Build Own Solar Panel

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Solar panel : 0.4W
# Ac input: AC100V-240V
# Output Voltage 5.5V DC
# Convert efficiency: over 18%
# Max output current: DC 500mA
# High capacity build in polymer battery: 2600mAh

Sorry, no.

An iPod Touch needs 500 mA of charging current, even a 300 mA charger won’t work (I tried it myself, it doesn’t).

Assuming you could actually get 0.4 W out of that panel at 5 volts, that’s only 80 mA of current. But small panels tend to have optimistic specifications, so the actual current you get could be just 20 mA.

You would look for a panel that says 5 volt output, 500 mA or more. Such a panel would likely be 1 foot square, or 1 foot by 2 feet.

I am moving to Hawaii and the house we are living in has independent electricity. (solar panels and gas powered generators.)

The system in the Hawaiian house has solar panels that charge a battery bank. If the sun doesn’t shine enough, the generator will kick on and provide the extra power needed. An inverter converts the DC voltage stored in the batteries to AC power that you plug into a wall outlet to use. Depending on the inverter, it should be exactly the same as the AC you buy from the electric company now, so anything that you currently plug in to use will work.

The exception is if they are using an inexpensive modified sine wave inverter, that doesn’t generate as clean power as a pure sine wave inverter. Some delicate electronics may have trouble running on it. You may want to ask the house owners which type of inverter it is. If they don’t know, ask them the model and you can easily look it up.

I’m a sophomore/junior getting a bachelor’s in construction engineering tech. I recently became very interested and involved with solar panel installation and design. I got an internship with a possibility of employment when I’m done and now my bachelor’s just seems to be in the way. i was wondering if there is an online school in which I could get my bachelors because I want to finish faster and NOT drop out. Of course the school has to be accredited and not looked down upon. Please do not suggest dropping out or changing majors….save your finger strength
I have done extensive online research looking for the same thing. I did find only three REGIONALLY ACCREDITED degrees that offer undergrad degrees related to construction online. The first is National University in California which offers a BS in construction engineering technology. I wouldn’t recommend this school because it is not recognized by ABET or ACCE. The second is Old Dominion University offering a BS in civil engineering technology TAC/ABET. The third, which I would recommend, would be the University of southern Mississippi offering a BS in construction engineering technology TAC/ABET and ACCE accredited. Your credits should easily transfer to this school since your curriculum is similar. This is where I am attending and would recommend it to you.

I want to install solar power pannels to my home to reduce the energy consumptions. Whats the best way to start, What is the approximate cost to install for a single family Home.
Appreciate your insight.

Hi Miky. It’s kind of hard to answer this question whenever it’s asked. If your wanting to simply reduce the amount of electricity that your using, the answer is just that, use less. If, on the other hand, your looking for cheaper electricity, the unfortunate truth is, that you can’t make your own for less…..yet. Whoever your buying your electricity from right now, can produce it for far less than you can (via economy of scale). That said, if your wanting to "go solar", for any of the many other good reasons to do so, go to "backwoodssolar.com". These folks will tell you EVERYTHING that you’ll need to know, and do it with astonishing honesty. I use their $4.00 pamphlet style books (you’ll see’em when you get there) for reference material all the time. Their knowledge is really second to none.
In the meantime, about that "reduce" part of your question…Put in compact fluorescence’s everywhere that you can (and dispose of properly when they eventually burn out). Buy appliances that meet "energy star" qualifications. Pack in insulation everywhere that you can. Caulk and otherwise seal all cracks and crevices around your doors, windows and foundation. On hot days, pull the shades and drapes closed on the sunny side of the building. On cold days, turn down your thermostat and wear heavier clothes. Close the vents and door in any unoccupied room…use fans when you can instead of running the AC…plant evergreens on the north side of your house…plant deciduous on the south…install an "earth pipe"…increase the amount of thermal mass inside of the building…humidify in the winter…get a couple of good books on energy efficiency……
The list goes on and on….and once you get started, it actually becomes fun. Your bank account might start smiling too..
Have fun.

I have made a 15v dc 52watt solar panel and I going to be trying to charger 4 12v dc 55ah batteries. I get about 6 hours of sun on my panel. Spec below, is that a big enough panel to charge the batteries???

I have 30 3×6 solar cells wired together Cell Specifications: (Watts): 1.75 Wp (Amps): 3.5 Imax (Volts): 0.5 V max which is where I got my 15g 52watt max (if math is wrong plz tell me) The Battery type: 12Volt 55.0ah NB Sealed Lead Acid Battery. I am using a mppt solar charger.

>will a 15v 52watt solar panel charge four 12c dv 55ah batteries?

Eventually. But the panel seems way undersized. Some rough calculations assuming you live in a nice sunny desert:

Under ideal conditions the mppt charger should supply about 4 amps into the 12 volt batteries. Lets say 70 hours to do a complete charge. Optimistically lets say you get half of that for 6 hours per day and don’t use any power from the batteries.

(140 hours to charge)/(6 hours per day)= 23 days Actually it will be longer because the batteries have a self discharge rate and the charging isn’t 100% effecent.

Another way to look at it is from a power standpoint.

(26 watts) X (6 hours per day) = 156 watt-hours per day. So maybe you can run a 26 watt (100 watt equivalent) CFL for 2-3 hours per day plus charge the batteries enough to make up for the self discharge rate of the batteries.

Of course, if you don’t live in a nice sunny desert, the situation is worse. And even in nice sunny desert, things will be worse in the winter.

Info from your second question:
———————————————

Now has three 52 watt panels
Needs 12 volts at 93 amps to run all his equipment 12 hours per day.
671 amp-hr of 12 volt batteries
three 60 watt charge controlers
Located in PA, USA

OK, your equipment needs 1120 watts to operate (12 volts X 93 amps= 1116 watts)

That’s 13.4 kWH per day or 402 kWH/month

Under ideal conditions your three 52 watt panels produce 156 watts. Figure 1/2 that under ideal conditions in PA.

1120 watts/ 78 watts = 14.4

In other words, you would need about 15 times as many panels to just directly operate your equipment on at noon on a sunny day in PA! That should give you an idea of how far off your calculations are.

There is a calculator at http://sunelec.com/index.php?main_page=page_2 for estimating how big a system you need. I punched your numbers in, it came back with a 4444 watt minimum system. Their 4500 watt system includes twenty two 205 watt solar panels. http://sunelec.com/index.php?main_page=4510_watt_off_grid_system

>OK here is my idea that i am in to far to back out

For this kind of project, you need professional guidance.

Anyone convert some or all of their home/business to solar energy and what did it cost there? what region of egypt? what companies sell solar panels in egypt?

There Are Solar Heaters In Egypt!! Great Now I’m Going Green! yay!!

I would like to reduce my use of electricity by trying to go to solar power but I have limited resources (cash and knowledge). I would need free plans and instructions on how to build and simple procedures for maintenance, care, and use of the system. I also need any safety precautions I would need to follow to implement this system. I have no mechanical background so I need layman’s terms so I can understand what I am going to be doing.

i think you may need to just buy one…

If you can store solar energy, how do you do it and would it work with a home made solar panel

Yes you can store solar energy. I’m guessing that you are talking about electric energy. If so: Use the solar energy to charge a battery. That is current technology’s "choice of storage".
At a more basic level you can store solar energy by having it heat your hot water through a simple circulation system of coils exposed to the sun. You can store solar energy to heat your house by having a large mass (concrete, stone, dark-colored drums of water) exposed to the sun - then suck the heat out when you need it.
Going back farther- Burn wood: It is energy from the sun, it can be stored (well, stacked) and is renewable. And, it’s good, healthful exercise! I DO know - after a bunch of years in Vermont.

I’m really curious about "home made solar panel" idea. Can you do it? Will what you make serve you better (be more productive or cheaper) than what’s on the market?
(I lived on an island with a generator, charger/inverter, battery bank for 5 years. This is curiosity - but more than just idle curiosity.)

I’d appreciate your response to my question(s).
Richard
<rsheridan02@yahoo.com>