Solar Power

solar panels and electrocution?

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:01:52 +0000

Is there any chance of being electrocuted by solar panels?
Is there a risk for firefighters when they enter a building where there is solar power and stand in a puddle of water if there is short between the solar panels and the water.
They cut normal power before entering buildings, but do you get enough juice from residential solar panels to consider this as a risk?
edit: you could place a normal off switch on the solar array and hook it up to the fire alarm for industrial systems, the switch should open even when power fails.
And you are correct in saying that it is the current that kills, but you still have to have enough volts to get a decent current trough a human (no mater what the max current output is).
The real question is then do solar panels have a fixed current output (then its dangerous) or a fixed voltage (then with max 50 volts is even wet not a problem)

solar panels are usually 12 or 24 volts for the smaller ones, and those voltages are pretty safe.

larger arrays can be connected in series or parallel, depending on the battery configuration. It’s likely for a large installation to produce 48 volts or even higher, and those voltages can be dangerous.

Higher voltages are used on large installations to cut down on the cost of the wiring.

But, any solar array has an inverter somewhere, running off a battery, and that will output 120 or 240 VAC, and that is definitely dangerous.

So this raises an interesting point. Should all solar panel installations include a cutoff switch accessible to fire fighters? It looks like they should. The switch has to cutoff the voltage from the array, and also turn off the inverter.

edit: but switching off the voltage from the array is not enough, as the array is still putting out power (assuming the sun is shining). One possibility is to use a multiple pole relay located very near the array to open both + and – leads from the array. Thus there is no path for the current to get to ground. If water got everything wet, the array would short across itself but still be isolated from ground. But what if the relay fails?

Max, you seem to have the idea that it takes a lot of current to be dangerous. No, 20mA can shock you, 50mA can kill you, and there are a lot of arrays that can put out 48 volts at many amps.

edit2:
"edit: you could place a normal off switch on the solar array and hook it up to the fire alarm for industrial systems, the switch should open even when power fails. And you are correct in saying that it is the current that kills, but you still have to have enough volts to get a decent current trough a human (no mater what the max current output is). The real question is then do solar panels have a fixed current output (then its dangerous) or a fixed voltage (then with max 50 volts is even wet not a problem)"

sorry, 50 volts IS a problem, lots of people have been killed from 50 volts. I admit it is not as likely as with 100 or 200 volts, but it is still possible, specially with a lot of water around. I don’t remember the UL spec offhand, but I think it is somewhere around 20 volts.

solar panels have a variable voltage, dependent on the amount of light on them. You have to plan on the highest possible voltage. The current output is usually in the tens of amps or higher, more than enough to kill, so it is the voltage that will determine the current through your body.

edit3: dividing up the world into constant voltage sources and constant current sources is meaningless, as neither exists in real life. All voltage sources are a imperfect voltage source or an imperfect current source or something in between.
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How much does it cost to install a solar powered roof on a small house?

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:01:48 +0000

Im just thinking about saving big time in the future.

It depends a lot about what you are doing with the electricity. If you store it in batteries that will add up a lot. I would say a small house it would cost about $40,000.00 Not all roofs are good for solar panels and it also depends on the climate, if you are where it snows you would be better off using wind turbines because you would always have snow on the panels stopping them from working.

When will solar and wind power be affordable to the average home owner?

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:01:43 +0000

I have been doing some research on solar panel and wind turbine systems. The pricing is crazy. For a 10Kw solar grid tie kit system is between $35,000 and $40,000. If you install batteries add $3,000-$5,000. 10Kw will only power a small to medium home without electric heat. Using my electric usage and info from my local electric company payback is 60 years for solar and 361 years for wind. This is unexceptionable. The manufactures of the solar and wind are gouging the consumers. They are using the excuse of supply and demand for the high cost. When demand goes up so will mass production and the price will go down. This is true, but they are making a huge profit on what they are making now. Some items are in the 3000% markup range. Are the power companies keeping the price up so their profits don’t suffer? My local electric supplier has an "ENERGY PARK" that you can go see solar and wind power in action and check out real time data online. They have a 4Kw solar array installed and claim it cost $30,378 installed and a 2.5Kw wind turbine that cost about $20,000 installed. I think they are giving false numbers to consumers so you won’t go green. I was able to find a 3.5Kw kit online for $9,000. This doesn’t include any type of mounting materials. You can add $800-$1,200 for these materials. An installer will will charge you $2,000-$4,000 to install it. For the sake of argument lets say this will cost you $15,000 to install but still way out of line for you and me to install. That is a far cry from the $30,000 the power company claims. The power companies don’t want you to make your own electric. They are keeping the cost high so they will still make money off you. A 210w panel sells for around $600. They probably manufacture it for under $50. The cost needs to be $100-$150 to the consumer to make it affordable to the average home owner. 50 210w panels make a 10Kw system. That would be $5,000 not $40,000. The manufactures are raping us and the power companies are helping them to keep prices high. When will we get the technology at a proper cost? Let me know what you think.
In response to the first 5 answers, Yes, if demand increases so will mass production and thus supply will increase and this will drive the price down. I looked into panels from China. From what I was able to find panels sell for $0.17-$0.45 per watt. In the U.S. they sell for $3.00-$5.00 per watt. Manufactures in the U.S. have lobbied for a higher tariff on solar products that makes them impractical to import on mass. These companies want to keep the price high so their profits stay high, and the power companies do not want you to produce all your own power. That would put them out of business.
In response to Steve R, You need to do more research before you post another retarded comment like that. Air "DOES" have mass (just not very dense). When air is in motion it is called "WIND". This motion creates energy. Have you ever heard of a "tornado"? Get your facts together next time.

Cut the incentives, import tarriffs, and special grind tie rates. That will make prices truly competitive for those that want to participate in home green energy, and not put any cost on those that do not want to.

The important thing is the incentives, which artificially raise the prices of equipment.

Should I install solar panels for power?

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:01:39 +0000

Thinking about doing the solar power thing and I was wondering if anyone out there has solar power in their homes, could they tell me the pros/cons of it. How much it costs to install, can you install it yourself? And can you be "free" from outrageous electric bills?

Yes, you should.
Generally, the payback time is 6-11 years.
After that, your electric bill will be aprox $4.00 per month.
There are many financing and rebate options available.
I did one solar install where the homeowner installed the modules himself and we did the wiring.
Go here to estimate what it will cost.

http://www.genesispowersystems.biz/Estimate.html

Which is the best DIY solar panel/wind turbine program? Real people only, please.?

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:01:34 +0000

I’ve been looking at all of the options for installing solar electricity systems online, and I’ve noticed that even the so-called review sites all seem to be part of a sales pitch….haven’t found a single, independent review of any of these products. Has anyone out there actually used any of these (Earth4Energy, HomemadeEnergy, etc.), and if so, how good are they?

If you have noticed that Earth4Energy is a scam (which it is), then you may be amused by my analysis of it at http://www.nlcpr.com/Deceptions6.html

If you want to build a wind turbine yourself (like a good engineer would), then get the following book:

Homebrew Wind Power
A HANDS-ON GUIDE TO HARNESSING THE WIND
Dan Bartmann & Dan Fink
Foreword by Mick Sagrillo

ISBN: 978-0-9819201-0-8
Published by Buckville Publications LLC

You can get this from www.otherpower.com This is a startlingly complete book and it has all the background theory you need too. They explain why, for example, you cant use a car alternator or something from a generator, and then proceed to build alternators from scratch. The references are compete — if you explore them and have the time to read, you will be right up there with the pioneers.

As for DIY solar, you can get the parts (panels, inverters, batteries, charge controllers) individually from many sources and make a system. It will not be cheap. You can’t make your own silicon cells, and probably aren’t up to designing the electronics, can’t make your own batteries etc.

My recommendation is this: Get the wind book. Look through the web sites of some of the better looking solar dealers, and if they seem to be "no bull" then e-mail them and tell them what you want. e.g. an entry level system, 80W panel, battery, inverter and charge controller so that you can make enough power for say, a small laptop. The good ones will be able to tell you what works together.

If you are thinking of a whole home solution, then you have a lot of reading to do. You need to switch to natural gas or propane (no electric heat, electric stove, electric hot water) and absolutely mininize the electrical load.

It would be nice to market a good DIY manual, but with a truthful title like "Generate power at home for more than you are paying now" or "With thirty thousand dollars in equipment, you too can avoid those monthly power bills" sales would be pathetic.

Have fun.

As for "real people" comment, when I see questions like this, I wonder if I am wasting my time because many of the questions are not real either. They are simply created by scammers so that they can add their scam replies and rate it best answer. I find this particilary galling when someone says, "this is for my science fair, and I am 14 years old" and all the answers are Earth4Energy scammers. Other times, I find my comments pasted on fake energy sites with links to pharmaceuticals. It is a mad world out there.

Plastic solar power & more

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:01:26 +0000

Printable plastic solar cells will bring solar power to the mainstream at $0.10 per watt. Light weight, flexiblity and high efficiency are the traits of this new breed of solar power.

Meanwhile old school large scale solar powered generators continue to work in other part of the world.

Duration : 0:9:39

Technorati Tags: cell, generation, ink, plastic, Power, printable, Solar

Installing solar tiles – Solarcentury

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:01:22 +0000

A short video showing the installation process of Solarcentury’s award winning solar photovoltaic roof tile product – C21e.

The video shows roof preparation, tile installation and electrical connections, plus inverter installation and connection.

Duration : 0:3:19

Technorati Tags: C21e, carbon, change, cleantech, climate, energy, photovoltaic, roof, rooftile, Solar, tile

How It’s Made – Solar Panels

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:01:17 +0000

http://www.earth4energy.org

Duration : 0:4:36

Technorati Tags: durable, energy, future, green, how, is, it, its, made, making, panel, Panels, Solar, solarpanel, solarpanels

Solar Generator – Solar Generator As Seen On TV!

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:01:13 +0000

Solutions From Science offers an amazing solar powered generator that is like having a secret power plant hidden in your home! Solar powered backup system provides instant electrical power in any outage or disaster. Even better, solar backup kit produces an endless supply of electricity for free!

Duration : 0:1:2

Technorati Tags: Glenn Beck Solar Generator, mysolarbackup, solar generator, solar panel kits, solar power generator, solar powered generator

Don’t Buy Solar Panels For Sale – Here’s a Better Solution For Solar Power

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:01:10 +0000

http://www.SolarEnergyGuide.net – Don’t Buy Solar Panels For Sale – Here’s a Better Solution For Solar Power
Each month, as people receive their electric bill, many contemplate turning to solar panels to reduce this utility cost. Some people are literally paying over half the amount of their house payment to the electric company. Solar panels are an investment in your home that you should definitely consider, but when you look at the cost of solar panels for sale, you may think you can’t afford it. There is a better solution for solar power.

How to Build Your Own Solar Panel

A typical solar panel installed on your home will average in cost between $7-$9 a watt. That means that one solar panel that produces 100 watts of electricity will run you about $700-900! While solar panels for sale are around $4-$6 per watt, installation brings that price up quite quickly. It just makes good financial sense to build your own.

Anyone who is rather handy and motivated can do it. The cost is about $200 and you can control the size of the panel so it fits where you have the space. Your first step should be a detailed, yet easy to understand, manual. Don’t get the first one you come across. Do a little research and if you can find one with videos, that’s even better.

The building supplies are next and you may be surprised to find most of them at your local hardware store: plywood, a roll of copper wire, and sheets of glass. The solar panel cells, also called photovoltaic cells, can be found at a local retailer or online.

Finally, it will take about a day to assemble a 100-watt panel, which can produce enough electricity to operate a small appliance. If you are building one for the first time, you may want to work on it over a long weekend. Once you get the first one done, the rest are easier and can be hooked together.

A Final Thought

There you have. It’s much easier than you might think and a lot less expensive to build your own solar panel. The solar panels for sale commercially may be for some people, but for others, they are simply too expensive. Start lowering your electric bill with a homemade solar panel and keep some of that utility bill money for something else!

You can save yourself time and literally thousands of dollars by looking over a review of guides to making solar panels and by using our online resources (no need to sign up) to get started fast using solar and wind power.

You’ll find reviews of green energy products and services, FREE tips,
Don’t Buy Solar Panels For Sale – Here’s a Better Solution For Solar Power

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Duration : 0:1:59

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