PV Gap

Martin Said:

Would you want a solar power plant near your home?

We Answered:

I would like a solar power plant FOR my home. I have no problem with such things nor would I complain about a 'wind farm'.
The current coal-fired plant (about 5 miles from me) pollutes every day. It is a "clean burn" plant but the operators seem to have found a way to conceal their pollution. I can see the yellow haze being emitted in the steam plume from the cooling towers (where nothing but steam is supposed to be) on sunny days.
I've told the local EPA about that but nothing has been done. Grift and bribery I would guess.
Anyway, the solar and wind plants are clean and efficient when operating and fueling them does not require deforestation or mining.

Wade Said:

Is it possible to generate your own Solar or Wind power for your home or apartment?

We Answered:

it's not really possible.
you really cannot put the stuff outside your window.
and there's some really expensive equipment that's needed to make 110ac out of the energy you do generate.
and, you do want that stuff so your computer works at night, when there's no wind.

however, get yourself a Kilowatt meter.
you'll find that your system does not use as much power as you think.

put some insulation on your windows (clear plastic) and you'll likely save far more energy.

Edit: Free Magnetic Energy doesn't work. Consider, if it did, wouldn't the utilities be using it, instead of burning all that expensive coal and oil and natural gas. It doesn't work, no matter how much you pay for the plans.

Cold fusion doesn't work. Hydrogen fusion is being worked on in several locations, including:

http://www.google.com/search?q=lawrence+…

Eva Said:

how to set solar power for your new home?

We Answered:

There is two primary ways to use solar.

First is a partial or supplemental system that just uses some solar panels, an inverter/controller that converts the DC power from the panels into AC power and controls the power into your electrical system. It requires your electric company and a contractor to make sure it is hooked up properly. With this system, the power from your panels goes into your electric. If it is less than the total needed, then you just use less from the electric company. If it produces more than your needs, then you get a credit from the electric company. This system will cost around $13,000 to $20,000 and will probably pay back in about 20 years if your electric company or state is giving some incentives. If your electric costs are higher than 10 cents/KWH, it may pay off sooner. (10 cents/KWH is about the average in the U.S.)

The second way is a "stand alone" system in which you are not connected to the electric company at all. This system requires the panels and controller, plus a large bank of batteries, charge controller, and back up diesel or gas generator. This system will cost $30,000 to $60,000 for an average size home. It probably will not support heating or air conditioning, but will provide for lighting and necessary loads. It will probably never pay back when compared to grid power, but will work.

The primary problem with solar is cost and reliability when compared to grid power in the U.S. At $.10/KWR, it is hard to beat it economically with any alternative. The high initial cost prevents the majority from purchasing a system also. Reliability is also a problem. The solar only produces power when the sun is shining. This is only about 1/3 of the time, and in some areas where it is cloudy a lot of the time it is a really bad system.

Salvador Said:

Does anyone use solar power for your home?

We Answered:

Yes our home was built with out hooking to the power co. We were 100% solar power for about 15 years, now our home is about 50 % solar an 50 % power co. Our solar panels are over 25 years old an putting out factory rated power still.
I estimate in the 15 years they saved us around $120.00 a month by not useing the power company. Now if power goes off, I flip a switch an run my computer off alternative energy. Like motel 6 says, we will leave a light on for you.lol
Oh!!! use to freak the power company out if the power was off in our area we had lots lights burning. :):):):)
Slow Poke.

Josephine Said:

does anyone use solar power in their home?

We Answered:

I have a 6 kilowatt system on my house. It provides all my power, except the gas water heater. However, I am a special case. I live alone near San Francisco. I heat only one room, except when I have friends over. I get an average of about 20 kWh per day. The system cost about $50 K after rebate, but it was higher than it should have been.

Read all you can, including on the Internet and by searching for solar panels in the green search box above.

You may come back to me on Yahoo e-mail if you have specific questions.

Clarence Said:

If you want to use solar power in your home will you lose power in a power outage?

We Answered:

It depends on what capacity storage batteries you have. Because solar only works in the daytime if the sun is shining you have to be able to store the power you generate so the lights will go on at night. You would have to be able to store to convert to alternating current to run conventional appliences anyway. It is not as simple as putting up some solar collectors. Solar collectors for hot water systems, either home heating or just water heating work well because the water actually stores the heat for you. Do a little more research, there are ways to do this but some are more complicated and expensive than others.

Victor Said:

making your own home solar power panels?

We Answered:

Well if you are doing a direct comparison (i.e. power output per panel), homemade solar panels are not as good as professional one's, the materials used to make the panels themselves absorb much more energy over its surface area in a professionally made panel.

Having said that you can get good benefits from home made solar panels, once you have made one you only need to make another to increase the amount of power produced. The home made solar panel is allot cheaper to purchase, you could make 20 home made panels for the price of one production panel.

as for converters / storage, the DIY guides around the place show you how to assemble / source them cheaply

There is a review on the following site http://solarpowerdiy.info/

My hubby is a DIY nut and he has assembled and implemented two of these now, we use the energy produced more to supplement our power usage, he estimates we will save around 40% (we are pretty conservative with our energy usage though)

When you ask, will they break easy, that probably is more dependant on the workmanship of the handyman putting it together.

hope that helps :)