PV Gap

Don Said:

Why can't we use solar energy or a large rechargable battery to power certain household items?

We Answered:

Most appliances are available on the market which run off DC electricity, everything from TV's, washing machines and refrigerators. They are generally used by campers/caravaners, but can also be used in the house. In my last house, I lived totally off the grid, supplying all of my own power by a combination of 2 small wind turbines and 10 solar PV panels. Check out caravan supply stores as all the products they have can run off batteries (12 volt). Also anything that you can charge in your car, such as a mobile phone or laptop, can also be powered from 12V electric. Alternatively, you could disconnect your lighting from the grid and wire it up to a solar or wind set up, though you would need to change the bulbs to a 12V type. Special energy saver bulbs and my favorite, LED's can both run off a battery. It also helps if you are prepared to sacrifice a little bit, such as a laptop uses less power than a PC and there is no need to own a TV if you have a laptop, as you can watch TV programs on your laptop. It also saves the need for a DVD and CD player, so more money is saved not just by not buying new goods, but in having multiple uses for the goods that you have. Besides, using a laptop to it's full potential, also saves repair costs as it's easier to guarantee and repair one item than it is to do the same for a multitude of them. The sacrifice is that your screen is probably smaller than what you may be used to - not much to save money and the environment is it? Going green is in part about smart thinking...

Jonathan Said:

charge a 12 v battery with solar energy?

We Answered:

First install a cutout switch to fully isolate the battery from the boat's electrical system to avoid phantom losses from radios.

Then figure out how long of a time period you have available of sunlight, and how you plan to charge it. If you are looking to float charge the battery so it stays up, you can get by with a small 1 Watt panel up to 3 Watts. If you plan to use the battery a lot, such as a trolling motor, and you have only a day, you need to have at least 150 Watts, 300 Watts would be better.