Understanding How The Different Types Of Solar Radiation Affect A Solar Power System

Submitted by: Christopher Lollini

The sun is a virtually unlimited source of energy and showers the earth each day with enough power for all of our energy needs if we were able to harvest it. The energy the sun provides to us covers a wide range of wavelengths and each of them is affected in a slightly different way as the sun's energy reaches our planet. Initially when the radiation of energy from the sun reaches our outer atmosphere, it is considered to be constant. The reason for this is that the distance between earth and the sun is a vacuum and has little impact on the solar radiation traveling through it. Once this sunlight enters our planets atmosphere however, things change pretty rapidly.

Solar Reflection and Diffuse Radiation

The first thing that happens to this solar radiation is that it is reflected by the various particles of dust, water vapor and other small debris in our atmosphere. This reflection sends some of the solar radiation that hits earth's atmosphere back out into space and it never reaches our planet's surface. Of the solar radiation that does get through, some of this is further reflected and scattered as it travels to the surface of the planet. The portion of this scattered radiation that eventually reaches the earth's surface is known as diffuse radiation. This is a somewhat weaker form of solar radiation, but can still be harvested for conversion to electricity and heat.

Direct Solar Radiation

There is a portion of the solar radiation that reached the surface of the earth without being scattered or reflected and this type is referred to as direct solar radiation. This tends to be the strongest form of solar radiation and can produce the most energy from conversion to electricity or heat.

Radiation Intensity Varies Throughout the Day

Home solar panels can use all of these forms of solar radiation and convert them to energy for your home. The output of this solar power for homes will vary during a typical day depending on what type of solar radiation it has to convert. The highest output from these home solar panels will occur when the sun is directly overhead as this is when the most direct solar radiation strikes the panels and is converted to electricity.

Solar Energy Is Weakest in the Morning and Evening

In the early morning and late afternoon hours the sun is at a more dramatic angle to the surface of the planet and has to traverse more of the atmosphere before striking these home solar panels. As a result there is less direct solar radiation occurring and more diffuse sunlight as a result of the scattering in the atmosphere. These times of the day are more of a challenge for these home solar panels since they are converting a weaker sunlight and their output is much lower as a result.

Solar Technology Efficiency Improvements Have Come a Long Way

The good news is that most modern solar panels are more efficient than ever and can do a better job of converting this weaker diffuse solar radiation to electricity than older panels could. In fact many of the older home solar panels could only convert a very small portion of the diffuse solar radiation that struck them to electricity, which meant they were inactive for large portions of an average day. Because these new panels can convert this diffuse solar radiation better, they produce a far higher output of power on average than ever before.

About the Author: Hope this information helped answer your questions. Have another question you need answered? Want to get more great content and information about topics like solar radiation and get a FREE informative 5-day eCourse to learn more about solar power for homes, then check out my website. Hope to see you soon, thanks!

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Solar Power For Homes, What Are the Advantages of Solar Energy?

Submitted by: Mick Legg

Did you know that solar power for homes is one of the most reliable of the renewable energy sources (green energy) that is available? And it is well within the budgets of most people. For this reason solar power for homes is also the most popular of the alternative forms of energy. No wonder then that some of the biggest searches on Google and other search engines are from people looking for information on how to build a solar panel, or for how to Do-It-Yourself solar power.

So what are the main advantages of solar energy?

Solar panels for home use are exactly the same as the huge industrial size solar panels, only smaller of course. They are powered by natural light so you do not have to live somewhere were the sun is blazing down all day long, as solar panels for home will still work in less sunny places. You can also start off as small as you like with just enough solar panels to run your lighting and then add to them as and when you wish.

Other advantages of solar energy are that they can be installed in any house old or new. For new houses they can be designed to fit snugly on the roof where they can directly catch heat and sunlight. With existing properties solar panels for home can be mounted on brackets and positioned in the most suitable place. This makes solar power for homes available for anyone to install by themselves without the heavy cost of professional installations.

There are many guides and instruction manuals available on the internet that can show you how to build a solar panel. With these guides and a little bit of DIY knowledge you can easily and cheaply have your own solar energy supply up and running in days. So another of the advantages of solar energy is that it can be installed by the homeowner in the form of DIY solar panels.

As I mentioned before you can start off with a few solar panels, just enough to power your lights or maybe enough to power a workshop or hobby shop. Once you see how efficient solar power for homes is you can add to it whenever you want so that you can provide enough solar energy to power your whole home. There are even solar cookers available that use absolutely no fuel other than solar power. The only limitation to these solar cookers is that they may take a little longer to cook things, but when you think that it is doing it for free this is just a minor inconvenience.

Of course one of the best of the advantages of solar energy is the fact that it is totally green with no pollution or wasteful by-products such as harmful gases, this means that you are not contributing to global warming, in fact you are actually lowering your carbon footprint. And do not forget the biggest of the advantages of solar energy, ITS TOTALLY FREE ENERGY and the cost of the power you produce with your solar power for homes will not rise in the future.

About the Author: Discover HOW TO BUILD A SOLAR PANEL for your home with detailed guides that show you exactly how. http://homeenergysecrets.com/reviews.html

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Solar Power NSW – Benefits Associated With Solar Power

Submitted by: Christina Moreno

Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). CSP systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. PV converts light into electric current using the photoelectric effect.

Concentrated solar power

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. The concentrated heat is then used as a heat source for a conventional power plant. A wide range of concentrating technologies exists; the most developed are the parabolic trough, the concentrating linear fresnel reflector, the Stirling dish and the solar power tower. Various techniques are used to track the Sun and focus light. In all of these systems a working fluid is heated by the concentrated sunlight, and is then used for power generation or energy storage.

Photovoltaics

A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell (PV), is a device that converts light into electric current using thephotoelectric effect. The photons which make up light bombard the solar PV panel and dislodge electrons from their resting places. These electrons randomly flow around inside the silicon leaving holes in their place. Due to the laws of physics, the electrons then recombine. During all of this activity, energy is released and is what we capture and is called the photovoltaic effect.

What are its benefits in Australia?

Australian government has introduced subsidy for homeowners, businesses and community groups by the name of "Solar Credits" to bring down the cost involved in installing solar panels. It was passed into law on 20th August 2009, but the policies keep changing the details of the rebate (usually reducing it with very small notice period!).

Of course the cost will vary by a few thousand either way depending on various brand of panels and inverters each supplier uses, and their overheads, but if you feel that the current prices are beyond your expectations, then solar may not be for you right now. But if you add the system cost to your mortgage it can be surprisingly affordable. Also if you take rising electricity costs into account you can be assured of one thing that in a long term, you will be refunded with all your initial cost. There is a solar payback calculator here for you to make your own mind up. Usually, typical cost of an installed 1.5kW solar system can be around $6,500 which can prove costly, but you get government Rebate of $3,000 making your actual cost to you for 1.5KW of solar power to Approx $3,500.

In Australia, the most important factor when choosing an installer is to ensure that they are “Clean Energy Council Accredited”. This is a qualification that they need in order for the government to pay out its rebates. Even more important than that is you can be confident that they have been trained in the safe installation of Solar Power Systems. You can sign up for free solar quotes at various websites and compare the prices offered by them to install the solar panels.

Just to let you know that being a part of the world responsible for clean environment makes you feel proud. I am sure you will also like to be one of them.

About the Author: Christina is an expert in the field. For more information on Solar Power NSW, and Solar Power Rebate Please visit: http://www.solarquotes.com.au

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Solar Power For Homes – Should I Use Photo Voltaic Power Systems?

Submitted by: Thomas Jones

Our sun is a huge mass of fire and cranks out extensive amounts of light and thermal energy that's transmitted down to our planet. For harnessing this obviously never-ending supply of power in these modern times solar energy systems are getting preferred all across the globe. Although, a large number of people still choose to depend upon classic methods of powering and heating their home. Even so, eventually, it could all be operated with the solar power. When you go with solar panel for heating and electricity you may not lose out. Right now, photo voltaic power is simply being used by those that are more conscious and concerned regarding the earth's ecosystem, even as it in reality is a problem which we all need to be wary of.

There are many ideal points to choose solar electricity for your home and business. The following are a few. Deciding on a solar power for your home and company premises can save you hundreds, or even thousands of dollars year after year. You might lessen toxic greenhouse gas emissions. PV power is a lot better for the natural world when compared with petroleum fuels. PV power is a green source that won't ever be finished. In the event that you make power in excess of you use, your utility company may purchase it from you. Photo voltaic power isn't impacted by the demand and supply of petroleum fuel and hence is not governed by the soaring rate increases. Solar power removes the evil of radioactive waste disposal.

The reality regarding solar panel shouldn't be ignored. Photo voltaic power has several benefits over traditional power. The power from the sun is free of charge; the lone price is reclaiming the electrical energy. The price of regaining the sun's power is recovered more rapidly as compared with regular electricity. The reclaimed units do not have to be fixed with natural gas or electricity grids, they remain isolated. The presence of solar power is tremendous. It has no emission gases to harm the earth's environment.

Photo voltaic energy wouldn't be influenced by the demand and supply for fuel, it is completely free and it cannot spoil the planet. It is natural and safe. It could hopefully give us good fitness. There are many approaches that we will perform mutually, to successfully take advantage of the finest green-energy assets. Installing photovoltaic energy is not only smart, but it's promoting to many others too. The actual expenditure of using the electric power from the sun is lower than the expenditure of using other sources for heat, such as electrical energy and fuel.

In cases where you use electricity and petroleum fuel you could get a cheaper cost up front, still after a while you find yourself paying for it subsequently. With Solar power you can need a preliminary price in moving your house into photo voltaic power, yet after which you do not have any logic to invest in it any further, unless you consume electric or fossil fuels for a back up heating source. Solar energy is forever available, it was available in past, it is available presently and will for sure be available in the foreseeable future, for people to exploit.

About the Author: Thomas is an expert in the field. For more information on Solar Power For Homes, and Solar Power Systems Please visit: http://www.solarquotes.com.au

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Solar Power How It Works To Power Your Home

Submitted by: Wilhelm Williams

There are two main types of solar power, solar thermal and photovoltaic. Solar thermal uses the sun light's infrared energy to either heat a liquid or to warm a mass of material that will later on release its stored heat. Harnessing solar thermal energy involves building a house in such a way to collect the sun's heat during the day and radiate it into the home during the evening. However, in the summer time the house's construction uses mass to keep the sun's heat out of the home.

Solar photovoltaic energy converting sun light into electrical energy. The most commonly associated component are the photovoltaic panels or solar panels that you see mounted on roofs.

This article will be focusing on how photovoltaic solar power (solar panels) and systems work.

Why are solar photovoltaic panels always on the south (or north) side of the roof?

In order to get the maximum electrical output from photovoltaic panels they need to be oriented to solar south in the northern hemisphere and solar north in the southern hemisphere. Solar north and solar south are the same as magnetic or compass north or south. There is about a fifteen degree difference between them.

Most solar photovoltaic panels are set at home latitude plus fifteen degrees or home latitude minus fifteen degrees. Depending on if you want a summer or winter bias to the angle of the solar panels. In higher latitudinal areas it makes more sense to have the photovoltaic panels set on a winter bias, so that during the winter the solar panels still get enough sun light to produce electricity.

How does a photovoltaic cell produce electricity?

A solar panel consists of a collection of photovoltaic cells. Each photovoltaic cell is made up of silicon wafer. Silicon in its pure state is a poor electrical conductor. During the manufacturing process, an impurity is added to the silicon so that when the photons (light) strikes the wafer electrons are released and create electrical current.

The type of electrical current produced by a solar panel is a low voltage direct current, or DC, typically in the range of six to twenty four volts. Photovoltaic panels have a nominal output voltage of 12 volts and an effective operating voltage of 17 or more volts.

A solar panel's electrical output is affected by several factors. They are angle of the photovoltaic panels to the sun, time of day, time of the year and weather conditions. Solar photovoltaic panels produce more electricity during the middle of the day when the sun is directly overhead compared to the early morning and late evening when the sun light is striking the solar panel at a shallow angle.

Components of a residential solar power system

A residential solar power system consists of four components are: photovoltaic panels, charging controller, battery pack and an inverter. The photovoltaic panels convert sun light into electricity. The electricity is sent to the charging controller who keeps the battery pack fully charged, but not over charged. The battery pack sends the electricity to the inverter who converts the DC voltage to household AC at 120 volts and 60 hertz.

Photovoltaic panel

The output of a solar panel is stated in watts. The wattage is stated is typically for peak sun hours. Since the amount of sun light varies through the course of a day, to level out the variations the peak sun hours has been adopted by most manufactures to help installers and customer's compare different solar panel models.

Suppose a solar panel is rated for 100 watts and an average of six peak sun hours is available per day. Then the solar panel would produce 100 watts * 6 peak hours = 600 watt hours of electricity or 0.6 kilo watt hours (KWh).

Charging controller

Charging controller or charge regulator controls the charging of the battery pack. It continually monitors the battery pack's charge state. If the batteries are low, it will send electricity from the solar panels to the batteries. It also prevents over charging of the battery pack.

Don't allow someone to convince you that a charging controller is not really required. Directly connecting the photovoltaic panels to the battery pack can permanently damage the batteries and possibly cause them to explode.

Battery pack

The battery pack's purpose is to store electricity generated by the solar panels during the day and then at night or during extremely cloudy days provide electricity to the inverter.

The battery pack typically consists of lead acid batteries. Lead acid batteries are relatively inexpensive and readily available. There are many different types, sizes and capacities of batteries available. The most popular are gel cell and AGM deep cycle batteries because they are maintenance free and last a lot longer than wet cell lead acid batteries.

The most important thing to remember about the batteries is that the need to be deep cycle. Deep cycle batteries are designed to be discharged then recharged hundreds if not thousands of times. A deep cycle battery is designed to discharged to nearly empty, but not completely and then be slowly recharged over time. A common mistake for home owners is to think that they can use automotive batteries instead of deep cycle batteries. Car batteries are shallow cycle batteries. They are designed to discharge a lot of current quickly and then be immediately recharged.

Inverter

An inverter converts the DC electricity stored in the battery pack into household 120V AC. Almost everything in your home is powered by 120V electricity. Things like table lamps, freezer, lights, motors, dishwasher, and so on.

There are two main types of inverters sine wave and modified sine wave. The power company provides electricity as a sine wave. The electricity's charge value goes smoothly from positive 120V to 0V to negative 120V and then back up to 0V and finally up to positive 120V. Then the cycle begins all over again. The time it takes to go through the entire cycle is one second.

Modified sine wave is also known as a square wave. Here the electricity's charge value goes from positive 120V to negative -120 volts in effectively zero seconds.

Most household devices will function on a modified sine wave power. Light bulbs and motors will work, just not quite as efficiently as they would on sine wave electricity. However, there are some electronic devices that will not work on square wave electricity. It will be necessary to check with the manufacture to determine if the device will work on square wave electricity.

Now you have a basic understanding of solar power how it works to power your home. Now you have enough information about how solar power works to determine if it is a technology that you would want to invest in for your house.

About the Author: Want more information on solar power installer? Try visiting http://www.homesolarpowerguide.com, a popular website that offers tips, advice and resources related to solar power. By Willhelm at homesolarpowerguide.com

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Ultra Violet Water Purifier - Go Green, Save Your Green

Submitted by: K Ngo

If you don't trust (and you shouldn't) tap water, use a combination of carbon-block and ultraviolet water purifier; you can rest assured that your drinking and cooking water is as safe as it can be.

Most people don't like tap water for various reasons: it tastes bad, it smell like rotten egg, there might be (and there are plenty) of some stuff that shouldn't be there such as heavy metal, chlorine or chloramines and its by products, bacteria and viruses, trace of drugs...just to name a few. So they turn to bottled water. Sadly, many of the bottled waters are filled from the same source: tap water with some kind of treatment. It may taste better but studies show that some bottled water has the same amount of bacteria or even more.

If you are using the 5 gallons and have a dispenser, the next time you change the bottle, check the bottom of the dispenser and you might find that it is kind of slimy, which means there are plenty of bacteria in the water. Bottled water is often stored in plastic bottle, plastic bottle releases harmful chemical into the water if it is under sunlight. I have seen large grocery stores with piles of bottled water outside the store right under sun for hours even on hot summer days. When recycling the big bottle, you don't know how well it is rinsed before being filled again.

Yes, there might be microorganisms in your tap, by installing ultraviolet water purifier will easily correct the problem and it is less costly comparing to buying bottled water in the long run. Let's do the math. Even taking the bottle to the water store and fill it yourself will cost you anywhere from $1.75 to $3.00 for a 5 gallons bottle (depend on where you live), this has not include your time, your transportation and your effort of carrying it to the house. It would cost more if you add all those up. Ultraviolet water purifiers price range from a few hundreds dollars to a couple thousand dollars, depending on the size and the brand. And you shouldn't use just the ultraviolet water purifier alone because it only sterilize bacteria, viruses and cysts in the water but will not filter other contaminants. Your best bet is to use it in conjunction with an activated carbon filter. I use a unit that cost about $600; it includes a dual cartridge with the ultraviolet bulb inside a carbon-block filter. The activated carbon-block filter will absorb and filter out the bad stuff that we don't want in our bodies such as mercury, lead, dirt, pharmaceutical ect... The ultraviolet light will destroy the waterborne microbes if any are present in the water. Each year just replace the cartridge that cost about $175 and it will purify 1320 gallons of water, bringing the cost down to just about 13 cents per gallon. It's cheap, it's convenient, it saves your time and trouble, but most important, it provides fresh, clean, clear and bacteria free water for you and your family. Just turn on the faucet and enjoy quality water for your drinking and cooking.

Use a refillable bottle to carry water with you when you are on the go. I'm staying away from any kind of plastic since there are reports of plastic bottle leaching harmful substance into the water. Buy a glass or stainless steel bottle is best.

Saw this statement somewhere "Refill not Landfill", it is just everybody should consider doing to curb global warming. If you are concerned about tap water quality, investing in a good carbon-block and ultraviolet water purifier is the best thing you can do to protect harmful contaminants entering your body. Water is good for you, but only if it is good and clean water.

About the Author: bio: Stop throwing your money away buying bottled water and save the earth, invest in a dual cartridge ultraviolet water purifier can save your health. This patented water purifier is voted "World's Best Source of Water" for a reason! This is where I bought my ultraviolet water purifier http://drinkingwatersafety.fitnessguide101.com/ultra-violet-water-purifiers

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Green Energy Reducing Environmental Impact: Finding New Ways to Go Green at Home

Submitted by: Adriana Notton

Green energy reducing environmental impact is big news these days. The entire world seems to be going green. Finding vital ways to protect the environment by reducing the impact created by all sorts of damaging chemicals and practices is of top importance now. As ecology minded citizens seek to find new ways to recycle, reduce, and reuse, many people welcome tips for adding their efforts to the cause.

It is possible to start with 5 top tips for going green and make a difference. Ever since the first Earth Day, people have gradually become aware that even small contributions made over a long time are welcome. Recycling is a household practice in every major global economy.

There is more that can be done, though. A brief look at going green projects shows that a mind boggling array of organizations exist to champion the cause of creating a cleaner, safer environment. Ranging from working toward cleaner air and water, to developing alternative energy sources, the list of organizations participating globally is really quite astonishing.

On a very personal level, one great tip an individual might follow is to attend an energy fair. These are rapidly becoming popular as people seek to learn more about keeping their own homes and land using renewable energy and sustainable foods. A visit to a good energy fair will open up all sorts of avenues toward a green lifestyle. Canada is the location of the largest annual energy fair in North America. With ecology events, conferences, and fairs offered throughout the country, Canada is making good strides toward energy education.

Some forward thinking people actually have worked to develop their own energy separate from public utility companies. Using solar or wind technologies is part of their plan to become energy independent, lessening use of traditional power grids. This tip works well for people who have or can purchase the knowledge to make alternative power part of their homes.

Another tip for reducing environmental impact is to live a simpler life. Families are returning to less energy dependent pursuits such as conversation, outdoor activities, reading, games, and social interaction instead of using television, computer, or computer games. Using less energy is bringing more families together.

Consumer guides to using less energy do exist. Tapping into the ideas for buying better built products that conserve power is another simple tip that most people can use. Major stores are providing tags that identify energy saving appliances. Consider these products when it is time for an appliance upgrade at home.

Though controversial, and certainly open to personal and religious preferences, one last life changing tip may be to choose to eat foods that require less energy to produce. Choosing fruits and vegetables locally grown and eating less meat fall into this tip. It is rapidly becoming common knowledge that it takes more energy and resources to produce a cow to eat than it does to produce vegetables in a family garden plot. Though eating less meat is not the choice for everyone, it may be for some. The battle for better green energy reducing environmental impact may very well be best won in a simple, well tended family garden.

About the Author: Great wind power, green energy sources like the field of science is around every day. The children learn about alternative energy with fun optical equipment, telescopes and science lab equipment.

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Easy Techniques To Improve Battery Life!

All batteries will fail at some point, when they have been in use for longer periods of time. But premature battery failure is one of the main frustrations people face.

Common thinking is that turning devices off extends battery life, but what happens is the opposite. Devices consume more power when they are starting up, so turning them off is not such a good idea if they are going to be switched on frequently.

Cars and Other Automobiles

It is important to protect the car battery from high under the hood temperatures with the use of a case or a heat shield. The battery life can be extended by keeping the battery charged at all times. Electrolyte levels will have to be checked frequently during the hot months. A recent study revealed that relocating the battery outside the engine compartment has increased its life by almost eight months. Car manufacturers are relocating the starting battery to the passenger compartment or the trunk to avoid under the hood temperatures. It also helps to use wet batteries vented to the outside or cells that do not produce gas when recharged. Based on the driving of each individual, some batteries are undercharged and this leads to sulfation, where lead sulfate gets accumulated, reducing the battery capacity. An external battery can be used for charging.

For any battery, the most important factor to consider is the temperature. Ensuring they are not exposed to too much heat can extend the life of a battery. It is common sense that high temperatures lead to faster chemical reactions. They need to be watered more often with only deionized or demineralized water. However, rain water is a good substitute in an emergency. In addition to the temperature, a reduction in the number of discharge/charge cycles significantly improves battery service life. In extremely cold climates, the car battery needs to be continuously kept fully charged when not in use.

Portable Electronic Devices

Battery life can be increased for iPods, cell phones, laptops etc. by lowering the brightness when not necessary. For example, when using these devices in a dark room, it is not necessary to set the brightness to 100%. The brightness can be lowered enough so that the screen can be seen without exerting any strain on the eyes can be done. The amount of time the backlight stays on can also be decreased. For iPods it doesn’t have to stay on for 10 seconds, 2 seconds should be good enough. Laptops can be set in hibernate mode when not in use.

One most important point that not many people are aware of is that turning down the volume increases battery life. Use headphones that are louder and leave the volume at 50%.

Background applications are power hungry monsters. Stop everything that is not being used. Defragmenting the hard drive once in a while helps decrease file scatter on the hard drive and uses up less power. Send the computer into standby mode after a certain period of inactivity as it conserves battery. Although, standby resume also uses some power but not as much as starting up. Interestingly, leaving a CD or DVD in the drive can decrease battery life, as it hogs power whenever the drive spins up.

In Wi-Fi Applications

Battery life in Wi-Fi apps can be prolonged by either increasing battery capacity or reducing Wi-Fi product power consumption and through control methods. It is easy to increase battery capacity; however, due to technological limits, it may lead to an increase in cost and size of the battery. That brings us to the option of reducing power consumption, which can be done by prolonging the standby time and shortening the time of the active cycle. You can also turn off the WiFi on the iPod when not in use as it consumes a large amount of life.

These techniques of low power consumption can improve battery life dramatically. Most of them are common sense usage techniques and can easily be made part of our daily lives.