These flexible panels are made into shingles and can be installed on roofs. This technology is known as building-integrated photovoltics (or BIPVs).

BIPVs can replace the boxy solar panels we know today. Instead of using rigid glass and aluminum frames, we can now integrate photovoltaic material on the surface of construction materials.

When engineers first presented this technology to the world, consumers were concerned about its reliability. However this type of solar shingles are easy to install and can last at least 25 years.

Regardless of rain, hail or harsh ultraviolet radiation, both the solar film and substrate continues to function.

The most important aspect of this technological breakthrough lies in the manufacturing process. Engineers are hopeful about finding a cost-effective process to reduce the cost of solar energy to less than $1 per watt of power.

This will be quite competitive compared to the rate (per kilowatt-hour) that a utility would charge.  Hopefully this can be an important catalyst to create a widespread use of residential solar panels.

Currently there are 2 major factors that prevent homeowners from installing PV panels on their property:

1. Cost

It is quite expensive to install a full-scale solar power system on your property. You need to incur at least $25,000 and systems that cost $70,000 (and more) are not unheard of. Even with rebates, you still have to pay several thousands of dollars upfront.

Thankfully solar panels require little maintenance. If you install the correct type of PV panels for your house, the upfront payment is about all you have to cough out.

This is good for people who use a lot of energy since oil prices is set for a long-term increase. Your solar power generator can help you hedge against the risk of  (ever) increasing utility cost.

2. Complexity of Installation

Installing PV panels on roofs is not a straightforward job. It requires special skills. Thus the cost of solar installation is not cheap.

On the other hand, most contractors will know how to lay solar shingles on roofs. As long as they overlap the shingles correctly, they’ll work. It is also quite impossible to make mistakes that cannot be remedied in a short time.

With flexible solar shingles, home owners can have the opportunity to install solar panels on their roofs without the exorbitant cost and complex installation.

Continue Reading:

1. Insider Solar Power Generator Review: 3 Most Common Mistakes Hobbyists Make on Their First DIY Solar Panel Project
2. Build Amazing Home Solar Power Systems Used by Families Who Don’t Want to Pay For Their Utilities
3. Solar Shingles — What Are These?

Here are the things you need:

1. DIY clock kit
2. Rechargeable battery
3. A piece of flexible solar panel
4. 1N5818 Schottky Diode

There are many different clocks. Yet no matter how simple or complicated they are, only 2 types of clocks exist – analog and digital. The input voltage for DIY clock kits is (usually) 1.5V or 3V. Thus only one or two AA-size batteries are needed.

First, you have to choose the size of your thin-film solar panel. Almost any size is good, as you will not need a lot of current. As long as the voltage output is suitable, it can be used for your solar clock.

Inside the DIY clock kit, you should be provided with a battery holder. Once you have assembled the clock, put in a rechargeable battery and test to see if the clock works.

After this is done, make a small hole in the clock for the wires from your solar panels to go through. Then pull through the wires and solder them to your battery holder terminals via a diode.

Note that the current going into the rechargeable battery is unregulated. To charge the battery, it is best to place it under the sun occasionally. If you use batteries with a larger capacity, it’ll take longer to charge.

It probably takes half a day to get your batteries fully charged, but this can last for many months before you charge them again.

Finally, after covering the clock, use an adhesive to stick the thin-film solar panel at the top (or wherever is most suitable).

Enjoy using your solar powered clock.

Continue Reading:

1. Making A DIY Solar Powered Reading Lamp
2. How to Build a Solar Powered RC Glider
3. How To Make A Solar Powered Lawn Mower

An Array of Solar Panels

1. Materials Warranty. The warranty period for materials varies from 1 to 10 years. The warranty only covers degradation of materials due to normal wear and tear. Your contractor will not normally change the whole solar panel, though. A technician will first try to replace or repair those damaged parts for free. A replacement will be made only if it is beyond repair.

2. Power Warranty. It is important to ensure that the power output from your solar panels stay consistent through its lifespan. Manufacturers usually provide a 20-year warranty based on the minimum peak power rating.

Warranties may also be divided into two different time frames. For example, warranties can be stated as (i) 80 percent for 20 years, or (ii) 90 percent for the first 10 years, then 80 percent for the next 10 years.

3. Type of solar cell. This involves the material, technology and manufacturing process of each solar cell. Each type of solar cell has its pros and cons. There is no perfect solution.

Monocrystalline cells yield the highest efficiencies. However they are also the most expensive. Its manufacturing process also consumes enormous amounts of energy.

Polycrystalline and ribbon silicon cells are less efficient than monocrystalline cells. However they are cheaper and require less energy to manufacture.

Their physical shape (rectangular or square, as opposed to circular) also allows more PV material to be packed into the PV panel. Thus polycrystalline and ribbon cell PV panels have almost the same power density as monocrystalline counterparts.

Amorphous silicon cells, which are also known as thin-film cells, require the least resources to manufacture. Thus they are also the cheapest. However they are less efficient than their monocrystalline and polycrystalline cousins. They require about twice as much area to produce the same power.

Thin-Film Solar Panel (Rolled Up)

Thin-film panels enjoy better shade tolerance and are able to perform better under high-temperature conditions. But this advantage is somewhat marginal and does not make up for its inefficiency. These panels are also more expensive to install because more panels are required to generate the same amount of electricity.

However thin-film solar technology has its own place in photovoltaic applications due to its physical characteristics. They are thin and light. Therefore they are widely used in handheld devices or field equipment.

4. Number of cells in series. The number of solar cells connected in series determines the output voltage. Each crystalline PV cells produces about 0.5 volts. For solar panels to produce 18 volts, there has to be 36 cells connected in series.

Panels with 36 cells or 72 cells in series are designed to charge batteries rated at 12 volts or 24 volts respectively. Other solar cell configurations are normally designed for grid-tied applications. (“12V”) or 72 (“24V”) cells are designed for battery-charging applications.

Note: Using 36 or 72 cells-in-series solar panels also allow us to have a grid tied system simply by using a charge controller.

5. Nominal operating temperature. This is measured under controlled ambient conditions of (i) an irradiance of 800 W/m2, (ii) air temperature of 20°C, (iii) wind speed of 1 meter per second against a tilt angle of 45 degrees.

When used with the maximum power temperature coefficient, this figure is useful for getting an idea of the power loss due to temperature increase.

The actual cell temperature, however, is influenced by several external factors such as the ambient temperature, wind speed and direction, the tilt-angle of solar panels and the irradiance intensity.

Other parts of this series are available at the following links:

(i) http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/important-facts-and-properties-of-a-solar-pv-panel-you-must-know-about-part-3-of-3

(ii) http://www.diysolarpanelsworld.com/important-fact-and-properties-of-a-solar-pv-panel-you-must-know-about-part-1-of-3

Continue Reading:

1. Solor Panel Inverters – Multifunction Solar Panel Inverters
2. Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 1 of 3)
3. Important Facts And Properties of A Solar (PV) Panel You Must Know About (Part 3 of 3)

Solar Shingles

At one glance, solar shingles look exactly like common asphalt shingles, except for their deep-blue tinted surface. These cleverly designed solar panels can blend into the roof of any house. Therefore they can integrate into any architectural design easily.

Solar panel shingles are made by integrating a layer of special thin film photovoltaic cell onto pieces of roofing material. These types of solar cells are more durable than the usual photovoltaic materials used on conventional solar panels. Hence they do not need to be protected by a glass covering.

Solar shingles serve the dual function of sheltering the home (from wind and precipitation) and producing solar power for the household. This type of roof can withstand up to 130 mph of wind-driven rain. Needless to say, they are aesthetically pleasing so they make the best materials that a solar powered home can have.

There is, however, a downside to this material. Solar radiation tends to heat them up quickly for roofing materials retains heat pretty well. This threatens the efficiency of the photovoltaic cells to drop. Therefore the roof requires a well-ventilated under-decking to remove excess heat.

To install these shingles, you have to connect them together as you lay them on the roof while interlocking them. Heat-activated Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) is used to keep them together so that they can withstand strong winds without shifting. As the sun heats up the roof, each solar shingle is bonded to adjacent ones.

While they look pretty, solar panel shingles are generally more expensive than common solar panels. Each solar shingle is estimated to cost about $12 per watt. (Each shingle produces between 13 to 17 watts of electricity, depending on the brand.) That means a piece of 13-watt shingle probably cost consumers about $156. This is a little above the average household budget.

Fortunately, while we have to pay more for solar shingles, their payback period is only between five to seven years. This is an obvious contrast to normal solar panels that often take more than a decade to payback. In this light, the advantages seem to outweigh the disadvantages.

Each shingle is also expected to work for at least 20 years. And manufacturers often provide a 5-year warranty on their product. Therefore owners will possibly have about 13 to 15 years to enjoy the rewards of their investment.

On average, a roof fully installed with solar panel shingles is expected to provide more energy than necessary during the summer. The excess energy flows back to the grid and you may even get paid for your contribution, depending on your state’s legislation.

As the demand for solar shingles increase, there will be more competition and this may drive the price down. Soon the average household may be able to install this on their roof. By then, solar shingles will probably be so common that solar panels will probably be considered old fashion.

Continue Reading:

1. Build Amazing Home Solar Power Systems Used by Families Who Don’t Want to Pay For Their Utilities
2. Solar Panel Battery — The Basics
3. Do-It-Yourself Solar Panels – Electricity Conversion From Sunlight