PV Gap

Alvin Said:

How to create a solar panel at home using things present in our homes?

We Answered:

a solar PV panel requires a factory with special equipment and chemicals to manufacture.

It is possible to make a solar heater to heat water with aluminum foil, as a demonstration.

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Joel Said:

can we manufacture solar panels at home? any guide or book available for the solar panel making & installation?

We Answered:

You can use passive solar energy without solar panels. Some of those are very low-tech - solar ovens, water heaters and the like can be constructed with dark plastic, tin foil and some ingenuity if you've got a good set of plans to work from.

For generating electricity though, it's trickier - though there are some people who claim to have kits and plans available that are considerably cheaper than the $25,000 and up, up, up that a contractor will charge for professional installation. Most of those savings are in the labor, I'm sure.

Bradley Said:

What is the best method to remove acrylic/solar nails at home?

We Answered:

my nails came off after a long soak in water but I think they soften then at salons in an acetone gel you can get some at a chemist or supermarket most likely,

Holly Said:

What are solar home components?

We Answered:

Solar Panels
The photovoltaic (PV) modules produce DC power by turning photons from sunlight into an electric current. Depending on your power needs and roof space, several of these modules can be mounted either on the roof or the ground. The electricity they generate is then wired through a charge controller before it goes on to the battery bank.
Panel Mounts
There are four basic types of mounts. Roof mounts keep the wire run distance to the batteries short, but they also require roof openings and a ground protection device to satisfy article 690-5 of the National Electrical Code. If you have a small roof or your roof doesn't face south, a ground or pole-mounted system can be used. Top-of-pole mounts are good for cold climates because snow easily slides off them. Side-of-pole mounts are typically used for smaller modules where poles already exist. Tracking mounts are more expensive but mechanically follow the sun across the sky to increase the daily amount of energy your PV panels collect.
Charge Controller & Inverters
The charge controller prevents the battery from overcharging and blocks any current from flowing from the batteries back to the solar modules. The cost of controllers depends on the ampere capacity the system will be using. The inverter is an electrical device that changes direct current to alternating current and boosts its voltage in order to operate traditional home 120-volt AC appliances.
Batteries
The battery bank stores the electricity generated during the day for use at night. Batteries come in many sizes especially designed for home PV systems that operate at 24 or 48 VDC. The higher the PV module voltage, the farther away you can locate the battery bank from the PV modules. Unlike car batteries, the "deep-cycle" lead-acid batteries used for PV systems can last up to ten years and be repeatedly recharged and discharged while maintaining up to 80 percent of their power.
Meters and Instrumentation
A power meter allows you to monitor your system's battery voltage, the amount of power used, and the level at which your batteries are being charged. A junction box connects the solar panels to your breaker panel on the home and any backup power supply, such as a generator. Automatic and manual safety disconnects units protect your system from power surges and allow you to shut down the system for maintenance. For grid-connected systems, these disconnect unit also ensures your equipment is isolated from the grid in case of a utility power surge.
Good Luck.
Read more: http://www.ehow.com/list_7514193_solar-h…

Tiffany Said:

How did you go solar at your home?

We Answered:

Journeyman Electrician and a Carpenter? I usually don't recommend to people that they install their own solar, but in your case, you have the skills.

In California, no certification is needed to do the work on your own residence, although you must still pull the necessary permits and pass inspections. Perhaps Texas is the same way. In some states, installing yoursef invalidates the state incentive, but in most places, the biggest part of the rebate is the federal tax credit, which is valid even if you install yourself.

I have some suggestions.

1) Get a bid from one or two professional installers. Look in your phone book under "Solar" for someone near you. The quote should be free, and if nothing else, you get an education as to costs and benefits. It helps to have a year's worth of electric bills on hand for them to analyze.

2) Here is how we installed our own: http://roderick.hostcell.net/solar/photo… . I'm not saying this is the definitive way to do it, but it did pass inspection. At the bottom of the web page is a link to the home video of our install. The costs are out of date, too - solar panels are now half the price of what we paid. Take a look at sunelec.com for some examples, not that I recommend or disrecommend them.

3) Avoid anyone on the internet making wild claims that you can power your whole house for under $200, if you'll just buy their e-book Those are scams that just give you worthless public information for your money.