Solar Trickle Chargers are small, low-current solar panels used for maintaining storage batteries for your vehicle or boat. Why will you need to maintain them?

All batteries lose charge over a period of time because of self-discharge. By using a trickle-charger, you can replace those lost power. This helps to extend the lifespan of your batteries and ensures you have a smooth start every time you turn the ignition. There is no fear your vehicle or boat won’t move after storing away for a long time.

Since we only need a small current to maintain the batteries, solar panels will be the ideal candidate. As long as there is sunshine, you can be sure your batteries can be maintained in top condition.

But not all solar panels can be used for this purpose. You have to make sure the trickle is large enough for your battery size.

First, you’ll need to find out how big your batteries are. This information is usually written at the side of the battery. If no information is available, try looking up the model on the Internet. Most of the time you’ll find what you want.

If your battery is rated at 100Ah and you estimate that it’ll lose 30% of its power every month, you can work out the power loss per day. (This is about 1% every day.)

Next, find out the sun hours you receive at your location. With this figure, you can divide the energy loss per day by the sun hours per day to determine how much current your solar energy panels need to generate.

If you’re lost, solar trickle chargers will usually have specifications that show you what battery size its suitable for. Have fun!

Related posts:

1. Solar Energy Panels – What You Need To Know Before Purchasing As you shop around for solar energy panels, there may...
2. Solar Energy Panels For Big “Toys” Image via Wikipedia Solar energy panels can be used in...
3. Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 1 Image by Getty Images via Daylife In order to size...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Solar energy panels can be used in the smallest ways to improve our lives. There will always be those inconvenient problems that can be solved by using a solar panel in a creative way.

Do you have a boat, recreational vehicle (RV) or truck that you do not use often? If you have problems starting them from time to time, a solar charger is a cheap and effective solution.

With about $30, you can get a small solar charger to plug into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter jack. As you lay the photovoltaic panel on your dashboard, it trickle charges your battery. When you need to start your vehicle (or boat) the next time, it won’t fail you.

The beauty about solar chargers is they won’t overcharge your batteries. Therefore you won’t need extra components like a charge controller that adds to its cost. You can even let the solar charger remain plugged in while you’re driving. As a bonus, solar chargers tend to extend the lifespan of your battery by about 50%. So for a mere $30, you can squeeze $50 out of an accumulator that costs you $100. How’s that for good investment?

More than just dollars and cents, the peace of mind you have every time you need to start your old truck or seldom-used boat is worth its weight in gold!

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about…the Sunforce 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer:

“Sunforce 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer Twin Pack is comprised of two solar battery maintainers ideal for cars, SUVs, boats, ATVs and PWC batteries. The units are completely maintenance free and easy to install. The amorphous solar panels charge in all weather conditions, even on cloudy days. The panels plugs directly into your cigarette lighter. Complete kit for each unit includes 1.8-watt solar battery maintainer, 7.5 feet wire, 12V DC plug, suction cups for easy mounting and battery clamps. Temperature range from -40 to 176 degrees F.”

Related posts:

1. How To Build A Personal DIY Solar Power System With Less Than $99 Whether you are building a DIY solar power system or...
2. How To Build Solar Panel (Part 2 of 3) In this part of the “How To Build Solar Panel”...
3. Solar Energy Panels – What You Need To Know Before Purchasing As you shop around for solar energy panels, there may...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Image via Wikipedia

Why do people want to buy a used solar panel? The answer is obvious. Consumers choose to use solar energy for two main reasons – to cut down on energy bills and to preserve the environment. Therefore they want to spend the least money on the panel that gives them the most power output. The best candidates for this criteria are pre-owned photovoltaic panels. It is also environmentally friendly to reuse (or recycle) photovoltaic panels as much as possible.

Pre-owned solar power generators maintain up to 90% of their efficiency as when they were new. This is true even though the panels may be more than 10 years old. This often means you’ll get more wattage output for a lower price tag.

The only disadvantage is that new panels have better aesthetics, are lighter and take up less space. This is due to improved product design and better materials used. Also, the lifespan of used solar panels will obviously not be as long as brand new ones.

Pre-owned panels can be bought on eBay or from an agent. The source of these panels comes mainly from corporations that want to replace their panels with newer, more efficient ones. Others come from residential buildings. Whatever the source is, you’ll have to perform simple checks to make sure you’re not buying a lemon.

Most importantly, you need to be convinced that the used panel you buy is worth the price you pay for. Having this in mind, the cost per watt (for a used panel) has to be at least 20 to 30 per cent cheaper than brand new panels. Otherwise you’ve paid too much. This is a helpful guideline that can help you differentiate between the good buys and the bad ones.

You’ll also need to visually inspect them to see if there are any loose connections or rusted parts that need to be replaced. Remember to check the bypass diode as they are frequently burnt. This is often the reason photovoltaic panels are discarded. Simple faults like this can be immediately rectified with new components and a simple soldering iron.

While shopping, you may also have observed that some used solar cells have turned brown. This is because older cells contain a plastic substrate that becomes tinted after years of exposure to sunlight. However, electricity output is in no way reduced because of this.

If you want to buy used solar panels, the tips above can help you save a lot of money by buying the right panel that can serve you for years.

Related posts:

1. Used Solar Panels – How To Use Them To Build Cheap DIY Solar Panels You can build cheap DIY solar panels by salvaging parts...
2. How To Find Used Solar Panels You can buy used solar panels instead of new ones...
3. Homemade Solar Panels In recent years, constructing homemade solar panels has become the...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Different manufacturers produce varying solar panels quality. While better quality panels command higher price tags, they tend to last much longer. This additional lifespan often justify the added expense. However many people will rather save money by choosing lower quality solar panels than cough out the difference for higher quality ones. This is understandable.

As solar panels produce electricity under the effect of sunshine, they begin the irreversible process of aging. When they age, their resale value decreases. Thus it is important to verify with your sales representative the age of solar panels you are receiving. Stored solar panels, on the other hand, maintain their full lifespan. Thus solar panels do not lose their value while kept on shelves unless a new technology renders them obsolete. By then manufacturers will have to slash their price to move them out of the storehouse.

Despite their image, used solar panels aren’t all that bad when it comes to payback period. Although they have a shorter lifespan and a slightly lower efficiency, most of them are still in good working condition and can last many more years. Best of all, they’re cheap. Therefore you should keep your mind open — as long as the price per watt and warranty conditions justify the purchase, you should be on your way to purchase cheaper energy.

As technology improves, the cost (per watt) of solar panels decreases. Currently, consumers often get solar panels below $5 per watt. Understandably, prices vary from location to location. Therefore you have to contact a few solar panel manufacturers to understand how they price their products before you sign on the dotted line.

If you want to install a solar panel system that can supply your entire house with power, it is not surprising to find manufacturers quoting you a whooping $25,000 to $30,000 for the entire installation. This may appear to be expensive. But the system can serve you for more than two decades and they usually pay for themselves slightly after the first. Therefore you’ll be able to live on free electricity for another ten years after the payback period.

Certainly, a manufacturer’s quotation depends on how big your house is and your average electricity consumption. If you’re able to find and eliminate energy wastages around the house, you may reduce to a smaller system. This means you end up paying less. In every household, there are wastages that account for a huge portion of energy consumption.

An alternative to commercial, off-the-shelf system is the DIY solar panel. Those of us who are apt at working with simple tools and electrical circuits can make for ourselves a homemade solar power system. Do not be mistaken…these are not some shoddy projects that over-the-edge enthusiasts make. The solar cells and related components are from renowned manufacturers. The DIYer’s only involvement is putting various components together to make a solar panel, and then install this solar panel on their roofs. These can last as long as commercial panels at a fraction of the cost.

Whatever your choice may be, understanding the cost of solar panels involve a little fact find. Hopefully, if you compare between suppliers, you may be able to find a solar power system that suit your budget and energy needs.

Related posts:

1. Solar Shingles — What Are These? At one glance, solar shingles look exactly like common asphalt...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

It takes a little skill and practice to harvest components from pre-owned or broken solar panels. Yet it is not so difficult that you cannot manage it with basic DIY skills.

You have to free the photovoltaic cells from the base it’s mounted on. After you have done this, check the solar cells for loose connections, broken panels, condensation and damaged diodes. Common problems such as these can potentially cause your solar panels to break down shortly after installation.

If the joints between solar cells are broken or loose, you have to re-solder them. Malfunctioned diodes can be replaced with new ones from your local component store. And if you see broken photovoltaic cells, you will have to source for a similar component to replace it — this can be challenging. Yet you can still make do with the broken cell in case your efforts to replace the broken solar cell fail. There will be reduced power output as a result, but this is not a grave concern.

The array of solar cells is usually mounted on a piece of masonite or acrylic (substrate) board before it is placed into a new solar panel frame. You can discard this substrate after a few years if you intend to replace the solar cells with fresh, new ones.

Using pre-owned solar panels to build DIY solar panels has its pros and cons. The most obvious advantage is the price. Used solar panels can be very cheap and some kind contractors may even give them to you without asking for a single cent. You are also less worried about breaking expensive photovoltaic panels while building your project.

On the other hand, a used solar panel’s lifespan may be significantly shorter. Their power output will also be a little lower compared to when it was new. A loose connection or a fault may hide itself somewhere that escapes your attention. As you build your DIY solar panel, trouble may spring up from these areas. However this can be managed if you’re careful in checking for potential failures.

Overall, harvesting parts from a used solar panels proof to be the best money saving method to build DIY solar panels. The only downside is the additional effort you have to put in. Yet as DIY hobbyists, we tend to take joy in such labor.

Related posts:

1. Do-It-Yourself Solar Panels – Electricity Conversion From Sunlight With solar panels, electricity is produced when a phenomenon known...
2. Insider Solar Power Generator Review: 3 Most Common Mistakes Hobbyists Make on Their First DIY Solar Panel Project If you’re thinking of making your own solar power generator,...
3. How To Build A Personal DIY Solar Power System With Less Than $99 Whether you are building a DIY solar power system or...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.