy that is not enough to meet our demands. So we need something special to fulfill our energy need with lower cost and more efficiency.

For the last twenty years or so, the word “solar revolution” is being heard on almost all the platforms.  It is estimated that this will take over at least 50% of energy production. The main idea behind is that solar energy will be used to generate electricity and this form of electricity will suit almost every part of the world. Moreover this technique will reduce the cost of electricity being produced.

The Photovoltaic Cell

The landmark of this solar revolution is photovoltaic cell that is used in solar panel to generate electricity. Multiple photovoltaic form an array and multiple arrays form a solar panel. Main issue in implementation is this concept is its installation cost. Since this cost is very high, making this process difficult to implement. As far as renewable energy market is concerned, photovoltaic cells’ efficiency is the landmark in its popularity.

Financing for Installation

As far as its demand is concerned, it hasn’t shown a downward trend. Still it is inflating. If you are concerned about the photovoltaic cell, there are a number of government support programs that can assist you. In some areas there are schemes that offers you free solar panels so that you can have benefits of this new invention.

Advantage of Using Photovoltaic Cell

Major advantage of this phenomenal invention is that it doesn’t cost you even a penny, after its installation. So the electricity that is produced is free of cost. And in the longer run, they will pay you back, what you have invested in this product. Hence your return over investment is maximum in this case

Simple Installation

As far as installation is concerned, this is very easy to install and is very efficient. Where there is enough space to install this panel, you can install it. So you can install it on your roofs, gardens etc. Whether is not a major concern for you, because it is an intelligent device. It uses a whether station built in to forecast the whether needs and when electricity is produced, it uses its built in mechanism to match this electricity to the electricity that is being supplied by the electricity providing company.

Technorati Tags: Photovoltaic,Cell,energy,petroleum,technique,panel,investment,cells,panels

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You may not be aware of this, but if you own a RV, i.e. a recreational vehicle, then it may be possible to get a number of solar panel solutions that can help you out in time of need.

One of the main benefits of installing RV solar panels is that they can produce electricity even in remote locations. So if you are stuck in some far off area, without any patrol or gas, then this might come in handy for you.

The cost of RV kits can range from around $400 to $1000, depending on the power output you require.

RV solar cells are available in a variety of packages, which include starter kits or RV solar array extensions for addition to a current RV solar electricity system. The most widespread way to attach RV panels is by fixing them to the roof. This can be done by using mounts which screw into your RV roof.

The disadvantage of this method can be that you will have to drill holes into your vehicle, which can be a very hard decision for many.

An alternative to roof mounted solar panels, is a mobile solar electricity kit, which is also available in the market.

But this method will require storage space in the car when you travel, and the time to fix it up at your destination. But this method is famous mainly because you do not have to drill holes into your RV, which means when you want to sell it, the value isn’t affected by the “do it yourself holes” in the roof.

Moreover, the mobile panels which can be attached to your vehicles roof, can be easily taken out of the storage space, and placed in your brand new RV, which eliminates the cost of purchasing new panels.

Technorati Tags: Solar,panel,destination,Panels,cells,kits

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Solar energy storage system are feasible and mutually exclusive,less costly to the conventional closed loop solar hot water system.Do you know that distinctive commercial,100-gallon solar hot water tanks maximum retails price is about 1000$.If you want to heat your house entirely with these tanks then don’t ask even its cost more. Is it difficult to make homemade energy hot accumulator vault?

Will they costly above our tolerance?

Are the materials in this regard will be available easily?

Is it possible build up in a low cost budget?

Should I spent amount on PV or solar thermal applications?

Homemade Heating System:

If you are entirely familiar with the tools of a homemade heat storage vault,then it could save your amount,but before you start the work and pick up the tools in this regard then think about its alternatives.The rising of cost of energy,or expensive electricity,increasing warning of global warming are enough and sufficient reason to ‘go green’ to save and maintain energy for future use.

You can decide its all up to you that install your own PV system for $5/Watts,but for the grid to hook up (curved cutting instrument) you will need a skillful electrician.The solar thermal applications another benefited effective alternative is that its cost is low as $0.50/Watts and its payback time period is less than three years. Certainly a watt of electricity is valued and amounting with high merit than watt of energy but entirely worthy.

It’s all up to you that what kind of applications are suitable and reasonable for your requirements and your skill or talent.Solar heat or energy accumulation or storage system may normally use the thermal mass(dense aggregation of object like the un-burnt sun dried bricks,located in the sunbelt are of New-Mexico.It works by,accumulate or storage the sun heat during the day and by releasing and can be used in the night slowly and slowly.

That’s why the rise and fall of temperature may moderate in desert areas, highly temperature in benefited for the area’s like these.In the cold weather,glazing material are needed in this regard for heating.Standard Trombe walls and Modified Trombe walls use glazing materials,but a modified trombe walls has the additional ability and advantage than that of Standard trombe walls.

It allow solar heated air to flow into the house either by convection(heating application for circulating warm air) or fan.This modified trombe walls can use a wall made up of concrete to conserve heat,but a better and suitable idea is that to use an insulator a device which prevent a passage of heat flow outside of the house. The interior walls of the house as well as the furniture can also used for preventing heat. It is to be consider that how the roof extends and enlarge a way over the top of the glazing.

This roof enlargement prevent and stop the summer sunlight energy or radiation.The flap open to permit rising hot air to enter inside the house,but when the trombe wall cavity(an empty space in a solid body) cools down he convection current reverse and prevent heat to pass outside.Gary Reysa uses a black nylons screen inside the trombe wall cavity to make easy the process of converting light into heat or energy.

Trombe Walls in the Solar Greenhouse:

This passive or action of solar greenhouse uses an out-flap and in-flap to store solar heat. The out-flap only permit the cold household air to enter inside the greenhouse space.while the in-flap only allow solar heated air to go inside the living area of the house.At night when there in no sunlight so the convection current reverse and both the flap are closed. The funneling(narrow-tube)effect of the glazing brings a heated air near the top of the glazing and it benefited and make easy the process of separating hot air from cold air,in this way energy from the sunlight is transmitted into the furniture and walls of the house.

This is a pretty example of a simple passive solar heated house with little greenhouse,it can be used to obtain seedling off(plant raised from seed not from the cutting) to an early start.Some heat will store naturally in the plants beds or plants covering in something, but most of the heat inside the greenhouse will be left through the glazing.The area which obtain heat from the sunlight is needed to separate from the area which preserve heat,it is a basic solar thermal concept it becomes increasingly important as the temperature falls and as the quantity and quality of sunlight becomes weak and less.Now by this way we understand how pneumatic solar heating system accumulate heat let’s take a look and consider some hydro systems.

A Batch Heater:

May be built from a recycled hot water tank,some aluminum flashing lighting and old patio door(roofless area adjoining and belonging to house) it is easy and simple to constructed ,it may provide a normally and reasonable pre-heat water supply in a sunny and bright area.However in cold area when the temperature fall down to the freezing point throughout the year this kind of batch heater is not recommended.

There is another problem which is concerned to this method is that,storing heat in the storage tank approximately 90% of the heat becomes lost through the glazing material. Thermo pane is better device but suitable in most of the area’s,insulating or preventing the heat accumulating area from the heat collection or preserve area is essential in cold climates. Both of these devices of closed loop solar hot water storage or accumulator system were constructed in Plattsburgh, NY.

The other was constructed from recycled,sealed 100 gallon holding grasp tank at some 3/8″ copper tube.The copper tube is bonded and holding from overlap to the outside of the tank with a chicken light wire cement.This is an external or visible heat exchange system.

The Multiple Storage System:

The multiple,55 gallon open tank heat preserving system was constructed in 2005.

Energy is exchanged through with the help of copper coils inside the tank.The heat is taken out by force from the tank ,when it is require to preheat the water for DHW.This system uses for the internal heat or energy exchange. Multiple tank can improve and make easy the heat storage efficiency,but heat storage and heat preserving tank may also be framed in plywood and lined with EDPM.

If you want to see how Gray Reysa constructed his own heat storage tank.Some people can only uses a concrete slab for the preservation of heat,but regrettably it’s impossible to regulate temperature from the place where the heat is accumulated or stored. There are many ways or forms to accumulate and distribute or classify solar energy and.I am certainly sure you will possibly soon discover them easily.

In this regard i like to use water to preserve energy not only becomes it’s easily a available but also because it has the ability of maximum heating capacity that other common substances.This remarkable and unusual efficiency of water ahs become of its molecule OH vigorous frequency.Water is safe substance for using in this regard and it’s also easy to conveying from one place to another place with the help of circulator pump.there is another solution of water heating,it can be heating directly by the help of drain9 a channel carrying off liquid) or pour out in a drop way in solar heating system.

In this way it exclude the need for heat exchange tube in or on the storage tank.Anyhow.it is certainly sure that, there must be still a heat exchange method used for pressurized hot water but it is normally easy and possible that must be direct flow of solar heated water through drains.This multi tank heat preservation method may be used a radiant floor heating system.Household or domestic hot water system may also be constructed with the same series of tanks by taking out a heat from the a cement platform a level surface on which the tanks rest.

Technorati Tags: Solar,Energy,Accumulator,System,Homemade,Watts,Greenhouse,Heater,

Thermo,Water,Household,climates,thermal,watt

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Converting a regular home into a solar home you needs to determine that what are the electrical demands of the house and deciding how much will be met by proposed solar power system and then draw a plan for a solar power system to meet the needs. For making a solar home requires a little research and some math.

Here are the simple steps for that:

Step 1

First start up with a room then make a total of power consumption for that room in watts. Such as laundry room with a washing machine, 3 light bulbs but clothes dryer. Calculate the maximum daily power use of the laundry, 1 load of laundry plus two hours usage of the lights with 60-watt bulbs, which adds up to 1,510 watts.

Step 2

Then take a total of power use in each room, closet and hallway. This will give you a great help because you will get then complete picture of house’s power demands and if you are only converting a part of house to solar power then it will help you to choose which part.

Step 3

Almost 6 hours a day averagely sunlight is available for solar power so divide the total wattage by six; most of solar power systems are designed to meet the total daily average electrical demand of a system in those six hours. Lets say if your home demand is 15,000 watts, then it will need to provide 2,500 watts during each of those six hours. And if solar power is provided only to a part of your house such as laundry room then it will need to provide 252 watts during those peak six hours.

Step 4

American household appliances usually need current of 110 volts, so covert the watts into amps and volts, you can do that easily by using this equation: amps=watts divided by volts. For example a 15,000-watt house will use 136.6 amps, might use a different voltage that will be always labeled on the device. These all three numbers: watts, amps, and volts you will get complete information to determine your household solar needs.

Useful tips

Best way to reduce the solar electrical demand for solar house its better to use solar products like solar light tubes or a solar water heater. Try to get rid of certain appliances like clothes dryer because that can use average wattage of 4,000, while not using that you will get a big help.

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