Cheap Diy Solar Energy Solutions
Setting up your own home solar energy system is a great DIY project but for some it can be a fairly daunting task. The more you self educate on the do’s, dont’s and required steps of building and installing solar panels the more you’ll enjoy the project and your journey to energy self-sufficiency. Before I continue let me warn you there are numerous cheap do-it-yourself solar energy products out there that claim they’ll save you a ton of money and give fantastic results – but after buying these products you may quickly discover just the opposite is true. My advice: Do your homework and don’t be scammed by trend-hungry marketers.
Some things you’ll need to know and do:
1. Buy the right batteries. The battery (or battery array for large systems) is the single most important factor you must determine when starting your DIY solar energy project. The batteries you must have will depend entirely on the type, number and usage hours of all electrical appliances you plan to power with sustainable solar energy. Make a detailed list of everything you’ll be running on a daily basis i.e., dishwasher, refrigerator, tv, lights, air conditioner, heating, hair dryer etc… and approximately how long each of your appliances will be powered on during the day and night. When this is done then add 20 percent to the time as a margin of error.
2. Know the wattage you’ll consume. Calculate the total watts needed to run everything on your list during 24 hours. Here’s the little magic formula for figuring this out: Watts = Volts x Amps. This step will determine the type of batteries you’ll need to have. It’s imperative that the battery array will provide the correct amount of amp-hours for your required voltage. In order for your system to work efficiently you must know how many sunlight hours your solar panels must receive to generate sufficient electricity for your battery storage and usage. Also be sure that your solar power supply won’t over charge your batteries as this will cause damage and degrade the maximum life of the cells.
3. Build or buy the correct size and number of solar panels. When it comes to the solar panels many first time DIY solar energy enthusiasts make the mistake of buying or making solar panels which produce the same voltage as the capacity of the batteries. In actuality, you must have panels that are higher in voltage than the batteries. As a simple analogy, think of voltage as if it were water pressure. If the pressure in your city’s water main is too low then you won’t receive the volume in your home’s water lines to meet your consumption needs. You’ll be using water faster than you can get it. By the same token, if your batteries are expending more voltage than what is supplied by your solar panels, then you won’t be able to run all of your necessary appliances. Just like water lines must be continuously recharged, your solar panels must constantly recharge your batteries. If the panels under perform then your “sustainable” solar powered home will not function normally.
In conclusion, installing your own “cheap” DIY solar energy unit comes with a learning curve and some costs. You will have to learn about and do the steps outlined above and you will have to invest considerable money. Batteries are expensive to buy and they require maintenance. A sustainable solar energy panel system is not a “build and forget” project. Efficiency is the name of the game with solar panels and Efficiency = Planning + Installation + Maintenance. Without proper P-I-M you’ll find yourself generating zero electricity along with a lot of headache and expense! And remember, your solar energy system is only as good as the batteries which are connected so don’t be “cheap” when monitoring your battery performance and storage.
Do It Yourself (Diy) Consumers In The U.s
As the worst economic downturn in living memory stretches relentlessly into 2009, American consumers in every walk of life are searching for new ways to cope with their diminished financial circumstances and to empower themselves by taking more control of their lives in uncertain times. One increasingly popular survival strategy adopted by more and more American consumers is to take on routine chores and tackle major projects themselves rather than paying others to do them. This completely new Packaged Facts report takes an in-depth look at the exploding population of do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) in remarkably diverse sectors of the economy, including home improvement, food gardening, financial services, automotive and beauty care. By drilling down into Experian Simmons National Consumer Study (NCS) data, the report highlights what makes DIY consumers tick and shows how they differ from their do-it-for me (DIFM) counterparts. The report reveals how the DIY movement is taking hold throughout the American economy, creating both challenges and opportunities for marketers in a wide range of industries. The report begins with an assessment of the trends shaping the DIY consumer movement and an evaluation of the opportunities created by the shift toward self-sufficiency on the part of American consumers. The next chapter provides an overview of the demographics of DIY consumers and an analysis of the size and projected growth of the DIY consumer population. The report continues with separate chapters on DIYers in five major areas: home improvement, food gardening, financial services, automotive and at-home beauty care. Each chapter includes a demographic profile of DIYers, highlights key DIY consumer attitudes, analyzes DIY consumer shopping behavior and assesses the importance of DIY consumers to marketers in each area. About the Author Dr. Robert Brown and Ms. Ruth Washton have written more than 30 Packaged Facts reports analyzing demographic trends and marketing strategies in key consumer segments. Topics have ranged from kids to mature consumers to multicultural groups such as Hispanics and African Americans. Dr. Brown and Ms. Washton have co- authored several Financial Times Business Reports on strategic business issues and have provided market and competitor intelligence studies for clients in a variety of industries. Dr. Brown has a B.S. from Georgetown University and a Ph.D. degree from The George Washington University. Ms. Washton has a B.A from Skidmore College and an M.A. from the State University of New York.
