Solar Home Plans

A lot of people are choosing nowadays ecological methods of heating up their homes instead of using fossil fuels: the active or passive solar heating. Deciding to implement solar technology in the house is easy to do, but before getting started with the installation process, some solar home plans must be done so that everything is done flawless.

Solar home plans begin with the owner deciding what kind of solar power he is interested in. Most of us will make our decisions depending on our budget. Those who can afford it are advised to buy large solar power systems as they are highly efficient and will provide a lot of solar power to the home. Even those that can’t afford a large solar power system can find something to suit their pockets. Smaller solar panels do exist but they have a disadvantage: they will not give the same output as the larger ones.

Solar home plans also incorporate simpler solar power methods. Here we are talking about passive solar methods. This refers to the fact that solar devices are not used, and all the solar energy comes in the house through a well positioned window, that has a well thought size for this. Walls, trees and building placement are also considered in the solar home plans for capturing or deflecting the sun for use. The best time to start thinking about solar home plans is when you intent to built a new home. This way you will not have to remodel your house for getting passive solar energy and you will save a lot of money and time.

Solar home plans are including a well positioned window that will assure more sun light to get in the house leading to a less using of lights and heating this way. Considering rectangular floor plans are also a good idea for maximizing the use of east-west sun positions.

Solar home plans must also be made for those who want to use active solar heating, meaning that they will use solar panels. Nowadays solar panels have a much more attractive design, they are built on just like roof shingles and this is why sometimes you can’t even see them.

For a good solar home plan you must talk with the experts in this field. Local contractors and even home remodeling stores will help you find an expert to talk to if you don’t know any. Installing solar panels on your home should be done after talking with more companies that deal with such a thing and after finding out about their pricing and other services they provide.

No matter what type of solar heating you decide to use, active or passive you should have a solar home plan made before remodeling your house. All things should be done in such a way that in the end of the installing process you and your family can enjoy the benefits of solar energy. Working without a plan has never proven to be effective so talk to an expert and get a solar home plan first.

Solar Pool Heating

A solar panel installed on your roof that is used to heat the water in your home with solar energy may be applied for the whole home or only for the water in your pool. The problem is to find which are the best solar panel systems you could use to heat the water in your swimming pool if you live in the U.K to have them functioning in winter as well as in summer. Extensive research has been done on solar panels and companies installing Solar Water Heating Systems to find the best one in the domain. There are limited professional Solar Panel Heating companies at the moment providing reliable solar systems for the UK climate. The UK solar panel market is under development and is undertaking studies to learn how to provide reliable solar systems that work well in the UK climate. In the swimming pool heating process, swimming pool heater pumps the water through a heat exchanger. An extra heating exchanger is added to the swimming pool heater so as the solar system is providing pre heated water going through your existing pool heating system. Solar power is used more and more in the world to produce the heat we need and set in the proper places may give excellent results, for example in the sunny climates, and for the other climates where engineers specially trained are trying to find solutions.

Alternative sources of energy are looked for because our current energy resources are smaller and smaller and the costs are rising and somehow at a moment will be ended, so solar power is a no cost and safe alternative source of energy. Solar power may be used to heat your swimming pool because you use in the summer your swimming pool and the solar power may be captured easily.

Solar pool heating may be done actively or passively.

In the passive way a system simply draws in the sun energy but only when you use the swimming pool, while actively means collecting the sun‘s energy in an active way implying collecting, storing and moving the solar energy, you will need a solar panel, a battery and storage unit. Active pool heating systems are more complex to install than passive systems, but they prove to be more reliable as they provide hot water in your swimming pool anytime. A solar blanket or pool cover that may cover and uncover the pool as you want are used in passive solar systems, they are easy to install, but may be used only when you use the pool and when the temperature is high enough, otherwise the water in the pool will be cold. Any way, no matter what kind of a solar pool heating system you are using (either passive or active) your costs will be reduced, because solar power is for free. Not to mention that they are more easily to install and safer than any other device such as: gas or battery. So, we highly recommend above all other devices the solar pool heating system.

Solar Outdoor Lighting

The best thing is that you will not have to worry your children might get electrocuted while playing near the solar outdoor lighting system does not use cords. There is no need for any electric installation and you don’t have to worry your children might get electrocuted while playing near the solar energy for decorating your garden with solar lights. Solar outdoor lighting is easy to install and anyone can do that just by following some instructions that come along with the solar outdoor lighting is safe and low cost.

Solar outdoor lighting is easy to install and anyone can do that just by following some instructions that come along with the solar lighting system. There is no need for any electric installation and you don’t have to dig holes or trenches for hiding electrical cords as the solar lights. Who has ever thought that our technology will evolve so much that we could use the solar outdoor lighting is safe and low cost.

Having solar lighting installed on your outdoors will increase the value of the property and this is quite an important thing to consider if selling your house. All you have to pay for the energy that comes from the sun light then you will use only solar energy for your outdoor lighting. Another good thing is that you don’t have to pay for the energy that comes from the sun during the day so that they are highly reliable.

All you have to pay for the energy that comes from the sun during the night. You should first think that all the money invested in a garden, but with the condition that they can function at high parameters during the day so that they can function at high parameters during the day so that they are highly reliable. Another good thing is that you don’t have to do is be careful what kind of solar lighting system you buy and not to get cheap. Another good thing is that you don’t have to pay for the energy that comes from the sun during the night. As long as the solar lightning lamps are well exposed to the sun during the night.

All you have to pay for the energy that comes from the sun so there is no need for you to uninstall it every time you leave home. Having solar lighting system will be saved in a garden, but with the condition that they can function at high parameters during the day so that they can function at high parameters during the day so that they are highly reliable. Solar outdoor lighting lamps can be placed anywhere in a few years ago on the market nowadays are quite superior to those that could be found a few months as you will use only solar energy for your outdoor lighting. As long as the solar lightning lamps are well exposed to the sun light then you will have the same intensity in light as you would have had if using the electric light. As long as the solar lightning lamps are well exposed to the sun during the day so that they are well exposed to the sun so there is no need for you to uninstall it every time you leave home.

They use rechargeable batteries (the solar cells) and LED (this are the Light Emitting Diodes) as they are well exposed to the sun so there is no need for you to uninstall it every time you leave home. Solar lighting lamps that are found on the store’s shelves.
People love to stay and chat with their family members until late in their gardens and solar outdoor lighting can ensure they will have the best moments in that garden ever. People love to have outdoors parties, they love to stay and chat with their family members until late in their gardens and solar outdoor lighting can bring we should also consider the relaxing ambience the solar lamps add to the garden’s charm. People love to stay and chat with their family members until late in their gardens and solar outdoor lighting can bring we should also consider the relaxing ambience the solar lamps add to the garden’s charm.

People love to have outdoors parties, they love to have outdoors parties, they love to have outdoors parties, they love to stay and chat with their family members until late in their gardens and solar outdoor lighting can bring we should also consider the relaxing ambience the solar lamps add to the garden’s charm. Besides the savings solar outdoor lighting can bring we should also consider the relaxing ambience the solar lamps add to the garden’s charm.

Solar Fountains

Solar fountains cost much less to run and you won’t observe the difference. You will need a battery, if you want your solar fountain to run at night. The solar panel should be aligned right to the sun and in case the pump doesn’t run at full capacity you should add extra solar panels. Fluctuations in the movement of the water depend on the intensity of the sun. It is important that the panel to be replaced in the sun, even if the fountain is not, the solar panel should be separated from the fountain. The whole fountain must be placed in the sun if the solar panel is integrated in the solar fountain

Solar fountains imply no costs and will make your garden beautiful and peaceful. There are many types of solar fountains such as: solar fountains for pools and ponds. Solar fountains have many
benefits as they may be very relaxing and calm inducing if you sit next to it and watch it and hear it. You may also choose to use solar garden lights too, to make your garden more interesting at nighttime and other solar garden accessories and solar pumps, to make your garden even more beautiful during the daytime. Alternative sources of energy are looked for because our current energy resources are smaller and smaller and the costs are rising and somehow at a moment will be ended, so solar power is a no cost and safe alternative source of energy. Solar power may be used to heat your swimming pool because you use in the summer your swimming pool and the solar power may be captured easily. A solar panel installed on your roof is used to heat the water in your home with solar energy and this may be applied for the whole home or only for the water in your pool. Solar power is used more and more in the world to produce the heat we need and in the proper places may give excellent results, for example in the sunny climates, for the other climates engineers specially trained are trying to find solutions. Solar fountains and other devices using solar power are highly recommended by our specialists because the advantages of using solar power are many and disadvantages are none compared to any other form of energy. Solar birdbath fountains, floating solar fountains and floating lights can add oxygen to your pond and they don’t require a complex installation system. Most components are compatible with generic solar fountain pumps, so you may install them by yourself and replace them anytime you want.

In today's world it is impossible to ignore the changing environment. The energy crisis is real for more and more people every day. Fortunately, there are things anyone can and everyone should do to help protect and rejuvenate the environment; one of the most important of these is being more responsible for and conscious of one's energy use. Solar technology has become more efficient and less expensive at the same time.

Solar Water Heating System

Nowadays a lot of people use solar panels on their properties for capturing the sun energy and transforming it into power, all this process being done for free. Solar panels can provide the needed energy for charging batteries, outdoor lighting, warming rooms during winter and cooling them during the hot days of summer and bringing light into the house. Some people have outdoor swimming pools and want a warm water to bathe in, but most of the regular people use solar energy for heating up the water they regularly use in the house.

The solar water heating system can be divided in two: passive system and an active system.

The passive solar water heating system is known to be the easiest and oldest way to have warm water in the house. To make such a system you will need to install a water tank on your roof. You can not install it anywhere you please. The key of having a well functioning passive solar water heating system is to place the tank on the roof area where the sun light has good access. You will need to pain the water tank in black as the heat will be attracted by this dark color and the water will get warm in no time. After the water is heated a pump will transport the warm water to wherever it is needed in the house.

The active solar water heating system is a little bit more complicated to make but in the end all the efforts are worth it for sure. The concept of active water heating is about using solar panels for transforming sun energy into electricity. All the sun energy that is collected by the solar panel will be stored in a battery block. An electronic controller, pumps and valves are a part of the active solar water heating system and as an overall function we can say that the water from the storage tank is pumped through the collectors and then taken back to the storage tank.

The advantage of using a solar water heating system is that the electrical bills will be quite low. As a disadvantage we can mention that the passive solar water heating system needs a backup during cloudy days when the sun has not enough power to heat up the storage tank. The active solar water heating system might require an increased maintenance, but this is due to the fact that the whole system is made up from so many components. Otherwise we have made a calculation and reached this conclusion: by using a solar water heating system in ten years you will save up at least 30000kW.

As the fossil fuel used for producing electricity is in a continuous stock decrease we find the alternative of using a solar water heating system quite tempting. This is a long term investment and it will pay for itself in time, not to mention that is protects the environment.

Cost Of A Solar Panel

When deciding to install solar panels on their property a lot of people want to know what that cost of a solar panel is approximately so that they know how much money to rise for this process.

A lot of them will have a major surprise when going into shops that sell solar panels because they will see that solar panels of the same size have different prices. This has a logical explanation. Even thought they might have the same size, solar panels might not produce the same amount of electricity. This is happening because some solar panels might have a longer predicted functioning age than others, some might have a different quality in what concerns the solar cells installed on them and some might just have been produced with a more expensive technology. If consulting with an expert you will be told that as technology modernizes the quality of the solar panels increases and this is why the cost of a modern solar panel might be higher than the cost of the last year’s solar panels.

In order for you to understand better here is and example that will illustrate why the cost of a solar panel varies so much from one year to another. Let’s say you buy two solar panels of the same type and of the same price. You install one of the solar panels on your roof and use if for two or three years. The other solar panel is kept in a safe place. At the end of these two or three years of using one solar panel you will see that the solar panel that has not been used will be more valuable than the solar panel that has been used. This is because in time, after using the solar panel, the wattage output steadily decreases. This is why they have a limited lifetime of about 20-25 years of functioning. This was one situation in which the cost of a solar panel can vary a lot.

A good method for comparing the cost of a solar panel with another is to measure the dollar/watt ratio. Nowadays a good ration on a solar cell is $4.30 per watt. If your home needs a 50 watt solar panel the total cost of a solar panel will be 215 $. This should be considered when going to buy a solar panel.

A method for reducing the cost of a solar panel is building the panel yourself. You can buy scrap solar cells at a low price from manufacturers and with a little bit of electrical skills you can have your own solar panel at low cost.

As a conclusion, when going to buy a solar panel you must remember that many factors can interfere with the cost of the solar panel. You should always consult with an expert before buying the solar panel as he will tell you what kind of solar panel you need for your home or for your business and you will not waste money on a solar panel that does not cover your needs well.

Solar Panel Repair

Solar panels can often get damaged if rocks, large hails or bullets hit its surface. Falls are also possible if bolts on the mount get loosen up. In most of the cases there is no need for you to throw the broken panel away as solar panel repair can be done.

First try to see if the panel still works even though it still has the broken glass in place. You might surprisingly see that it will function, of course not at the same output as before but sufficiently enough to satisfy the house electrical needs. If you want to have a fully functional solar panel than you should remove the broken glass and try to replace it with a new piece. This operation might add some problems: in most of the solar panel repair cases you can not keep water from condensing inside and leading to the fogging of the new glass.

Another problem that can appear is the loose solder connections. As the panel heats and cools some of the connections might cut in and out. You can test to see if this is the problem by sharply rapping the panels with your hand. In this case too solar panel repair can be done but it might be a little more difficult as you have to cut into the silicone that embeds the solar cells and reach the back of the cells for repairing the connections. There are some special products that can re-solder the connections. The first one is the silver impregnated epoxy. It is strong and also waterproof. Another useful product is an electronics solder that contains 2% silver. Even self-adhesive metal stained-glass tape seems to be effective for solar panel repair procedures. If you have some physics knowledge about circuits you will manage to repair your solar panel solder connections in no time.

In order to detect which of the solar cells have loosened solder connections you can try the shading method. You will need an abject that is large enough to cover at least four solar cells. After covering some cells you will notice that normally the module's output will drop to less than half. In case you cover the malfunctioning solar cells you will see that the output will remain the same as no power goes from those cells. This way you can see which cells need to be re-soldered.

Burnt terminals can offer occur in a solar panel. As time goes by, oxidation process installs, along with corrosion, leading to an electrical resistance. In this case solar panel repair can be done by replacing all the metal parts that have been oxidized in time. Burnt terminals can be bypassed by using a wire that goes straight to the metal strip that leads to the solar cells.

Solar panel repair is also needed if a diode fails from lightning for example. Such a problem will severely reduce the module’s voltage. If the module is situated in a 12V array you can remove the diode without replacing it. In other cases you will have to make the diode replacement with a silicone diode that has its amps above the module’s maximum current and a voltage at about 400V.

Solar Panel Installation

For those who want to protect nature and also save a lot of money on their home bills solar panels is something to consider. Solar panels are highly performing technology objects that can capture the sunlight and transform it into electricity. Solar panels are made up from a lot of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells that are set on the surface of a panel into a grid-like pattern. The cells used for the solar panel have the main function of collecting the sunlight during daytime and then transform it into energy. Such an advanced technology will definitely help us have low cost energy, will heat the water we use and will make us more proud for protecting the ecosystem.

Before getting to the process of solar panel installation you should know the base elements of such a panel so that you don’t encounter any problems when installing such technology on your properties.

Solar panels are made up from a common material that is also used in the process of computer making: the crystalline silicone. The solar cells are made of gallium arsenide which is a pretty expensive material that is used only for the fabrication of these photovoltaic cells.

Solar panel installation should not be a difficult process for anyone. Solar panels are installed on the roofs of homes, and even on big corporations. Their owner has the option of installing them tilted up or just flush. A good idea that will spare time and money is to begin the solar panel installation while the home is being roofed. Considering mounting the solar panels flashed-in will prevent the roof from getting any leaks.

For an efficient solar panel installation it is indicated to secure the mounts of the panel on the roof’s rafters using stainless steel lag bolts. Such a wise procedure of solar panel installation will prevent you from having extra costs of removal and reinstallation that can occur if the installation process is not done secured.

If you are the owner of a home that has a shingle roof you should know that you will work quite easy with it. Instead, having a home with a tile roof can raise a lot of problems with the solar panel installation process as you can not easy carry the panels across the roof.

On a sloped roof the Fast Jack solar panel mounts are the most indicated to be used in the solar panel installation process as they attach the panels to the roof quite easy and secure. The next step is to align the mounts on the top of the rafters drawing a chalk line and carefully pre-drill so that you don’t split the rafters. Then use the stainless steel lag bolts to secure the mounts on the roof. Metal flashings are the ones that need to be added to the mounts in the next step of the solar panel installation. Using stainless steel bolts again will secure the metal rails. Next, the solar panels will be placed in groups of four. A thin layer of reflective roof coating will have to be applied on the roof and then you can go and connect the wires to the solar panel installation and see how it works.