PV Gap

Annie Said:

Looking to purchase a Generator - solar/battery powered, preferably a combination - plug-in backup power.?

We Answered:

this company has what you want

http://www.sunwize.com/

Jose Said:

Would a solar powered microwave generator warm the planet?

We Answered:

wouldn't make any difference.
most of the microwave energy would be lost in space.
reflected light is also lost.

there was a pretty good weather channel special that pointed out that 95% of solar heating is absorbed by the oceans.
that's why it's not generally visible outside your front door.
it's also why solutions that address the ocean are far more important.

Kelly Said:

do we have chance to run a power generator using the solar panels.?

We Answered:

in egypt solar power is already in use for large scale utilisation. we have here, street lights operating on solar power and so running a generator should not be a problem .

Lori Said:

wind generator or solar power, which produces more wattage?

We Answered:

There are situations in which a wind generator can be very efficient as a source of domestic power. It has to be at a high elevation and in a location where the average wind speed is sufficient. Average of about 14 MPH is the lowest that will work in practical terms.

Solar panels can be developed incrementally into a generating plant of whatever size is needed, with incremental improvements in efficiency as the size of the plant increases. The sun must be shining to generate power (though it will actually work on very cloudy days at a reduced power level), but the amount of sunlight available per year is much more predictable than the amount of wind.

On the whole, solar is much more practical at the household level than wind power, and solar is the recommended choice among most engineers who work with alternative energy.

I am typing now on a computer that is running off a household solar power system, and it works very well.

Good luck!

Heidi Said:

Can windmills also act as solar power generators?

We Answered:

Sure we/you COULD... however, what is the point? The area of the ground below is more efficiently covered with solar electrical panels than the body of a tower with a wind powered generator on top. There is NO point in using the smaller area of the top of a tower than simple plain open space at ground level... Besides, when you do the daily/weekly cleaning to remove dust, it is MUCH more practical to clean panels at ground level than a hundred feet in the air... Note that wind towers are FAR apart to reduce turbulence from one tower causing problems with the air flow of the next tower. Haven't you wondered WHY wind towers are hundreds of feet tall and hundreds of feet apart? You would better use the flat space BETWEEN the towers than the actual towers themselves... Use some common sense already!

Lucille Said:

How much continuous power in watts can a solar generator produce?

We Answered:

To get 600 watts, you need at least a 600 watt solar array. The output goes down when the sun is not directly perpendicular to the array, so you probably need a 1000 watt unit, or perhaps higher.

If you want 600 watts continuously for 12 hours, you need to be in a location where you get 12 hours of sun per day.

You can't build solar arrays, you have to buy them, as they require a complicated factory and chemicals in their construction.

Search on line, there are hundreds of places where you can buy them.

.

Jose Said:

How do I plug the output of an AC generator into a power meter?

We Answered:

You need to talk with your power company before you attempt to connect anything. There are serious safety concerns with supplying power back to the grid and a special meter is required if you want to get paid for it in most locations. When I say serious I mean you can kill somebody besides yourself.