My Home Solar Panels

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Is there a small solar panel to power a kids fort?

   • ANSWER:
     What are you wanting to power with it?
     A light?
     AC Power or DC powered?

     You will end up needing for a DC voltage only system:
     a battery AGM or GEL type http://store.oynot.com/concorde-sun-xtender-pvx-1040t.html

     a solar panel http://store.oynot.com/sunwize-small-panel.html

     a charge controller to keep the battery from over charging. http://store.oynot.com/xantrex-c35-charge-controller-35a-12-24v.html

     For an AC voltage system you will need to add an Inverter to the works. http://store.oynot.com/product124.html

     Remember with kids you could end up with a fire or an electric shock. You might want to think about getting a note from the other kids mom or dad saying you are not responsible for injury or death before you allow them into it.

2. QUESTION:
   I'm looking for a solar powered insect catcher for kids - any ideas?
   I've seen them on the net before, but can't find one now my daughter is old enough to enjoy one! It's a box with a solar panel on top to power a light that attracts bugs and insects so you can look and see what you have in the morning and set them free...

   Any one know where I can get something like that?

   • ANSWER:
     hi skiddo. ive just bought molly an ant farm. had never seen one before and came across it by mistake. its amazing to watch the ants carrying bread and bits of wood to make nests. its basically two panes of glass and the ants live inside.. lol you have to catch the ants first though. oh in answer to your question we just use good ole fashioned jam jars with grass.. shhh the rspca will be banging down the door

3. QUESTION:
   solar power outlet for Christmas lights?
   is there such a thing as a solar powered outlet that i could plug my regular (non-solar) string lights into? we are very tight on money and cannot afford to plug in Christmas lights to up our electric bill. i only have 2 small strings of solar lights but our kids would be thrilled to see our yard decorated. is there something we can buy to plug our lights into to convert them to solar - or will we have to wait until we can afford to buy more solar string lights?

   • ANSWER:
     I know, you'd like it to be magical, but if money is tight, I wouldn't do a display at all, or at least, not an electric one. I would take a night-time walk with the kids to enjoy the more impressive houses in the neighborhood. It's a good lesson for children, too, that when times are tough, we can still enjoy things without spending a lot of money. We had no yard lights at all when I was growing up, but I never felt deprived.

4. QUESTION:
   What is a good idea for a simple solar powered toy?
   I am going to create a solar powered toy for kids under 14 and am searching for ideas. Any input would be appreciated.
   Can you elaborate Pensive, on the caterpillar tracks?

   • ANSWER:
     Goo ball thing

     light sensor .
     Sound sensor .
     Color changer .
     Caterpillar tracks as landing pad.

     It could interlock with other ones if it had a sort of geometric
     shape.like a tripod'y alien'y sort of with mobile solar docking station thing

     Or a nice simple organic mathematical shape with a light in.

     There could be a bath toy version .
     If something could sense what was in the bath water it could serve
     as a bath alarm.

     The base unit with caterpillar tracks would be the landing pad and could have the solar power grid attached and could have features such as opaque tracks or another light .

     Tracks can have interesting shapes incorporated in to them.
     and could be opaque.

     A feature could be a sensor that engaged an evasive maneuver to avoid been stepped on.

5. QUESTION:
   how many watts do you need to power an engine for a vehicle that can hold up to 6 kids?
   ok so me and my friends are planning on makeing some sort of tank type thing with a catapult and to power it we wanted to look into solar power and we wanted to know how many watts do you need to power the engine we found a place where we can buy them for .35 per watt

   • ANSWER:
     A six passenger golf cart runs on a 4,000 Watt motor.
     A 4 kW solar array would be larger than the vehicle.
     You could use the panels to charge the batteries.

6. QUESTION:
   How to heat a 16' Intex pool without gas or solar power?
   I recently got a pool but I am having a hard time finding a small electric pool heater. My wife said when she was a kid they had no tank water heater, so they used an electric water heater that they put in the tub to bathe. Would this small heater be good enough? I have seen some pool heaters that go for 2k-3k, yet my pool only cost 200 dollars lol where are the small heaters sold? ANYONE?

   • ANSWER:
     I googled it and here, electric pool heaters are very expensive, like 0+

     I have an intex pool and I just would boil the kettle and pour about 5 jugs worth into the middle of the pool and it would heat it up a fair bit lol. I did this towards the end of summer, when it was getting a bit cold.

7. QUESTION:
   Wind, water and solar power plants? Are you kidding me?
   I can generate more electricity by rubbing my socks on the carpet! HAH
   Ok fine, you're right about water (dams and all)...but wind and solar? C'mon people!

   • ANSWER:
     And wind plants kill the birds and the solar plants destroy the desert. Nice environmentalist.I wish they had the solar plants up their @sses.

8. QUESTION:
   movie documentery about solar power future?
   im trying to find a movie doco, it was set in the future, oil was devistatigly expensive and the world was on the brink of WW3 as all nations were looking for a new sorce of power, so they all banded together and setup a reasearch staion, one staition was in space and they were researching solar power, they had an accidental breakthrough that could solve the world power crisis but they didnt know what they did so they couldnt duplicate it (untill later in the movie of course), China had its own researcher and they instructed him to steal the research so china could be the ONLY super power on the planet with the technology, they kidnapped his kids and held them at ransom unless he complies they die. and of course America wants it to themselves aswell, how the movie finishes is all the other researchers found out and decided to help him, they transmitted the plans to all the other country's around the globe, and pubicly thank china for taking care of his familiy.

   any help?

   • ANSWER:
     it sounds familiar but im pretty sure its called the eleventh hour or an inconvient truth written and directed by leonardo dicaprio.... I may be wrong but it does sound like it

9. QUESTION:
   Solar panels for power generation. How is it done?
   As one who has spent a lifetime in the radio/electronic industry can someone explain to me how (according to the TV) all that is required to provide all your domestic power requirements is a few solar panels on the roof and any surplus can be sold back to the grid at an enhanced rate.
   Who is trying to kid Who/

   • ANSWER:
     With a large enough investment. A number of utilities have programs that help subsidize installations of "co-producer" solar panel arrays. Your out of pocket will still run on the order of 30,000,00 dollars US, give or take a bit. You are still grid tied though, but at times when you are not using the power, or the excess power if you are charging batteries, you are producing energy for the power company.

     One of the things that has been promoted in some magazines and in some online forums- and is illegal in the manner most do it, has been for people to go out and buy a panel, a charge controller and an inverter and just plug that into their wall outlet- a very unsafe practice, but people do it.

     The power company, when they install a system that complies with their standards, you are not getting paid an enhanced rate, you are still selling the power back to them at a lower rate than what they would charge you to use that same amount of energy.

     What is usually most cost effective for people is to simply cut their usage. You can do that by looking at the "half program" on the site http://www.builditsolar.com

10. QUESTION:
    I plan to build a new house and hoped to have it fully solar powered.?
    I have a large family 2 adults & 7 kids and plan to build a 250sqm brick home at Agnes Waters Central Queenland Australia. Our power bill for 3 months is around 00 now but do run a/c 24/7 at summer. Our goverment is offering large rebates is it possible and affordable?

    • ANSWER:
      Take a look at your electric bill and see how many kilowatt hours (kwh) a month you buy. If you were to size the solar system based on your current use, that would be the number to use in a solar calculator http://www.altestore.com/store/calculators/on_grid_calculator/.

      However, if you are having a new house built, make sure it is as energy efficient as possible to try to reduce that number a lot. Spending the money in reducing your usage is a much better use of your money. Every you spend to use less is equal to less in your solar system.

      You say you want the house "fully solar powered". Does that mean the electric grid is not available there and you have to be off grid with batteries for night? If so, then I would say, no, at your current usage, it is not affordable if you are going to be running your AC 24x7. If you have the electric company available, and by fully solar powered you mean you want to generate as much as you can during the day, sell any extra back to the power company, and then buy it back from them at night, then yes, depending on the incentives and the price of electricity, both buying and selling, then it may be possible if you conserve first.

      Also look into solar water heating as a fabulous way to reduce your power bill and generate free hot water. http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Water-Heaters/Climate-freezes-Closed-Loop-Systems/Closed-Loop-Systems-for-5-People/Closed-Loop-PV-Powered-w-Tank/AET-PV-w-120-Gal-Tank-96-SqFt-Collectors/p169/

11. QUESTION:
    Are Solar PV Systems typically tied to the Grid, so there are no outages associated with Grid Tied PV?
    At night you get power from the power company. During the day, if it's sunny and you are at work, kids' at school, they buy your power. Called net metering. The only systems usually off the grid are in the back woods where there are no power lines. PV systems get power at night and in bad weather from the power company. Solar PV is very low maintenance with a slanted roof. Spray wash 2 X's a year, or have a service do it.

    • ANSWER:
      We're grid-tied, and there ARE outages. We have a backup generator for such occasions...it's only come on once in the past 3 years...

12. QUESTION:
    Solar power,using garen lights?
    We bought solar lights for the front garden and have started to use them around the inside of the house.How would you devise a system that used an outside source that could use these lamps inside coming from the one outside solar source.I don`t want to use a huge solar panel outside as we`re trying to Design something that`s movable(for renters).It doesn`t have to be an all night source and even be wired through the gaps of the doors,with instead of an on/off switch a (male/female adaptor)That you can unplug manually.We just want to use less and teach our kids smarter ways.Thanks for any help and any smart ass answers are more than welcome as long as they have some smart.Thanks guys/gals
    Sorry guys,by an outside source i also ment the roof(i didn`t want it on there(renting and movable reasons).I understand that the sun only shines for so long on any given side of the house.

    • ANSWER:
      The panels in garden lights are only good for powering 1 LED and not all that brightly either. So I suppose you could get the panels from a dozen lights, put them together in 1 largish panel that could go outside and run a cable through to a few batteries inside you could use to power a dozen LEDs, but why bother?

      You're talking about running cables everywhere for something that isn't even a suitable source of light. The amount of energy you'd make by doing that for a whole day would be the same as the amount you'd save by turning off a lightbulb for several seconds.

13. QUESTION:
    solar power heating costs/advice?
    In NM there are people on the Navajo res who need tons of firewood delivered each winter so they don't die. Can we afford to replace that with solar heating? I'm thinking we could raise under 00 per house. These houses are tiny! under 200 square feet usually with unlimited room in their yards for panels ... or roofs would be best because of various livestock.
    But also, almost always no electricity or running water. They use their wood "stoves" of various types for heat AND cooking so if you have any tips on how we can help them get a low-maintenance, multi-generational system put in, or something that will be worth all this, please answer any and a lot since i have never installed something like this. You could say we have unlimited manpower (from 5 to 30) but
    the most important thing is simply getting the abundant new mexico sun to do what a 24/7 fireplace with a hot top does for like 100 square feet affordable !
    Thanks a ton! and extra love if you actually help us white people keep helping these wonderful Native Americans of every age and belief who can't haul like college kids.
    so far i don't think i have the perfect answer. yes, i am basically looking for something to heat the air even at night because that is when they would freeze to death without fire, (without tearing up flooring either) and these people have no electricity (they also would probably not be opposed if the heating WORKS like fire does). The Chapter head or whoever in the Nation does supply the list of needs each year but i'm pretty sure they would not help with $ because as it is we have to pay for each load's permit thing ourselves even though it is simply non-profit, working with a Navajo pastor's family.

    • ANSWER:
      Solar water heating will heat water, sure. However, you asked about solar power heating which I interpreted differently; I thought you meant solar power for heating the air inside their homes.

      If this is what you meant, then there are three choices:

      1. Water based solar radiant heating with liquid based tubes on the roof which would cycle down to tubes underneath their floor boards to heat the inside floors and thus the inside air
      2. Solar air heaters which are placed on the roof or south facing wall of the home and would collect air from inside the home, use the sun to heat it and then recycle it back inside the home
      3. Electricity based solar radient heating with solar PV panels on the roof connected to radiant pads underneath the floor inside the home.

      However, I believe neither of these three could provide heat at night (the solar air heater and water based solar radient heating for sure) so there would need to be a supplemental heating system for night and on cloudy days....perhaps a combination of 2 and 3.

      As well, reduce the amount of heating needed by reducing / eliminating air leaks, increasing attic and wall insullation, and changing a few simple habits.

14. QUESTION:
    using solar power to heat a house on a reservation for cheap?
    we have a week per year, at least a house a year (we provide wood for like 20 families), 100 square feet of 24/7 snowy winter, weak (elderly, sick, etc) people, no electricity, no indoor plumbing, probably no more than 00 to be raised, lots of sun, and 10 college kids/ Indians. one house's system has to be transferred in/on three vans for 8 hours. Lives are at stake, and literally tons of firewood that we typically haul. Help! 1. nobody has installed something like this? 2. is it possible in this price range, preferably on a roof where sheep/horses/dogs etc can't reach? 3. will the energy be able to be stored all night and every cloudy day since this needs to warm people and their food constantly? 4. what breaks and can we replace it just once a year, assuming that in emergencies a fire can be started? 5. I heard there is air heating and water heating to heat a house but the first sounds not warm enough or needing insulation on a house, and the second sounds like it requires plumbing/electricity in a home. What fits this situation?
    maybe it is an expensive lie: i just want to be able to heat these small houses' air like a fire, even though they have no plumbing or electricity. These websites are thinking city/modern houses.

    • ANSWER:
      This website may be your answer: www.alternative-energy-news.info/low-cost-solar-energy/ -
      Hope this helps,

15. QUESTION:
    Where can I buy efficient, durable solar cells for my house?
    I'm looking to start a project before the end of the summer, to power one of my kids rooms entirely off of clean energy. I'm starting first with solar cells. Where can i get some big and durable ones to put on the roof? Also if you're experienced in this field, what problems should i expect to encounter? And what kind of regulator should i hook up to output 120 vAC?

    • ANSWER:
      In the automotive section in Canadian Tire. There are 80W solar cells for a hefty 0. Or a 120W solar panel for 00.

      But there is also this site here:

      http://www.solarhome.org/

      And needless to say, they are not cheap. Home kids starting at 69.99.

      Can you say OUCH!!!

16. QUESTION:
    Solar Energy?
    How much human energy is need to produced solar energy?
    How much engery will solar power produced?
    How much do we save from changing to solar power?
    What are some benefit in changing to solar power?
    How to install the panel?
    Can solar energy provide enough energy for a whole school with the enrollment of 650 kids?
    Is solar energy reliable?
    How much will it cost to install the panels?
    Do we need to have certified people install or check the panel?
    Does it have any negative affect?
    What happen if the solar panel fails?
    Do we get reimbursed from the energy provider if we don't use the energy?

    • ANSWER:
      Depends where you live, if your annual sunshine hours are high then you will save more than if you live at a latitude with less sunshine hours. Solar energy will not provide enough energy for a school, you would need a combination of both regular energy delivery to back up the solar power. I would use certified people, and for legal purposes it would most likely be required on school property. I hope your school decides to go for it because the long term benefits to the planet really do outweigh the big start up cost!

17. QUESTION:
    How much do solar panels cost?
    If my school was to purchase enough solar panels to run the school off only their power, how much might that cost? (I have a really small school, only 384 kids.)

    Just general prices of solar panels and how much electricity they yield would be fine too.

    • ANSWER:
      Solar panels typically cost in the range of 8 to 10 dollars per kilowatt of power they are capable of providing. That same kilowatt of power costs in the range of 8 to 10 cents normally.

      This is the reason solar is not all that viable, without government incentives.

      The person who responded "You're looking at ,000 to ,000..." is so far off the real answer as to not even be funny. I suspect a solar pv system for a school would start in the 0,000 to 0,000 range. Many areas though have incentives, which will reduce the actual out of pocket costs (but not to k).

18. QUESTION:
    Can you help me with this solar application?
    First off, I'm just learning the ropes of electricity, solar energy, batteries, wiring batteries in series and parallel, AC, DC, DC to AC Conversion and all that. But I do have the same need of energy as everyone else and a strong interest in finding ways to make my life a little less power plant needy because I have 6 kids and every penny counts. So I'm thinking of ways to start powering each kids room directly solar. I know allot of people start and want to power the whole house from the get go. I'm taking a different more budget able approach my powering one room at a time. But I need some input to get my head wrapped around the project. So for now I will ask advice on my first step of the grand overall idea of the project. ROOM 1.

    Room 1(my room)=

    Qty 1- 60" digital projection TV -- run time 8 hours a day
    Qty 1- 12v WD TV LIVE media player
    Qty 1- Digital Alarm clock

    I have access to a plentiful amount of 12v car batteries. I have 3 pallets of these on hand.

    I have found affordable 12v 150mA solar panels and plan to buy multiple of these to mount in a panel on the roof.

    So this is what I need help with...

    1. How many of these fully charged 12 batteries will I need to have arranged to run the stated time period?
    2. In what way do I need to arrange them -- How many series and parallel?
    3. How many of the 12v 150mA Solar panels will I need to run in parallel in order to charge all the batteries enough to keep up with the demand of the application?
    4.From the batteries to the power strip to plug everything in I will need a DC to AC Inverter right? What should I get that would suite this?

    I figure If I can get my room self reliant then I can do the other rooms one at a time. I'm not worried about lighting and such at the moment. That can remain the same as it is for now.

    Thank you for any of your help in the matter. Looking forward to hear your input.

    • ANSWER:
      Your major power consumer will be the TV which may need anywhere from 200 to 500 watts depending on it's type. The clock might rely on the frequency of it's power source being exact if it is to maintain accurate time. While it requires only a few watts, it may need a much more expensive inveter. The TV Live only needs a few watts. You would probably want an inverter that is capable of delivering 1000 watts. It's entirely possible that it would be more efficient at converting 500 watts than one rated at 500 watts maximum would be.

      A 500 watt TV running for 8 hours would consume 4 kWh. A typical car battery rated at 90 minutes reserve capacity will have about 0.4 kWh of energy stored in it. You would need a minimum of 10. Car batteries aren't intended to be run nearly flat on a daily basis and you may get only a few weeks of service life out of them. They will last far longer if you only use about 10% of their capacity. That would indicate 100 batteries.

      How you wire them will depend on your inverter. If the input is 12 volts, all your batteries would be paralleled. 100 (or even 10) batteries in parallel can deliver dangerously high fault currents if something goes wrong. One shorted cell within just one battery could create a major meltdown or fire. Fusing each battery separately may be necessary.

      Each of your solar panels will produce a little less than 2 watts under peak conditions and probably average about half of that during an average summer day for 10 hours. That means that each panel will contribute about 0.01 kWh towards your daily requirement. Assuming that your charging and inverting systems are 100% efficient (they won't be), you would need about 400 panels.

      With 6 kids you might want look into a solar hot water system instead. Such a system would be far more likely to save you some money.

      The link below will let you download a free sample issue of Homepower Magazine. You'll find the lead story in that issue to be well worth reading.

      Don

19. QUESTION:
    How China can beat a declining America?
    American bans any high-tech exports to China. So in my opinion, in order for China to beat America, China must forge a stronger ties to Europe and must remind Europe they are not the "little brother" to America. China must also invest in solar power and high tech products. China can be a better superpower than America. America has record high umemployment(where kids can't find jobs), record debt, record budget deficit, and record low graduate rates. America should not be a world leader and doesnt matter anymore. What do you think?

    • ANSWER:
      The proof is in the pudding. China is not dynamic despite dynamo potential. They have to learn to do all things better, not merely well. This is a huge task for a country who has billions of people. China's population is aging which will strain the already sparse health system. China needs medicine and consumer oriented health expertise throughout some of the villages and hamlets of the many provinces that are throughout China. China is next door to a crumbling North Korea, whose people will flood China with exiles should the country collapse. Increasingly the country suffers from devastating earthquakes. Seventy five percent of the world is water. China's navy can patrol the disputed China sea, a year ago it was with maritime fishing boats, harassing a U.S. vessel.
      China is an export country. The U.S. is an import country, right? Who else in the world has the infrastructure to absorb Chinese exports, that would be trains, shipping, like UPS, FEDEX, the U.S. Postal system, waterways for shipping and mature docks, a robust trucking industry. Who else in the world can do such a thing, anytime soon? Russia? Do you think any of the Arab states? They can't because they are geared towards energy. They do not have the land mass to dock product, but they are capable in commodities. France is the size of Texas, Spain the size of New York, Germany the land mass of Wyoming or Utah. Combine all of the European states and they do not have the package to receive delivery from China's massive production processes. Nor do they have a unified government that gives them the best chance to function in unison. This too hampers NATO.
      Africa is rife with corruption, full of potential, but not yet ready. America has to rethink some things, re-write and re-invent critical banking regulations, a cracked U.S. constitution is an issue and rejuvenate a brave but weary military who has been at war for a decade, first in Bosnia, then Iraq and still Afghanistan. If sports is analogous to countries, teams have their ups and downs, but being down does not mean being out in the world of competition. America can be beat, but so can China.

20. QUESTION:
    on Extreme Makeover a kid made a solar panel it looked to be made out of coffie cans. how do you make this.?
    This was powering his house. He made it at school i think. The panel looked to be made from Coffie cans around 9 or so. How did he do this i'm poor and need a way make solar power to my home. I have large family liveing in 3 bed room moble home. I also need to know how to build cheep windmill and power it to home. I dont want to pay someone to teach me how. Please help me find the Free info. can also email me at Littlebigman1999@yahoo.com
    Thanks Okie kathy

    • ANSWER:
      I didn't see that TV show, but i suspect the kid made some kind of solar heater.

      You can go to www.solarcooking.org to learn how to build your own solar oven.

      You can also go to Youtube and search "solar water heater" to see demonstrations of how people made various water heaters out of common materials. Maybe Youtube will also have demos of how to make your own windmill. It might work - are you in Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains?

      There's no cheap way to make electricity from the sun, at least not yet. Watch out of scams that suggest you can, if you'll only pay them to learn how.

21. QUESTION:
    What determines voltage output in a solar cell?
    When a photon knocks an electron out of the n-semiconducter, it will flow towards a hole in the p-semiconducter. This creates current in the system. However what sets the voltage of that current? V=IR would indicate resistance is the only variable... however I is constant depending on how many electrons are knocked free... and if there is infinite resistance then V is infinite as well and we just created an infinite power source (P=IV) (just kidding of course). So what actually is determining the voltage?

    • ANSWER:
      The rate at which the electrons are driven out of the n-semiconductor (and by this I mean the literal number of electrons that pass by any given fixed point on the circuit) is the measure of current. Resistance is independent and is also fixed. This gives us V=IR, I is the independent variable, V is dependent, R is of course a constant.

      So we have V is directly proportional to I, so increase I you increase V. To increase I you can increase the area of the cell, or change the internal properties of the materials in the cell (ie. the n-semiconductor material used). Now since you are probably wanting a practical way to actually do this, I'd say try to increase the area of the cell.

      Also, there is probably some upper limit for the material used that dictated a maximum current that can pass given a fixed area, so if you used a hypothetical wire with no resistance, you would still encounter a maximum voltage produced.

      Hope this helps.

22. QUESTION:
    I was looking for web sites about the following, but want especially easy ones for children aged 12?
    1) Solar Power
    2) Energy efficient building materials
    3) Anything about interior design that is easy for kids/beginners

    If anyone could help, that would be great.
    Jeremy

    • ANSWER:
      Hi,

      I think you are a smart 12 year old so take a look at this great site. be sure to click all the icons as they list and explain the "green" materials etc.

      http://www.dreamgreenhomes.com/

23. QUESTION:
    Could you give me links websites to get nice statistics on energy consumptions?
    You know interesting ones like :

    the amount of money wasted in lighting light a light bulb a day is enough to feed 20 homeless people...

    (not literally ..but you understand what I'm looking for??)

    I'm trying to make a 'fun' presentation for kids on energy and why we are doomed and need to utilize renewable energy sources, mainly solar power( I would like statistics on that too...)
    thanks!!!

    • ANSWER:
      try http://www.epa.gov/

24. QUESTION:
    How much does it cost to make a short commercial?
    I am doing a project where we invent a product and market it. I need to know how much it would cost to make a commercial on a kids channel like sponge bob or something like that. we invented a tv that is solar powered and floats in your pool. if anyone has any other helpful information or tips, please just say so!!!!!!!

    • ANSWER:
      Trust me - the cost of making the commercial is trivial.

      More important is how much the TV station will charge you to show the commercial.

      It's cheap - at 3 am.

      It's expensive at 4 pm (when your target audience are home from school)

      The price is different for the same number of showings on a small local channel vs the ABC, CBS, NBC station. The station that wins the ratings race gets to charge the most.

      Just get a camcorder (might want to call a rental center to inquire about renting one) and plan on using 'employees' to make the commercial so you dont have to pay actors wages.

      You might also:

      - Inquire about a newspaper ad
      - Call a local Radio Station about radio ads
      - Call your local TV station about running your commercial

      This will be a huge education in itself. Advertising agencies exist to do this for companies because it's so complex.

25. QUESTION:
    i want to make something solar powered. please give me ideas and/or instructions.?
    Hi. i want to make something that is solar powered. I really hate using electronics for a long time. It's not that I'm one of those people that go super crazy about going green. It's because America's economy is in the crapper and paying the bills in my house is hard enough.

    i don't mean something like one of those little solar paneled ovens, that everyone makes in third grade, i want to do stuff with actual wiring. A simple battery charger would be nice.

    I'm 14, but apparently I am supposed to be 15. I have all AP and Honors classes. I want to be an engineer. I ask for more independence than most kids my age, and I have a variety of ways to earn myself money(all are legal). I'm just saying this because i don't want anyone telling me I can't do it because I'm too young. I also don't want anyone to tell me to go buy a solar panel for 0.
    I don't have much money right now, so.... ya.

    thanks in advanced.

    • ANSWER:
      Something a young teen with limited funding could build and operate with solar energy is a Minto Wheel. Google “Minto Wheel” for more information or visit this web site:

      http://www.rexresearch.com/minto/minto.htm

      A Minto Wheel is basically a collection of pairs of sealed containers mounted on opposite ends of connecting tubes and arranged together like the spokes on a bicycle wheel. The principal is one of heating (with solar energy) the container(s) at the bottom of the wheel, vaporizing the liquid contained therein, and condensing same liquid in the container at the top of the wheel. The weight of the condensed liquid at the top of the wheel provides torque to turn the wheel. Depending on weight of the liquid and diameter of the wheel, a lot of torque can be produced, although at a very slow rotation rate.

      Most Minto Wheels use a freon-type refrigerant with a low-temperature boiling point, but I would not recommend that. Try using liquid propane instead, under adult supervision. The containers must be sealed vacuum-tight before adding the propane. I would suggest using discarded Freon containers fitted with Swagelok or Gyrolok compression fittings and connected with steel tubing, ¼” diameter or larger. A light-weight plywood wheel frame should be constructed to hold the containers. Use a good bearing, perhaps from the front wheel of a bicycle, for the hub.

      Mechanically connect the shaft of your Minto Wheel directly to an Archimedes Screw type water pump and you have a solar-powered irrigation system ideal for use in underdeveloped parts of the world lacking technology or electricity.

      Or gear it up and drive a small dc permanent-magnet motor as a generator to recharge a battery.

26. QUESTION:
    Does a Muslim scientists creation of a "new solar cell" reflect new light on Islam's image?
    JUST KIDDING!! The person who invented this new solar cell isnt a Muslim, but a WOMAN named Pam Shapiro. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061128/ap_on_sc/solar_power

    Why did this question get your attention? Is it because you never ever hear of anything being invented by people from the "religion of peace"?

    "Ah, but Islamic culture was once the bastion of science!". Yes indeed, so say the people who know nothing about Islam!

    Think about it, a culture which has existed for 1400 years. They are the second largest chunk of the worlds entire population, over 1.4 billion of em, and literally nothing...nothing at all.

    "didnt they do something with numbers and math"? Uh, NO!!! Arabic numerals come entirely from Hindus, the conquering Muslims who butchered the hindus merely took the credit. Google this, every word is 100% true. Stop in the math section of B&N next time, there are several books on this history of math.
    Math? Allllll of it comes from: Egypticans, Greeks and Hindus. ALL OF IT! Look that up as well.

    Amazing...so many of them...for so long...and almost nothing. Seriously...ponder this for a moment.

    • ANSWER:
      no and they should be ashamed of falling from grace by reason of insane religious copy rather than keeping up with science and and logical advancement . Shame on them for emotional religious fanaticism and the fervor of the sword . Old accolades are not an excuse but point out the folly that has befallen a once wise people.
      peaceout

27. QUESTION:
    Do Sunforce 1 Watt Power Sport Chargers Work For Household Electricity?
    (I.E. TVs, Radios, Lamps, Game Consoles?)

    Sold at HOME DEPOT!

    Making my kids tree houses, they want to get solar panels!
    They want to know if they can power little TVs, and Radios, and possibly an Xbox or something.
    And these are weather proof!!

    Please, tell me if you have any experience with these (good?bad?soso?)

    Thanx in advance!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    POTCP

    • ANSWER:
      No, the answer is in the question you asked. It is only 1 watt.

28. QUESTION:
    What are your thoughts on this?
    The Green Thing

    In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good
    for the environment.

    The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green
    thing back in my day."
    The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."
    He was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.
    Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to
    the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and
    sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and
    over. So they really were recycled.
    But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
    We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every
    store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't
    climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.
    But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

    Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the
    throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy
    gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really
    did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their
    brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady
    is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
    Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every
    room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief
    (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana .

    In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have
    electric machines to do everything for us.
    When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded
    up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
    Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut
    the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised
    by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on
    treadmills that operate on electricity.
    But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.

    We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup
    or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.
    We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we
    replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the
    whole razor just because the blade got dull.
    But we didn't have the green thing back then.
    Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their
    bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour
    taxi service.
    We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets
    to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget
    to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in
    order to find the nearest pizza joint.
    But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old
    folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?
    Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a
    lesson in conservation from a smarty pants young person.

    • ANSWER:
      Yeah... and I walked to school every day, eight miles there, eleven miles back, uphill... both ways!

      My parents' generation (post war) and our grandparents and all the others for that matter did everything in their power their entire lives not only to know nothing, but to sabotage a liberal society and prevent it from happening. I remain unimpressed by milk bottles. They reused the milk bottles because they were cheapskates, not because they ever cared about anything. They burned down the planet. They tried to use it all up and leave us nothing because they were resentful of the idea of anything ever being better for us than is was for them. Everybody over the age of 30 deserves their backsides kicked out the tops of their skulls by young people today. What we have handed the next generation is a crime beyond measurement or description.

29. QUESTION:
    Anyone see the new computer generated John Lennon advert?
    It's for a charity organization that gives solar powered laptops to kids in third world countries. Yoko okayed it...I personally think it's sacrilege...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68bC7Tx-9sA

    • ANSWER:
      Yoko sold out, again. John would flip in his grave if he knew. He hated commercialism, even for charity.

30. QUESTION:
    What if kids could have a say in foreign policy?
    In the new age of satellite cellular solar-powered phones and instant language translating devices,
    isn't it not so far off that one day an impoverished child in Somalia, a child prodigy in Japan, the child of a freedom fighter in Saudi Arabia, and an honor student in Wisconsin could all communicate freely in their native tongues at nearly no cost at all?

    To protect kids from predators, these devices can have parental controls where mentioning any 7-digit number or residential address will be automatically beeped out. This will prevent the device being used to identify anyone else's finite location and protect kids from being contacted by strangers. So the kids can learn anything from any person except foul language, dirty words, or the personal address and contact info of the person in contact. Then it's a kid-friendly device. Also of course parents would be responsible for facilitating this device to a child and should not deem the device 100% safe. OF course you could give an address in pig-latin, or what not.

    Then the goal is that kids around the world from the poorest of the poor to the richest of the rich can communicate and obtain an independent perspective of the issues and tensions between nations and peoples.

    In the end, the result will be an increased awareness to the evils or war, the effect a US military offensive may have on a child in an Iraqi village, the reasons and wants of people who we deem as terrorists who may be doing what they are doing for reasons we tend to ignore.

    The reality is, a child does not choose to grow up to be "A Terrorist" and every terrorist was born a baby in a womb. So wouldn't giving kids a say in foreign policy be not so bad an idea?
    I think let alone that, poor people should have more power to communicate with other poor people. Instead of politicians making all decisions.

    • ANSWER:
      While noble, I think the kid in Somalia would prefer to have food instead of internet access.

31. QUESTION:
    With the current outragoues cost of gas, wouldn't the term for people still driving SUVs and still having kids
    be masochists?

    A masochist enjoys torture and suffering. Someone in an SUV must really be suffering and they are masochists, and the same goes for those actually trying to raise a family since having kids is too expensive right now with gas costs, the world's too damn over-populated anyways and you know it.

    Are you a masochist? I know I'm not. If not an electric or solar powered car, I'm getting a motorcycle or Toyota Prius.
    "Dtownfb", I'm just telling it like it is. I take it you drive an SUV and have 3 kids and a little offended my question, NO?

    I'm just pointing out how things like affording a lifestyle has gone down the tubes since the last few years.

    • ANSWER:
      So, if the price of oil goes up, nobody should have kids?! That makes about as much since as the power went out at work, so I'm going to cut down the tree in my front yard.

      So how is a person that drives an SUV is a masochist? It isn't torturing for me to drive my fullsize truck. I'm not suffering by taking a 600mi trip on a 3 day weekend to vacation. I bet many people are not 'suffering'.

      have fun with your Prius!!!

32. QUESTION:
    How long could one expect a fully charged 12 battery to power 150 watts(max)spks at half volume.Goal-Not be ha
    Basically,kids trucks today boast upward > 800w stereos of course the alernator re-gens battery...Is there a god rule of thumb in that I would hope to used solar panel opposed to alternator.

    • ANSWER:
      Like all good engineering questions, the answer is "it depends." All 12 V batteries are not created equal. Some batteries are designed for complete discharge (like marine batteries for trolling motors). Car batteries are NOT designed for multiple complete discharges - they are designed for cranking current.

      The energy that a battery can deliver is given by its amp-hour (A-h) specification. Approximately, a 50 A-h battery driving a 5 amp load will last 10 hours.

      To determine the duration of operation, you need to determine your power usage. 800 w stereos almost NEVER operate at 800 w. They average something like 50-100 w. You need to find out the average power dissipation. Let's assume that your stereo uses an average of 60 w. At 12 V, the current draw can be computed as follows.

      I_battery = P_stereo/V_battery
      = 60 w/12 v = 5 A

      If you have a 50 A-h battery, the operating time can be computed as follows.

      T_operation = Q_battery/I_battery = 50 A-h/5-A = 10 hours

      Designing a solar power system for a stereo would be very expensive. I have attached a few sites with information on how to do that. I have assisted folks with putting in small solar power systems. They are not cheap.

33. QUESTION:
    Considering the scope and size of Gulf oil spill, should this not be a wake up call for America? Should Obama?
    declare a National Emergency concerning using oil and begin a World War 11 type effort to move us away from Dinosaur Goop and toward solar and wind power?

    Why not ban all plastic bags at Walmart? It won't kill you to bring your own bag to the grocery. Will your friends call you a liberal if you do?

    Henry Ford built a car body from hemp fiber in the 1930's. One of his spoiled grand kids probably smoked it but he demonstrated that we had another source of building material.

    • ANSWER:
      From your lips, dear. Here is a video of that hemp car, if anyone wants to see it:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxlj6fgQ-ZU

      Why don't we do what Germany does about energy? Wouldn’t you rather MAKE money and be energy-independent yourself?

      In Germany about every 3rd house is covered with solar panels. The Germans passed a law that the bank has to offer a mortgage, a ten year mortgage, on installation of solar power -- guaranteed by the government. If you put solar panels on your house, the power company has to buy the electricity back at 8 times market rate (about what it would cost if the power company was going to build a new nuclear reactor or a new coal-fired reactor).

      More on that here:
      http://www.thomhartmann.com/blog/2006/06/transcript-bernie-sanders-sustainable-energy-and-economy-jun-02-2006

      Oil is finite and we will run out. Solar panels and electric cars will save us millions of barrels of oil. Ever hear of a solar panel spill destroying an ecosystem? Thought not.

      ##

34. QUESTION:
    in the "teach" advert ,with all the kids?(on becoming a teacher in engand)?
    what is the young girl saying?..is she saying " solar powered killing sheep"?..some of the others are giving ideas for inventions such as rubber oven gloves,a microwave that cooks decent meals etc..please help me!,it driving me mad!

    • ANSWER:
      haha i thought the same

35. QUESTION:
    Where is the US in the technology scale?
    Third world kids have free solar-powered laptops, and almost all of Europe has universal wireless internet - where ever you stand.

    Germany is covered with solar-electric panels, and France leads the world in nuclear-generated power.

    Dell or IBM do not sell any computers manufactured in the US.

    Ford sold 20 percent of theri shares in Mazda (a japanese company) to remain solvent.

    The US is trying to find out how to get over building gas-guzzling SUVs.

    I think the us is just around 20, in a 1-to-100 scale.
    Kay - what are you basing that figure on. My figure is a total WAG - if you figure is a WAG too, I need to know.

    • ANSWER:
      In terms of capability, US ranks par with other technically advanced countries such as Japan and Germany. But for actual output using its capability, it ranks around 50 in a scale 1 to 100.

36. QUESTION:
    Why are we not more worried about the long-term results of global warming?
    I recently watched a documentary, and at the end, there was a comment along the lines of:

    "How would you feel if you had to look your great grandchild in the eyes and tell them 'we knew this was going to happen, but did nothing to stop it'?"

    That really touched me! I do my bit, solar power, low consuption light bulbs etc... but when I talk to other people about it, they don't seem to care. Their answer is "A few low-consumption bulbs won't stop the problem."

    YES - it will!! IF we all do it!

    Give it a try, it won't harm you, but not doing it could really harm future generations! Think of your kids, and their kids etc...

    This is a HUGE worldwide problem, and I wish governments and large companies would also come together to try to at least resolve some of the problems golbal warming will entail.

    • ANSWER:
      Don't you just hate reading about people who feel that there is no point in them doing their bit - If everybody did their bit the world would not be in such dire straits. It is because people don't actually want to do their bit that allow governments to pass legislation on our behalf that prevents us from doing as much as we would like - introducing meaningless targets that increase levels of enviro-crime

37. QUESTION:
    How much does that women's featured "Dream House" actually cost?
    Remember that little solar powered house, that was featured and titled "This Womens Dream House", How much does something like that actually cost? I just want to know, and to the idiot who said before "If you have to ask you can't afford it" I definitly can't afford it lol. I'm a kid for petes sake. But can someone give me an exact price?

    • ANSWER:
      hi
      i have a cottage run on solar power
      it's not cheap
      cost 5k to have power for 1 light 1 TV and a 1 small fridge

38. QUESTION:
    If you owned your own power, were backed up by the grid and it cost the price of a small car, is that good?
    If all homeowners, invested in grid tied solar, they would have a relatively no maintenance power plan on their roof, that pays back faster in better climates, but would produce consistent power and when paid off, Free power. The deal is when the sun is shining, an you are at work, kids at school, the power company buys your excess power, at night and bad weather they support you. When people like this idea as much as say owning a boat, that paid future sizable dividends, this could be the next .com boom for the economy and we wouldn't need Nukes. Oil will not be replaced overnight but we can be proactive to reduce our dependence on oil. As people buy into owning Solar PV, it will stimulate the economy with jobs. Peace oriented high-tech jobs. For manufacturers, installers, hardware manufacturers, advertising, etc. Make renewable Energy Not War. How many new jobs has Oil created lately and how much have they cost US in subsidies. How many new jobs have defense contractors created lately, and how many have died to keep their stock prices up? Solar PV is an excellent investment and considered an 18% return. It sits on your roof like a small car would do in your garage, is warranted for 25 years, connected to the grip for backup power and the power company buys your power. Someday soon you will own some sort of solar electric, solar hot water, small wind turbine on your garage roof, and plug in Hydro car. Oil companies don't want you to do this. For obvious reasons. You may want to rethink solar and get some local estimates. The Naysayers are parroting Oil and Nuclear propaganda coming from GE and Exxon-Mobile and BP none of whom pay USA income tax.

    • ANSWER:
      I live in Southren California and did the math regarding solar power for my home. Evern with a ,000 taxpayer paid subsidy, the solar power equipment would not generate enough electricity to cover it's installation costs over the expected lifetime of the equipment. (And the maitenence-free comment is nothing more than BS sales hype.)

      You really need to sit down and do the math for yourself based on your own home and your own energy costs. Once you actually do the math - solar power is a poor investment.
      .

39. QUESTION:
    my new invention please read?
    are you sick of shoveling do you hate the snow?
    well my invention takes care of all that! under the pavement is a hole line of coils that is heated up using solar power energy! once it snows just turn it on and in a matter of minutes BAM! its gone once the snow melts it flows dow to the end of the drive way and goes down a drain so it isnt all icey and it is properly disposed of.its good for side walks driveways and porches safe to walk on and for kids and pets! (this is not a real product) just an idea!

    • ANSWER:
      Not a bad idea, just not completely thought out. Heating coils, especially of a size to melt the snow off of your driveway, use a LOT of power. Solar cells, regrettably, produce only a little. How about this instead? Run pipes through your driveway, and then run them a few feet under it as well, and have a pump moving a fluid with high specific heat through the plumbing. Something like automotive antifreeze mixed with water would probably work just fine. Just a few feet down, the ground temperature is a nice, even 55 degrees, more than warm enough to melt snow and ice. Use the solar cells to power the pump. Now, go make yourself a million dollars. When you do, remember to thank me.

40. QUESTION:
    my gf is having some wierd problems?
    So i recently joined this Klan that organizes in selling corn dogs to underaged mexicans living in foster homes. our cars are run by solar power and fat people so were making good economy however were having some problems because all the kids are dying of E-coli. (damn mexican farmers)
    So anyway we decided to move to another buulding but now the little pricks are dying of asbestos. i mean wtf? Were the KKK (Kraft Macarnoi and Krabs) not some mean organization dedicated to lynching a race.

    • ANSWER:
      wtf r u talking about?

      i didnt understand 1 thing u said

41. QUESTION:
    What are some uses for those AOL cds you get in the mail?
    I came up with these, but feel free to add your own.

    Drink coasters.

    Mini Frisbees.

    Use up to three for leveling an uneven table.

    A diaphram (for a large woman...she can still get preggo, but now you have to hit the bullseye for it to happen).

    Christmas tree ornaments.

    Clay pigeons for target practice.

    Strap razors on them and fling them at the neighborhood kids.

    Place one on your middle finger shiny side up. Now you can flip someone the bird and blind them, all at the same time.

    Take two of them and make them into ear rings.

    Place 7,395 of them on your roof and fool the neighbors into thinking you have solar power.

    • ANSWER:
      install the software on your co-worker's computer.

42. QUESTION:
    What are different solar capturing devices? How do they work? What are good kid sorces on this topic? 10 point?
    OK! I have a science progect that is due tomarow.... so.....

    I need different types of solar collecters, how they work, and what are they made of.

    If you can work on

    Flat plate
    Thermal plate
    solar pannel
    parabolic though
    solar dish
    and power tower

    and JUST give me a general idea of what to do and I will become your fan and give you the 10 points.

    Does anybody have good kid sorces for this topic it would help alot...

    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    thx

    • ANSWER:
      Check with StarCom Solar and their blog Solarpoweredsafteysigns.com. Lots of great products and information on Solar Powered Safety Signs. I think Solar powered construction signs are very important are a much better option in comparisson to regular signs.

43. QUESTION:
    Does anyone remember the name of this movie?
    it has something to do with some sort of car race these kids build a solar powered car thing the title has something to do with the sun i think but i don't really remember much else about it i haven't seen it since i was a kid any help would be great thanks
    thanks but its not little rascals its like a solar powered car they build its so frustrating lol not remembering
    never mind i found it its called 'race the sun' it has halle berry in it

    "A bunch of high school misfits in Hawaii, introduced by their new teacher, attend a science fair in which they draw up inspiration to build their own solar car and win a trip to compete in the 1990 World Solar Challenge in Australia"

    thanks anyways

    • ANSWER:
      DANG i remember the story...but i can't remember the title! im sorry, but i know what movie your talking about!!

44. QUESTION:
    Solar panels as an investment and saving - sounds too good to be true!...?
    (Firstly I apologise for the length of this, but I wanted to explain the whole situation just so there's no ambiguity).

    Here in Brisbane, Australia we get 7-8 sun hours per day on average (source: http://www.livingin-australia.com/sunshine-hours-australia/ ); our household uses ~20kWh per day based on the average of all the power bills for 2009. Using this calculator ( http://www.bdbatteries.com/panelcalculator.php ... too lazy to crunch the numbers myself) it tells me the ideal system is 3.2 kW. Our house has a large north-facing roof so that is good enough for solar panels. For practicality (and to keep the numbers conservative) I sourced the figures for a 3.5kW system which is within the price range of -40k, but after selling RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) and taking advantage of federal and state subsidies and offsets it is priced at ~-20k; I'll assume a worst case (say, k) to keep it conservative.

    With a Home Equity Line of Credit Loan we currently have 0,000 in debt overall. At ~6.5% interest the monthly repayments are ~,190. If we were to throw the ,000 for the entire solar setup onto the loan, the loan would increase to 5,000 and interest would be ~,330 per month, a 0 increase. Since we are currently paying 6 per month (.20 per day) in power bills, it seems it is not worth it. However, 3.5kW x 7.5 avg sun hours gives 26.25kWh daily, or ~6.25kWh more than is needed. When taking into account the 44c/kWh feed-in tariff that is a lowest possible return of ~.50 per month (I say "lowest" because it is real-time net metering, so if we have nothing running during the day it will send a lot of power priced at 44c/kWh to the grid; when we buy it back when we are back from work at night it will cost only 16c/kWh, so overall we will gain more than .50 per month).

    So then if we had to pay 0 extra per month on the loan but that eliminates 6 per month in power costs and includes .50 at the minimum in feed-in credits, is that is effectively a saving of .50? I know it isn't really a saving per se since simply paying loan interest doesn't reduce the loan's size, but to me it seems to be a saving since the power cost of 6 per month will always be there so it may as well be moved from one account (elec) to another (HELOC loan) without making much difference financially; also the HELOC loan can be paid off and thus interest repayments become lower, while the cost of electricity is only set to rise (on top of inflation-adjustment each year, we are expecting sharp rise when the carbon trading scheme gets passed, and the generators were granted a 16% increase for January 2010 anyway!!!). Additionally when the 3 kids have moved out of home the power use will drop, leaving more electricity for the grid (so more money returns) in addition to less expenses overall (so the HELOC loan will be easier to pay off) - seems like a double win!

    There are two major downsides that I can immediately see: variable interest rate rises and home valuation. However for the latter, I am not sure whether it is really a problem. For all I know, solar panels would most likely increase the value of one's home (seems to be logical anyway), which in turn means more flexibility regarding the floor of the HELOC loan if it is needed.

    I am somewhat naive regarding how HELOC works so that is my main concern in this plan. So is this too good to be true, or have I missed something (I generally don't believe in "too good to be true" hence why I am asking).
    Naive re HELOC; I am one of the 3 kids mentioned in the question (19yo) so this is just for me to propose to my parents as an idea.

    • ANSWER:
      Not bad. I'll answer with what I know about California (USA) - it may or may not apply to where you live.

      If your power utility offers net metering on an annual true-up basis, then less sun in the winter doesn't matter. You would theoretically build up a credit on your power bill in the summer, and draw it down in the winter.

      If your utility offers time-of-use metering, where the rates are higher during the sunny hours, then you may not need to size your system so large.

      The value for sunlight hours - was that "peak equivalent sun," intended for sizing solar systems? In the winter here, the sun is out for 10 hours, but the equivalent sun is only about 2 hours, when dawn, dusk, and overcast weather are taken into account.

      If your utility is set up such that they will never pay you cash for power, then it's pointless to size your system so large that you might generate more than you use over the course of a year. This is in fact how the utility works where I live. The first year that our system was installed, we generated more electricity than we used. We didn't get a check for it, the balance was just set back to zero at the end of the year, as a donation to the grid.

      What you should do is ask a professional installer to look at your house and make a quote. They will probably know about the financing angle, too. Then decide whether it's truly a value, or whether they're trying to do a sales job on you.

45. QUESTION:
    Does any vehical on the market have the function to aircondition your car when the car is not on w/no keys in?
    I have 2 dogs that I like to travel with but can't alway take with me due to not being able to leave them in the car when it's warm outside. Puts a hamper on day trip traveling with having to find dog sitters and all.
    I did see a kid on "American Inventor" that had a portable solar powered thing just for that purpose and they totally shot him down.
    Anyway, is there a car that can cool the air while off? Any car, don't care the cost.
    First guy: No sh*t about dogs overheating in hot cars - that's why I asked the question I did and stated I can't take them places when it gets warm. Dummy! (read the details before stating a fact I already addressed)
    Last guy #4: Motor Home? Really? I'm not going to buy a motor home just to take my dogs on errands and DAY trips. Thanks for the imput though.

    • ANSWER:
      the first guy has it. the engine must be running to turn the compressor. Unless there is some kind of electric compressor out there, but that would take an outrageous amount of electricity. so i dont imagine there is one.

46. QUESTION:
    Funds for alternative, renewable, electrical power plants no byproducts omitted in to the atmosphere, land or?
    01/19/2011 I have an Alternative, Renewable, Electrical Power Plant Plans, No byproducts omitted in to the Atmosphere, land, or human life in any way shape or form. I want to show the world this project for the rebuilding of this planet of its structures generation or harvesting of electrical energy. There is no fossil fuels burned, no nuclear use, no radiation use, no dams needed, or wind generation needed or used, no solar needed or used no geothermal used, no chemicals used, no hazards of pollutions. i have these three power plants for the showing to the department of energy, its plans of this project, and the working pro to types too prove there is no byproducts products of any to create any land fills, or coal sludges like they have now, I have tried too show these projects, and they just want too steal it from under handed ways, i had an non disclosure to an Rick E Iaccino, and he thinks he knows all the projects working capabilities, as i showed him just the start up or this project, and now he thinks he knows the whole project. I do not have this man as an partner any more, as he sent me an email, and said if i try to build this project he will try to stop this, as he thinks i an use of down pressors, and its not, this start up looks like an down pressor system, and when this process is done its an different from of an working system. To bad for him tring to run and take charge of this project, I have this non disclousure to do an agreement patent not to show the rest of the world, as the patent department has so manny liers, cheats, and thives, and corruptions going on in it, how did our government project leak out of its patents, because of greed of all in side of its walls, this project can not get in to the hands of countries that want to do harm to others countries, how do i hide this, and i called the department od defense, and asked if they want it, and i am looked at as an no education, only collage people have all the knowage right, wrong look at the past history in the arcrives of self learns of books, and had on the job training, and when you can drive an locomotive, and set up an die or mold for quality production, and no texr book trained me too do these projects, i was an foreman in three different companies, and have done work, and repair that no one would be able to do by the book. Books are nice, and so is texting, thats all kids do now adays no work, just text a way, and take your mine off your job duities and watch this country fall down the tubes once you let these little boys text all day long on the work force in your company, do not run the company, lets text, all day long, little kids, paid well, but don't do there work, at work. interfearence of this way of life will end taking a lot of lives, and this should not be done on the job. Back to my project. should I patent my project, and let the whole world see it for the creation of wars??? or should i just build it and keep Quite??? Email me at Jedmp@comcast.net Jdwd1124@yahoo.com, or watch my twitter for my project of the lies about energy in this country, and the miss use of it, and how too keep the large companies over seas, and no work in America, now lets all stay on unenployment, i changed my working duities three times to stay working, and now a days these kids, adults, and all stay on unenployment when there job duities are not there to work them, jobs are needed in this country, and now i have the way to create thousands of jobs, and no one wants my energy because its fuel less, don't you want an clean environment, or should i sell my project to china, or some othe god for saken country that theat there people like cattle, may be this should happen if the country change hands, is this what you want, coal for fuel, choak on it, and omissions are up, and the cancer is bad in this country, now lets drink the chromumin 6 from all the polluters the government lets them use your was clean water to build there war projects, this world wants too get dirty, full of corruption, steal from great inventors, and use it for bad things, great now drink, breath, and eat your poisions, you like it, and believe me, once its there, the planet will not be here for you your kids, and the people, that are pigs, and pollution, is the ends of this earth. God will tell all when you can not clean what you have done, its starting now, drink the posion you created. You have done it. Now you can not correct it, lie, steal, pollute. It only took youwhat two hundred years, now what??? there is my question, collage boys fix it, its just like spell check right, push your botton, and fix it, now its all fixed right little boys, all my spelling is not tooo woolr is it, but you r earth is now fix it little boys fix it, oh my water it is no goog i pi put some of our posinois in it and now i cna t c can not drink itt, O h no my want m y my water. You done now, and you can not fix it, you let the people do this now fix it. fix it, get your blac

    • ANSWER:

47. QUESTION:
    Wind Turbine Power For Average Home?
    Hey, i have 2 kids and im a single parent. I have just finished building my own 4 bedroom home. I just got the first power bill and it was 0 for the first month. I am just wondering how much the 00-00 wind turbines will cut down on my power bill per month. I live up on a hill on acerage and its quite windy. I want one of these instead of a solar panel because at night it will not work, as the wind turbine will. If you could put a link to a picture of the 3000-00 dollar wind turbine i would appreciate it.
    1) How much will it cut down on my power bill if i have one turbine?
    2) Please post a picture of it.
    Thanks guys. I really need it.

    • ANSWER:
      I've been following alternate energy for several years, and re wind power, it seems as though you need to live in an area where the AVERAGE wind speed is approximately 13 mph in order to guarantee yourself uninterrupted power from the entire system you install. If you don't fall into this category, re-think the wind power solution, and consider others which will give you more return on your investment.

48. QUESTION:
    They are shutting the power off... What can I do?
    I live in California in a 4300 sq ft home with 12 bedrooms. I share the house with 19 other people. 15 are children. My sister and her husband died and we took in their 6 kids. There are two families in the home. We use about 4500 kwh per month and our bill is over 1000 all the time. Last month it was almost 00. Paying about 35 cents a kilowatt hour right now. One of the four adults lost their job and we can not afford the power any more. Can't move because we owe more than the house worth. We were able to scrape by in the past but I am not sure now. Does anyone install solar with no upfront costs. Pulling my hair out. Called pge and we don't qualify for the programs. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thx.
    Thx so much for the Answers so far.

    How much do you pay per kwh? Why do I pay so much more than every one else? We only run the AC when its over 105 outside. We have a wholehouse fan we use religously. All lights are cfl with motion detection at the switch. Our water does come from a well pump though. Why is there not some way I can pay less per kwh?

    • ANSWER:
      Maybe Obamma can tack your energy bill onto his energy bill

49. QUESTION:
    Has anybody invented a SIMPLE device to allow home generated power to flow back into the grid?
    Ok, I know that people have solar panels and windmills and such with some sort of device that allows the electric meter to run backwards. But, my thoughts is that we need a simple device that is inexpensive and that EVERY home could have that does the exact same thing.

    Imagine if you could simply plug your tredmill into this device and save 50 cents or work with your kid on a amature solar setup to save a few bucks. I think a stepping stone like this would vastly accelerate people moving to more serious forms of personal power production. But, first it has to be affordable and out there in most homes.

    Thoughts on this?

    • ANSWER:
      Grid tie isn't expensive, but there are legal and safety issues. The grid doesn't belong to you. It belongs to the power company and it's their job to maintain it and keep it safe.

      Grid tie inverters have to disconnect automatically when there is no functioning grid. And if you backfeed the grid without permission and the proper two-way meter, it will register as theft (on most new meters).

      That's not cheap and never will be. You can't make power cheap like the electric company.

      If you want to save money, start conserving. My bill for the last three months has averaged . I don't run the a/c or heat, use a solar pv battery setup for typing this and running the room light. I run a washing machine, but use a wooden drying rack instead of the electric dryer. I still run a 1 1/2 HP irrigation pump but only maybe 1 hour a week and then only if it doesn't rain. I changed out the back yard light to a 13 watt flourescent with a photocell.

      If it's too cold to sleep, I have a small heating pad for my bed.

      I also bought an 12v dc Engel 43 qt. refrigerator (NOT cheap). It is a real fridge with freon 134a, but only uses 36 watts max when running. It keeps cheese, milk and eggs just fine. I unplugged the Hotpoint fridge I was using and use it for dry storage. I don't hate the power company, I just got frustrated being in the dark every time a major hurricane went through.

50. QUESTION:
    Will the Ivy leagues be impressed by my invention?
    I want to go to an Ivy for aeronautical engineering, a passion.
    So Im in gr.11, and i decided hey! ivies want unique kids right? how about i create something that most teens wont!!!!!

    So i created an airplane using helicopter rotors (spun by toy car motors) for lift, and the rotors can be manipulated to move in directions to allow the plane to move forward, back, left, right, etc..., All powered by wind & solar, which also supply energy to the rechargable battery pack

    • ANSWER:
      That is most certainly impressive, but I'm not sure how you would present to that to an Ivy League. It's not like you can just walk into the admissions office as they're reading files and declare that they should admit you because of your invention. This might be something interesting to write an essay about though (hint hint!).

      Remember that grades and program of study are the most important things. Essays, test scores, extracurriculars, etc just show that you are actively invested in things other than just getting good grades (since the academics are a must for any serious Ivy applicant).

      These are extremely prestigious universities that prove very difficult to get into. I wish you the best of luck with it! Remember to have a backup plan; don't JUST apply to Ivys lest none of them admit you.