From The Workbench - Alternative + Renewable Energy Blog Valuable information for do-it-yourselfers interested in the latest in alternative + renewable energy

Happy Wednesday folks, it’s officially hump day and we’re almost there, almost to the weekend.  Hang in there.  Yesterday, we went over Part 1 of the Solar Energy Buyer’s Guide, and today we’re back to hit you with Part 2.  Today, we are going to cover the big kahuna:  How do you generate your OWN solar power??

When it comes to solar energy, the biggest hurdle everyone faces is the transition from thinking about it, to actually making it a reality, and most of time, it is because people panic when they realize it’s not quite as simple as just laying a few panels on the roof.  I’m here to do two things:  First, quell your fears, and second, explain just what it Does take to generate your own solar energy.

“How Do I Generate My Own Solar Power?

Harnessing the sun’s energy for your own use begins with putting together the right components for your needs. If you’re ready to “go solar” consider starting with a few basic solar power components. You’ll want to add to your system as your needs grow and as you experience the benefits of solar energy.

* Solar Panels – Your source for electricity and to charge batteries to power your car, truck, motorcycle, ATV, boat, personal watercraft, RV, home or appliances. Sold individually or in solar power kits, begin by determining the number of panels you’ll need based on your intended use.
* Charge Controller — If the sunlight is too bright for too long, the voltage produced by the solar panels has the potential to damage the batteries. As such, a charge controller is required to regulate the charge, thus preventing overcharging and ultimately increasing battery life and performance.
* Power Inverter — The power inverter serves a dual purpose, either converting the low voltage DC to the 120 volts AC needed to run appliances, or charging your batteries if connected to a utility grid or an AC Generator. Unless you plan on using battery power exclusively, you’ll need a power inverter.
* Batteries — Your batteries store the solar energy for a consistent power supply over time, even when the sun isn’t shining. Deep-cycle or marine batteries are recommended as they are designed to be charged and discharged repeatedly.

Many appliances are now available as solar-operated products. These solar products allow you the benefit of use when there isn’t a conventional power supply handy or available, (i.e. camping, power outages, etc.) but also work to save you money by utilizing the sun’s light as their main source of energy. A few solar-operated product examples include:

* Solar Air Collectors — These solar powered devices work like space heaters and can be used as a supplemental heating system when the sun is shining.
* Solar Powered Lights — Gathering and storing the sun’s energy during daylight hours, some solar powered lights turn on automatically after dark and work well for added security and safety illumination outdoors.
* Solar Auto Air Purifier — Works to absorb harmful gas, smoke and other particulates while efficiently operating on solar power.”

Tomorrow, we’re going to cover the basics of how to install these babies, and some helpful installation tips.  By Friday, you’ll be ready, knowledgable, and set to get started on Your trek to energy independence.