PV Gap

Jessica Said:

Is there any restrictions on installing pv solar panels on a comercial building roof?

We Answered:

Other than having a licensed electrician sign off on it (commercial buildings require this, especially for insurance) and making sure that the arrays are properly anchored, no.

Roger Said:

Can I rely on solar PV panels for all my home energy?

We Answered:

You cant rely on PV for all of your solar needs, however, you'd be surprised as to how much you can power with PV. Is there anything in particular that you'd like to power? hot water heater, oven, etc? You may have to rely on another source of energy whether at night, when its cloudy, etc. If you get serious about installing PV panels on your house then I would recommend you contact some professionals. There are a lot of people out there, and a lot of money being "thrown out the door" by the government with little to no accountability, so make sure that the people you hire know what they are doing and provide warranties. My Uncle in the Florida Keys and In Laws outside of Chicago used a company called Sun Electronics and they were extremely satisfied with their finished product. Both my In Laws and Uncle are BEYOND cheap, but at the end of the day did not feel as though they were being ripped off and got a product that they have been VERY satisfied with.

Ernest Said:

What improvements are needed to make pv Solar Installations better?

We Answered:

The best place to install panels is often very hard to reach after the installation is done. Even in our very dusty environment (New Mexico plateau) the occasional rain keeps them clean enough. Snow is a much more difficult problem. An inch of snow overnight pretty much trashes power output until it melts off or is swept off. Right now, my solution is a ladder and a long-handled squeegee. A better way would be appreciated.
A really good modular system for holding and interconnecting battery banks would probably sell.

Larry Said:

What is a PV Solar Panel?

We Answered:

PV stands for Photo Voltaic, meaning it converts sunlight directly into electricity.

Brandy Said:

Do any of the commonly advertised DIY PV solar panels work? Many claim for $200.00. you can make one.?

We Answered:

This is generally considered a scam site according to the links below.

No address/phone number.

No response to emails.

They recruit affiliates, in a pyramid-like scheme.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/37…

http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/showthre…

Just being logical, if it really worked, why would they need to recruit affiliates? And if someone could make a panel at home for $200, with modern manufacturing techniques, wouldn't a commercial one be about the same price?

If you do decide to go for it, be sure to use a real credit card for the purchase, so you can pull back the funds through your credit card company if not satisfied. Reviews on sites that are independent of the product assert that these companies do not honor their guarantees.

Jo Said:

How much energy(W) will a standard solar panel 1x1m2 produce in a week/day/month 8-16 hours of sunlight?

We Answered:

There are a number of factors that you will need to take into account:

a) Panel efficiency - efficiency can range from 5% to 20%, better effcient = more cost
b) location of panels - need to be south facing
c) location in the UK - check how much irradtation your home receives
C:UserswmorrisDocumentsBiggreencom… Green CompanyMarketing folderSolar energy showroomTools - Nottingham Energy Partnership.mht

Also you can check if your home is suitable for solar http://www.biggreencompany.co.uk