RV Solar Power
If you like to travel during the summer, you might have invested in a recreation vehicle. Did you know that there are solar power solutions for your RV too? You can turn it into a solar machine that provides you with the power you need even in remote locations.
For your RV, mobile solar power kits offer a way to get the electricity that you need no matter where you decide to park. You don’t have to be limited to parks for recreation vehicles. You can vacation anywhere that is sunny and have a good time. If you can get around five hours of sunlight each day, you should have enough electricity.
Mobile solar power kits contain all the parts you need to outfit your recreational vehicle. There is less output that a larger solar array but you don’t need a lot of electricity for your RV if you practice energy conservation. Also, you won’t have to worry about mounting big panels on the roof of your recreational vehicle. These solar power kits can be costly so find a reputable dealer who won’t take you for a ride.
Kits come with directions for easy installation on your RV. If you have the money, ease of installation is a good move. Check with your dealer before you purchase the solar power kit to see if they have a good return policy. You’ll want that if you experience any problems.
The least costly way to outfit your RV for solar power is using a solar power system for mounting the solar panels on the roof. You’ll have to remember that they are there when going under overpasses and low bridges. It would be a shame to knock those panels off or worse to lose part of your roof.
One drawback to this type of RV solar power is the fact that mounting will require that you drill holes in your RV. Be careful with this step because you don’t want to do damage to your recreational vehicle. Also, it could be a problem if you decide to sell the RV later on. With a mobile solar power kit, the panels can be removed with ease and there is no drilling to mar the beauty of your RV.
Analyze your power needs. If you have the money, choose a mobile solar panel kit that is not too big for your RV but provides the right amount of electricity. An RV that gets a lot of use will pay for that system in no time.
Precautions and Warnings When Using Solar Power
Alternative forms of renewable energy saves money for homeowners who want to invest in such projects as a residential solar system. When working with solar power for your home, be aware not only of the advantages but also the disadvantages of working with solar electricity.
Benefits of Solar Power
The major benefit is less of a dependence on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are smelly and costly. Burning them has contributed to the Greenhouse Effect that is affecting the polar ice caps.
More importantly, fossil fuels will eventually run out. When that happens, we will literally be in the dark without a viable option for alternative energy. This is where solar power comes into play.
Be Careful with Solar Electricity
Solar power is not cheap. Even with the tax incentives and loans, you will still have to manage the cost. This has some people turning to DIY solar electricity projects. Here are some tips to know with DIY solar projects.
• Find a solar kit that is very detailed. You don’t want to get started and then find out you are missing a component.
• Be sure you are committed to the project before starting. DIY involves building our own solar panels, finding our own components and hiring someone to install the solar panels if you can’t do that part. You don’t want your rooftop solar panels to come crashing through your window or smashing to the ground after all of your hard work.
• Hire an electrician to wire your system. Unless you pay for the company to come out and install your solar system, you need an electrician. No one else is qualified. You could end up electrocuting yourself or short-circuiting something that could start a fire.
• Know your neighborhood regulations and city ordinances about solar panel mounting before you buy the system. It is a costly mistake to find out that you don’t have the room or the permission to put up big solar panels. You probably could have opted for solar roof tiles.
• Solar electricity may not be a good idea if you live in an area without much sun. The cost you will pay for the residential system won’t be deferred by your savings because there won’t be any. In a shady part of the country, try another alternative energy source like wind energy.
Are you considering residential solar electricity? Know what you are getting into and evaluate your commitment before investing in the project.
The Cost Of Solar Power
Solar power can save you money. What was once a fad has taken off in a big way as government scientists look for ways to break our dependence on the dwindling supply of fossil fuels. Now that you have the opportunity, can you afford to use solar power?
Solar energy will pay for itself once you have set up the system but the problem is the initial cost to the consumer to get the system going. For a business, these costs can be handled because there is more capital available. For a homeowner, it is not as simple.
First of all, how much solar energy you will need to power your home depends on your energy consumption. With solar power, many families learn how to live on less to gain the most cost savings. If you live in the city, you are still tied to the grid system. This is the electrical grid that powers homes within the city limit and outlying areas.
Some want to eliminate their energy bill altogether. That requires more solar panels than someone who wants to subsidize their energy bill with a residential solar power system. Solar kits can run you anywhere from $8,000 to over $25,000. This includes the equipment, the cost of having the site inspected and hiring someone to prepare the land for the panels if mounted in the yard or having someone mount them on your home’s roof. You will also need the services of an electrician to wire the components into your home electrical system – even if you are on a grid intertied system (uses a battery to store solar electricity until needed).
The federal government and provincial governments applaud those who are committed to saving energy and reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. You can look into government tax incentives and grants to defray a portion of the overall cost.
For those who are ambitious and like DIY projects, you can create your own residential solar power system. Choose a DIY kit that gives you all the information and blueprints for the system. They may even suggest where you can find the component parts for a lower cost such as eBay or your local hardware store.
The key to success with a DIY system is planning, planning and more planning. If you are not committed to the task it can get pretty grueling pretty quickly. But, it does keep you from paying such a high price upfront for the benefits of residential solar power.
Only you can decide if you can afford the cost of a residential solar power system. Think about reducing your energy consumption and other fuel costs to save money towards your new system.
How Does Solar Power Work?
Solar power is energy from the sun. You feel it every day when the sun shines. That giant star in our solar system provides heat for the earth and light. But, what is going on when people decide to use solar power for their homes?
Solar Energy Basics
It all starts with the sun’s rays. The sun bombards the earth with solar radiation. We know it as UVA and UVB radiation. Much of those rays are reflected back into space but there is enough of that energy that is absorbed by the earth to fuel homes all across the planet. Unfortunately technology hasn’t caught up with our grand ideas to save the planet but you can do your part with residential solar power.
You’ve seen solar panels on rooftops and in yards. They have gotten a bit more streamlined since they first came out. Before, only someone with a lot of money could afford residential solar power but the systems are widely used now.
Each solar panel is composed of photovoltaic cells. These cells are usually made of silicon or other semi-conductive material. The cells are arranged uniformly with a positive and a negative end to create the solar panel device. When the light hits the panels (usually placed on the south side of the roof or the lawn), it is absorbed into the solar cells.
The light energy (photons) hits the solar cells and electrons are knocked loose. These loose electrons move through the array and create the electricity you need to power your home. At this point, the electricity that is produced is DC, or direct current. Your home uses AC or alternating current so the energy has to be converted.
This is where the rest of the system takes over. The electricity that is produced by the solar PV (photovoltaic) array, is then passed to a DC disconnect device. This device interrupts the flow of electricity from the array.
From there, you can use one of two methods for funneling the electricity into your home. If you use a residential solar power system that is directly connected to your electrical system, the electricity will then pass through an inverter to change the DC to AC. If you are using a system that uses a battery to store solar electricity for later use, solar electricity is sent to a battery bank where it is stored until needed. When you are ready to sue the electricity, it then passes through an inverter for use by AC outlets in your home.
Residential solar power lowers your home electricity bills. When used you are tapping into the future of the earth which is alternative renewable energy.
Residential Solar Systems
There are many manufacturers of residential solar power kits for people who want to lower their energy bills. We sell a wide range of parts, products and complete systems. But, before you get started, know what type of residential solar system you are going to use.
Every manufacturer advertises low prices and superior quality. You can choose from BP, Kyocera, General Electric, Mitsubishi Electric and others. But, each offers one of three main residential solar systems for your use.
Residential Solar System Types
Grid Intertied Electricity System
Let’s start with the simplest system which is grid intertied solar electricity system. The grid that they are referring to is the power grid that your home sits on. Each city has constructed a power grid so that the power company can supply electricity to your home. If you are on a grid, then you are paying for electricity as soon as you open an account and switch on the lights.
With the grid intertied system, any solar electricity that you create from your residential solar system is funneled directly into your home electrical network. Electricity created in the solar panel array is then passed through a DC disconnect panel. This device interrupts the electricity flow from the array.
Next, an inverter changes the DC current of solar electricity into AC current for your home outlets. The inverter is connected into your breaker box. When you use solar electricity, you may even see your meter run backwards as you defray the cost of your electricity bills. Inform your power company and employ a skilled electrician to do the rewiring work.
Grid Intertied Electricity System with Battery Backup
The difference between this system and the first is that you can store excess electricity for a rainy day, literally. When the sun is shining bright and strong like during the summer months, you can use a grid intertied electricity system that is equipped with a battery.
Solar electricity still flows from the PV array to the rest of your system, but is sent to a battery dump. A charge control panel regulates the flow of electricity. Electricity then flows to the inverter and the rest of the system just like the grid intertied system. Only the excess is kept in the battery.
Off-Grid Solar Electrical System
This system works well for people who are not attached to a grid. They live too far away from cities and towns to be included. The solar electrical system is their only source of electricity.
This system flows much like the grid intertied system with battery backup. A battery stores energy for days when the sun isn’t strong. You still need electricity on those days. From the breaker panel, the energy goes directly into your outlets and not to a meter since you are not on a grid. You’ll also see a backup generator with these systems.
Each residential solar system differs in cost. The price goes up with more components. Choose a system that meets your needs to save as much money as you can on electricity for you home.
Why Solar Water Heating Is The Place To Start
Why is Solar water heating the place to start?
Many people look at solar electricity and think that if they have that, they are going to save money. The truth is that solar electricity is among the most expensive to produce. It has it’s place and it has great advantages, don’t get me wrong. But it is not cheap, so for those looking strictly at the numbers, it does not usually work out.
One thing that does work out, though is solar water heating. I am referring to a system that directly heats water. There are a few types of solar water heating systems but in Canada, we generally go with a closed loop system. This means that a special water mixture is used to transfer energy from the heating panels to the tank you are heating up. The heat is transferred to the tank via a heat exchanger. This way, the actual water you are using never went up through the collectors, just the energy is transferred from the panels to the heating tank. The benefit here is that the system can be designed with some sort of anti-freeze solution (usually propylene glycol) so that the system can continue to function in our climate and produce results. Other types of systems can be an open system – where the actual water being used gets heated in the solar collector and a drain-back system where the system drains itself of water to prevent freezing up. These types of systems are only of potential use in a seasonal application in Canada. Anything that is expected to work year round has to have an anti-freeze solution involved.
These systems are cost effective and very practical for a number of reasons. In the first place, it is far more effective and efficient to heat water directly rather than try and produce another form of energy (electricity). The sun produces heat so heating something up is a natural extension of that.
A solar water heating system usually involves very little interaction meaning that you can own one without knowing how it works or having to think about it. Have it installed and forget about it (except that you get lower energy bills). You don’t have to understand a myriad of components and how they interact with each other – as is usually the case with a solar electric system.
Solar water heating systems are usually priced such that a homeowner can afford it. It is reasonably priced and easily installed, making it quite attractive.
A significant portion of your energy bill each month goes to heating your water. It is something, that, if you can eliminate or reduce this cost, you will notice it right away and it will have a lasting impact to your budget.
Hot water is something that everyone uses and can be produced for free by the sun. This is a great place to start when looking for alternative energy solutions.
How Do I Cut Down My Energy Bill?
I had a call this week from a fellow who had a simple question. He wanted to know what it would cost him to set up a solar electric system to cut down his hydro bill. He was looking to cut it by about half.
This is a fairly common question, and fortunately, the answer is quite simple…
If you want to reduce your bill, you need to use less energy. Plain and straight forward 
So, now the question becomes “how”. No problem. Start by looking at your appliances. If you are running an extra fridge you don’t use often, you will want to get rid of it. In fact, if your fridge is more than about 10 years old, you can probably through it out and go buy a new one. The money you save on your monthy bill will pay for the new fridge faster than you might think.
So appliances is one of the first thing you want to check, the next thing is to look for any inefficiencies. It is far better to reduce your waste than it is to try and figure out how to get cheaper energy. So, check your lights, you can change out your 100 W light bulbs with about 15 W CFLs (which are readily available), that is considerable savings. Look around for what we call phantom loads. All those little transformers pwering modern day electronics, your TV, when not in use, still draws power, same thing with your stereo system. Put those items on a power bar and swtch it off when not in use.
The biggest energy use in your house – outside of heating your home – is water heating. You want to make a significant impact on your energy bill? Use solar for your hot water. This is the place that solar energy is most cost-effective. When it is used to heat water directly. Forget making electricity, you can heat your water directly and not even use as much electricity in the first place.
Unfortunately, solar electric energy is not very cost effective if you have grid power available. But again, if you want to cut your bill, just don’t use so much power. A solar water heating system can be easily installed and will make a difference every month. The system is priced within reach and provides a great return on your dollar! Contact us today at activeenergysolutions.ca to get more information.
