Why are Solar Panels Important?

Why are Solar Panels Important?
Solar panels convert the suns energy into usable forms. Solar panels can be a certain kind of device that attracts the sun to use the sun to power machinery that can transfer the heat from the sun into whatever they need. We could use solar panels to convert the heat from the sun into the energy we need to power things that run. Solar panels are common and can be seen in a lot of different products, such as calculators, satellites, or even space ships. Solar panels are an effective way to redirect the sunlight and use it for electricity.
It all starts over one hundred years ago when a man got the idea to use the heat from the sun to power his machinery. The main focus was to use the steam from the hot sun light in order to start and maintain their machines. This new revelation peaked the interest of several scientists who did not waste any time traveling to see how this discovery worked. Since then, there have been groundbreaking products that have increased the convenience and the need to use a natural resource such as the sun in order to work machinery.
Solar panels can be different shapes and sizes but their main purpose is to convert the light in order to make electricity. Photovoltaic, or PV, is the process of converting the light into electricity. Photovoltaic cells are self generating and consist of a very thing film made of silver. This film is placed on a semiconductor layer that can be found on an iron substrate. The photovoltaic cells are very important in producing enough sunlight and heat in order to successfully produce the energy that is needed in order to heat up water, heat homes and power electricity.
Solar panels can be found in all different shapes and sizes including round, square, and rectangle. You can see them on top of buildings and houses or standing alone in fields. Solar panels are in hand held devices and they are in energy efficient appliances. The sun is a wonderful natural resource and can greatly cater to our way of life. The study of natural resources like the sun is ongoing and the improvement that can be made in the future is anyone's guess but you can't go wrong when you use natural resources.
Because this new way of production was in trial and error stage, it was somewhat expensive to turn your home or business into a natural way to heat and power. But since things have changed and newer material has surfaced and since we know more about the solar panels the cost is not as high, although it is still higher than using man made methods of producing heat and electricity. In the long run using solar panels for all your electric needs will save you money in the long run because you won't have to worry about paying for your power. As long as the sun shines you will have power. On days that are too cloudy for the sun to break through to the earth, your system should still be adequate enough to carry the electricity through another day.

Top Stories

Tips for Buying Solar Panel Kits

Tips for Buying Solar Panel Kits 600
If you are considering saving money with a do-it-yourself installation of solar panels for your home, buying a kit is a great idea. But it's not quite the same as going down to your local building supply store and picking up a box of parts to assemble. It's not like picking out a bookcase at IKEA and putting it together in the living room. There's a lot of preliminary planning that you will need to do in order to purchase the right kit for your home.
If you have a lot of experience installing solar equipment, you'll be fine on your own. You probably will only need minimal manufacturer support to answer occasional questions about specific parts. You may need some answers to technical questions to confirm your buying decisions. But you'll probably be fine just finding a kit within your price range and buying it online. Your situation would be similar to a professional auto mechanic buying a kit car online. You know what you need, you know which parts are the best to use. You know how to make them all work together. You really are qualified to do it all on your own, with minimal help.
But if you have no experience installing solar panels, your best bet will be to find a kit supplier that offers a lot of technical support for both planning and for installation. You'll need to find a kit supplier that will be available not only by email, but by telephone. You might even want to find one that offers in-person support, if needed.
Your supplier should be able to help you figure out the proper size and configuration for your solar energy system, based on your household's current and projected energy needs. This preplanning step is crucial. You'll be wasting money if you buy a system larger than you need. And if you buy one that's too small for your energy needs, you'll end up either with no power when you need it, or still needing to buy power from the grid.
You'll also need expert help to analyze your house's energy needs according to its location and it's orientation toward the sun. Nearby trees and buildings can affect how efficient solar panels will be. Also, average outside temperatures throughout the year can affect what kind of panels you'll need.

SOLAR PANELS: Will they work for your pool?

Solar Panels: Will They Work For Your Pool?
Have you been thinking of installing solar panels to heat your swimming pool? Good news! Solar panels that heat water are relatively inexpensive to buy. You can even build them yourself for less than $100 in materials and less than a weekend's worth of your time. The best news is that once you have paid for the cost of installation, you won't have any ongoing fuel bills.
But before you decide, you’ll need to answer some questions. First, will your solar panel system get enough sunlight during the day? The solar panels used for heating pools are simple passive collectors. They’re typically made of plastic coils filled with water and sandwiched between sheets of shatter-resistant glass. As water collects in the coils, it gets heated by the sun then pumped into the pool.
If your lot is covered with tall trees that shade your house and yard, it may not get enough sunlight for a passive pool heater. But an unobstructed rooftop that faces south or west is a perfect location for solar panels to get full exposure to the sun throughout the day.
Next, how much difference is there between the outside air and the temperature you want the pool to be? For example, if you're thinking about heating an outdoor pool in Minnesota to 80 degrees during a below-zero winter, stick with pool covers and a heavy-duty gas heating system. But if you want to heat an outdoor pool in California to 80 degrees during a 50-degree winter, a solar pool heating system is ideal.
Even with your new solar heater installed and working, you'll want to use a solar cover or blanket whenever the outside air is colder than your pool's water temperature. Anytime you see steam rising from the pool, it's wise to use the pool cover to keep the heat in. That way, the heat will stay in the water instead of dispersing it into the air.
Here's a note of caution if you’re just learning about solar heating systems. Some people think they may be able to save even more money by using their pool’s solar heater for hot water in their house. Sorry, but the tow systems don’t mix well. The water in your pool is being conditioned with chlorine and muriatic acid. It won't hurt you to swim in it or to swallow a couple of mouthfuls of it, but you really don't want to add it to your home's drinking water system. Solar water heating for your home is an entirely different project.