How to Build Your Own Solar Generator
Author: Boby John
First you have to realize that there are different kinds of systems. Some are portable, and others are more permanent and are bigger to provide more energy. The portable models can be made for under 0. This is a great way to travel, or even to power smaller things in your home. For illustration purposes, we will be focusing on a portable model in this example. For more detailed examples, and to build a solar generator on a larger scale, you'll need a fully detailed guide.
Then, you'll have to put the pieces together to make your travel solar generator. Clearly, this is not something you can do without detailed, step-by-step directions. Better yet -- it's best to learn by video where someone can demonstrate what you need to do it in real time.
Just a few short years ago, it would have been impossible to try and do this as there were not very many good tutorials on how to do so. These days there are a few great guides on the market that will help you get started right away. Whether you want to build the portable version described in this piece, or you want to build a solar generator on a larger scale, the right guide can help you do so.
It's important to read reviews to see which one will be right for you. Not only do you need to choose the right solar generator, you also need to choose the right size so you have all the power you need.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/how-to-build-your-own-solar-generator-921654.html
About the Author
Advice for building a solar generator?
We are moving to a remote location without any electricity, and would like to produce our own. We have read that it is pretty easy to set up solar power, and there are ready-made solar generators for sale. If we build our own, how many solar panels would we need to comfortably power a small cabin, and what other materials will we need to set it up? About how much will this all cost?
How do I build a solar generator for my cabin?
We don’t use much electricity, so we don’t need anything too heavy-duty. I would like to run our cabin on solar electricity, but am having trouble getting help as far as what size battery, inverter, solar panel I will need. I know I also need a regulator, but don’t know anything about them either. From start to finish, what do I need and where can I get all he parts I need at a reasonable price? Is it cost-effective to buy an already put together solar generator?
how to build a model solar generator?
I need to make a model of solar generator for my project. so please someone help me to build it.
Build a solar or wind propelled generator?
I want to know how to make a solar or wind propelled generator? First if i can make a solar and wind propelled generator and combine them to work at the same time. The solar panel can be around 12 volts. I just want to do this as a home project. I don’t want extreme power out of this. I am young but have a lot of experience with building electronics so keep it simple enough for me to do it.
building a Solar Sterling Engine Generator from junk?
Are there tutorials online or reference you know that teaches you how to build a Solar Sterling Generator and getting most of the materials from junk objects? I was planning to build my own sterling engine using some metal pipe, but not really sure if it will be efficient or will work. So before I start any project I need some reference or guide.
Thanks!
Try http://www.solarelectricsupply.com/
The stuff they sell seems to more or less live up to the specifications.
If you decide to buy discounted panels be a little careful. It was my experience that the specifications overstated the performance by 50% to 100%
BTW – the best investment you can make is a good recent book on the subject. Anything copyright before 2007 is probably obsolete.
Good luck
You could make a Stirling engine from a kit and use solar heat to run it. Google for Stirling engine kits. In addition to the engine itself, you’ll need to come up with a way of producing enough solar generated heat to warm up hot side of the Stirling engine. Pointing it towards the sun might be good enough, but if that doesn’t work you might try making a reflector to focus sunlight onto it.
You could also use a solar panel. Making a solar panel yourself is difficult, because they’re made out of silicon wafers in cleanrooms, but you might be able to get an internship at a fabrication lab if you want to make solar panels.
well i dont know much but i hope this will help, i whould imagine for the wind power you whould need the light propeler to be somehow conected to a magnetic generater. and for the solar power, well i dont know much about that but i hope to find out soon.
Many years ago there was a design using cola cans, it was called “RotaColaSola Engine”.
Soda pop cans have lower mass, and so need less heat to raise their temp.
It was a simple design, “Myth busters” tried using propane cylinders to build it,
they failed, so they concluded it to be a myth. Not a very scientific method.
http://www.amasci.com/freenrg/minto2.gif shows the principle, although the original used 6 cans.
A solar electric system consist of in simplest terms a panel, charge controller, battery, and a load “lights, radio, etc”. This system can be expanded on.
The first item you need to consider is the loads, what do you want them to be. How much energy do they consume per hour and how many hours a day are they used. The next is the voltage of the items 12volt dc, 24 volts dc, 120 volts ac. In general 120 volt ac itmes are easier to obtain but in general less effeciant but also have longer life spans then the 12 and 24 volt dc versions.
Example we use 1 light bulb that consumes 20 watts at 12 volt for 4 hours a day. This buld would need 20*4=80 watts of energy per day. Next lets say you had 5 of these light bulbs and they were all used the same amount every day, you would need 80*5=400 watts to run these lights. Next lets say you want 2 days of reserve enegy incase it rains or something 400 *2=800 watts.
These 2 figures help give us the panel and battery size. Lets look at the panels first. we determind we needed 400 watts per day. Look around on the interent and you will find a chart with hours a day of sun light for your area. Lets say your area get 2.5 hours of direct sun per day in the worst time of year you would need 400/2.5=160 watts of panels.
The next figure is the 800 watts of battery. You never want to discharge your battery more than 40% this will reduce your battery life. So lets do the math again. (800/40)*100=2000
Now lets assume your battery back is 12 volts 2000/12=167 amp hour back.
So your system would consist now of 160 watts of solar panels 167 amp 12 volt battery bank a charge controller mounting system for the panels, box for the batteries, and an small fuse or breaker panel to protect all the equipment.
This would be a very simple system but if you wanted to add tv’s radios computer etc. you need to do the load calcs on them add them all together and do the math. Don’t just go out and buy a system someone off the internet sales you it may not be right for what you need.
Something else you will need to see the sun most of the day no shading of the panels. Good luck solar is great.