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DIY Solar Resources?
TihSon writes "I'm building a large shed out back and I want to power the lighting using a surplus solar panel. In searching for information on how to go about this, I have found a lot of rough DIY guides for various projects that are close to my goal. But none seem to explain the reasoning and theory behind using solar panels, so hacking their project to suit my own needs could be pretty much hit-and-miss. I don't want to do a hacked-up job, and future solar projects are not out of the question, so something a bit more in-depth is required. Do you have suggestions for books or Web sites you have used to learn the ins and outs of using solar panels? Something that starts with basic theory and ends with the ability to wire a house would be perfect."
I someone please shed some light on this issue.
Want a DYI project?
I presume you meant a "Do Yourself In" project, which is what usually happens when people who don't know what they're doing attempt to rewire their homes.
The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
Home Power is what you want to look at. http://www.homepower.com/home/
--frank[at]unternet.org
Generally speaking, if you already have on-site utility power, that's going to be cheaper over the long run than solar cells.
...About that "wiring a house" business... There's not a lot of people out there who have solar+battery storage systems to run all the junk in their houses, 24 hours a day. Most of the residential systems (in the US) use solar panels with no storage batteries, the solar panels instead feed back into the electrical grid, which gets you credit off your electricity usage but usually not your total electricity bill (you still have to pay the line maintenance charge and the natural gas charge, if it exists).
But say you just want to do it 'cause it's nifty? One web forum is
http://www.solarpowerforum.net/forumVB/
You can set up a solar panel to charge a car battery, and run small things off that. Basically it goes like this: solar panel->battery regulator->battery->invertor-> small-wattage wall current appliance. Alternately, you can use 12-volt RV lights that can be run straight off the battery; there's LED lights now that don't draw squat for power. The battery regulator is a necessary device that prevents the batteries from overcharging.
The only states where these are common is southern California and Arizona, with Nevada and New Mexico being two more possible candidates. It takes a lot of sun before solar panels are even financially worth considering. Also,,, Cali and Arizona have the biggest gov't rebate programs--and if it weren't for that, NOBODY there would have a solar setup. For what they cost, it simply wouldn't make sense.
Because solar systems are so expensive, most people who want a whole-house system start by building a house that is as energy-efficient as practically possible.... So you see, there's no way to do this cheaply. Either you spend a lot of money to build a new house, or you spend a lot of money on the greater amount of solar panels to run a "typical" house off of.
...And even having done that, solar cells are generally not considered "cheaper" than utility power, even over the long-term. It will cost very close to what 30 years of utility bills would have totaled. What you get with a whole-house setup is--you're basically paying your 30 years of utility bills "up front", and you aren't dependent upon the utility company's reliability.
In certain circumstances, a solar+battery setup can be cheaper than utility power. If you buy very remote property that is literally miles from the nearest power line, the fee that the power company may charge to extend the line to your property can run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
In this rare instance, it can be cheaper to go solar.
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When I eventually move to the desert, I'd like to play with using some solar panels to run an air-cooling setup. Using solar power to run air conditioning in the desert just makes sense, and I don't know what else I'd run every day. Will probably try Peltiers first; I know their poor efficiency but the mechanical and electrical simplicity makes them attractive for a stand-alone setup, and easy to try on a small scale. In particular--they can be run basically straight off a battery, and need no invertor. The 3-phase invertor and the amount of solar panels you'd need to run a good-sized room air conditioner would cost six or seven thousand dollars, at least.
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Don't know where you live, but in most areas of the U.S. you legally need a permit and an inspection to perform any electrical work on residential wiring. When I say "any", I mean even down to installing an outlet or changing any type of fixed fixture. Most areas require all electrical work to be in accordance with the N.E.C. and /or the I.E.C. Further, most jurisdictions require that the person doing the residential electrical work have a valid Electrician's license. Some jurisdictions allow a homeowner to do their own electrical work, but only on their own dwelling and not on properties they own that they rent to tenants. In many jurisdictions performing unauthorized and/or unlicensed electrical work is a crime, punishable by fine and/or imprisonment.
As a licensed Master Electrician and former County building inspector, I can state with great confidence that simply reading a book such as "B&D Complete Guide to Home wiring" does not render one competent to undertake even moderately complex residential wiring projects. As I have witnessed, even seemingly straightforward tasks like stripping wires and using wire nuts can have devastating consequences when performed improperly.
To advocate that an unlicensed and inexperienced homeowner take on this type of project without adequate, licensed professional supervision is irresponsible in the extreme. No licensed electrician would advocate such irresponsible and potentially hazardous course of conduct.
I sure the parent and many slashdoters understand basic electricity, but I want to warn against just connecting a marine battery and charger together.
Improper use of these can, and have, cause fires, acid explosions, and serious burns from shorting a high current supply.
DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU ARE REALLY SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING.