http://www.energyhomefix.com Alternative Energy For The Home Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:38:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://www.energyhomefix.com/solar-energy-news-solar-panel-projects-diy-solar-panels-and-cells/#comment-306 XXXlilflipXXX Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:38:31 +0000 http://www.energyhomefix.com/solar-energy-news-solar-panel-projects-diy-solar-panels-and-cells/#comment-306 arent you suppose to vent the battery?? arent you suppose to vent the battery??

]]> http://www.energyhomefix.com/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-305 lppoqql Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:07:02 +0000 http://www.energyhomefix.com/372/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-305 Anyone tried doing this with 2 series and 1 parallel? I guess in this example with 2 X voltage and 1.5 amp? Anyone tried doing this with 2 series and 1 parallel? I guess in this example with 2 X voltage and 1.5 amp?

]]> http://www.energyhomefix.com/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-304 tyblossom Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:13:35 +0000 http://www.energyhomefix.com/372/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-304 How do you figure out how many of the Harbor Freight kits you need to be able to be off the grid? Say you take your highest electric bill, what do you look at? I would love a video that explains how to figure that out, then how to do a system like that. Say you do everything and then hire an electrician to hook up to your fuse panel? Maybe you have something like that...I'll keep looking. How do you figure out how many of the Harbor Freight kits you need to be able to be off the grid? Say you take your highest electric bill, what do you look at? I would love a video that explains how to figure that out, then how to do a system like that. Say you do everything and then hire an electrician to hook up to your fuse panel? Maybe you have something like that…I’ll keep looking.

]]> http://www.energyhomefix.com/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-303 jhs5150 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:48:30 +0000 http://www.energyhomefix.com/372/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-303 @tyblossom If you want to go off the grid most people will tell you not to use HF panels b/c they are only 15 watts. You probably would want at least 50w and preferably 100-300 watt panels b/c the cost per watt of the HF panels you would end up spending 3 times as much to get the same power per watt. If you buy the HF kits you are at least $3/watt for 45 watts. You want to be between $1-$2 a watt at today's prices. @tyblossom If you want to go off the grid most people will tell you not to use HF panels b/c they are only 15 watts. You probably would want at least 50w and preferably 100-300 watt panels b/c the cost per watt of the HF panels you would end up spending 3 times as much to get the same power per watt. If you buy the HF kits you are at least $3/watt for 45 watts. You want to be between $1-$2 a watt at today’s prices.

]]> http://www.energyhomefix.com/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-302 tyblossom Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:59:58 +0000 http://www.energyhomefix.com/372/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-302 @jhs5150 Thanks. On ebay that the 50W's are so much more expensive than the HF kits. I'm so not of an electric type mind, but watching the videos,the HF panels have made me think I can set up a system. If I wanted to start slowly and as economically as possible, can you help me understand what I'd need to do? Where would I get the best price on 50W panels, what invertor and controller would handle a whole house? What batteries are best to buy? @jhs5150 Thanks. On ebay that the 50W’s are so much more expensive than the HF kits. I’m so not of an electric type mind, but watching the videos,the HF panels have made me think I can set up a system. If I wanted to start slowly and as economically as possible, can you help me understand what I’d need to do? Where would I get the best price on 50W panels, what invertor and controller would handle a whole house? What batteries are best to buy?

]]> http://www.energyhomefix.com/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-301 tyblossom Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:10:12 +0000 http://www.energyhomefix.com/372/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-301 @jhs5150 If I start putting 6 panels up, buy the invertor, and controller, have an electrician hook them up to my fuse panel, and then I can add more panels. So many of the tutorials are confusing to me since I don't "get" watts and amps and all that other stuff. I really don't want to "get" it. I just want a small system that can grow. I did look at my electric bill and we use some months 500 and some 1600(kilawatts?) @jhs5150 If I start putting 6 panels up, buy the invertor, and controller, have an electrician hook them up to my fuse panel, and then I can add more panels. So many of the tutorials are confusing to me since I don’t “get” watts and amps and all that other stuff. I really don’t want to “get” it. I just want a small system that can grow. I did look at my electric bill and we use some months 500 and some 1600(kilawatts?)

]]> http://www.energyhomefix.com/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-300 jhs5150 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:27:47 +0000 http://www.energyhomefix.com/372/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-300 @tyblossom This guy and Econewpower have the best videos on youtube to watch for info on this. I am going to get a couple of HF kits as kind of a science experiment but plan on getting higher watt panels when I do it for real. I used to work for a solar mfr. so I know a little about it. Look for Amorphous Silicon (AS-si) panels if you can get them b/c they provide power even in cloudy conditions. The other types (mono and poly chrystalline) put out more power but only in direct sunlight. @tyblossom This guy and Econewpower have the best videos on youtube to watch for info on this. I am going to get a couple of HF kits as kind of a science experiment but plan on getting higher watt panels when I do it for real. I used to work for a solar mfr. so I know a little about it. Look for Amorphous Silicon (AS-si) panels if you can get them b/c they provide power even in cloudy conditions. The other types (mono and poly chrystalline) put out more power but only in direct sunlight.

]]> http://www.energyhomefix.com/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-299 tyblossom Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:08:17 +0000 http://www.energyhomefix.com/372/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-299 @jhs5150 I've seen those videos and that's what made me think I could do it. I get a little confused when he goes inside and he has things for the wind next to the solar. I'm confused too about hooking them up in parallel, or in series. I saw that if you hook them up and one is in the shade, that can throw the whole thing off. I think I will get a kit at HF and set it up maybe on our land with a camper and get an idea of what kind of juice I can get from it etc. @jhs5150 I’ve seen those videos and that’s what made me think I could do it. I get a little confused when he goes inside and he has things for the wind next to the solar. I’m confused too about hooking them up in parallel, or in series. I saw that if you hook them up and one is in the shade, that can throw the whole thing off. I think I will get a kit at HF and set it up maybe on our land with a camper and get an idea of what kind of juice I can get from it etc.

]]> http://www.energyhomefix.com/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-298 jhs5150 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:57:13 +0000 http://www.energyhomefix.com/372/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-298 Whether its solar or wind it is just the input that is changing, the other equipment is the same. HF panels are AS-si. The shade/clouds will not affect them as much. Figure 4.5 amps for each kit (peak). You could run small motors or lights with it. Series would be higher voltage/lower current (see this video). Parallel would be the same voltage (15) at higher current. You would need to hook them up in series to use an inverter. For a 12V system in your camper use a parallel setup. Whether its solar or wind it is just the input that is changing, the other equipment is the same. HF panels are AS-si. The shade/clouds will not affect them as much. Figure 4.5 amps for each kit (peak). You could run small motors or lights with it. Series would be higher voltage/lower current (see this video). Parallel would be the same voltage (15) at higher current. You would need to hook them up in series to use an inverter. For a 12V system in your camper use a parallel setup.

]]> http://www.energyhomefix.com/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-297 jhs5150 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:46:37 +0000 http://www.energyhomefix.com/372/solar-panel-diy-wiring-configurations-solar-power-diy-get-off-the-grid-2-pv-photovoltaic/#comment-297 Correction, I meant 1.5 amps in parallel configuration - brain fart. Correction, I meant 1.5 amps in parallel configuration – brain fart.

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