Solar Power

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) –a zero maintenance, zero fuel cost electric generator

     Solar panels have no moving parts. You just mount them out in the sun, hook up the wires, and collect power, without adding fuel or replacing worn-out parts. It's amazing that nobody knows for sure how long a solar panel will last. That's because many of the very first photovoltaic panels are still producing power today.

                                        Solar Electricity Basics
We often receive questions here along the lines of 'how many solar panels do I need to power my 3,000 square foot house?' We don't sell or install solar power systems, so we can't provide free consulting services and still keep our business running. However, we've written numerous articles on the topic and compiled a list of resources to help answer your questions and start you on the right track for doing your 'homework' on the topic:
The design, size and cost of a solar photovoltaic power system for your home depends on only a few simple factors:
     1.How much energy in kilowatt-hours (kwh) do you use per month, and how much does it cost you?
     2.What can you do to reduce your energy usage, and how much will that cost you? (Every dollar spent on conservation will save you $3-$5 on the cost of an RE power system).
     3.What solar resource do you have available at your location?
Renewable Energy Basics — This article guides you through answering ALL those questions above, in great detail. Includes information on grid-tied, off-grid and grid tie with battery bank systems.
Designing a tiny solar power system for a camping trailer — This article goes through the basics of designing a properly-sized solar power system, including calculating your inputs, loads and battery bank size.
If you are serious about moving to a solar power system for your home or cabin, most local solar dealers / installers will provide you with a free or low-cost estimate and energy estimate. Going local is an excellent choice!
Most internet solar power retailers have lots of free information online, including system sizing spreadsheets. Two retailers that we patronize frequently because of their great customer service are The Alternative Energy Store and Backwoods Solar — but there are many more excellent retailers online.
Shopping by Dollars per Watt is the best way to choose solar panels. Photovoltaic panel prices have steadily been dropping at 3-5 percent per year for the last decade or so. However, prices may not seem all that low to you, because in general the technology is getting better, so each panel is making more watts than those of a few years ago. You have two options for buying photovoltaics, new and used:
     New photovoltaic panels — This page gives some details about new panels, including how the technology is advancing, and information about tracking mounts.
     Used photovoltaic panels — This page discusses how to inspect used panels for damage and test their output before purchasing.
     We are no longer maintaining our used solar panel mailing list. Because of strong demand for large photovoltaic installations around the world, there has been a general shortage of new panels. This has increased demand for used panels too, and we have not seen any large lots of used panels available for 4 years now. The best places to look for used PV panels are your local newspaper classifieds, Craigslist, and Ebay.