http://blog.coolerplanet.com/2009/06/09/are-diy-solar-panels-worth-the-effort-to-save-money/ Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:20:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://blog.coolerplanet.com/2009/06/09/are-diy-solar-panels-worth-the-effort-to-save-money/#comment-77893 solar power Thu, 03 Nov 2011 03:22:50 +0000 http://blog.coolerplanet.com/2009/06/09/are-diy-solar-panels-worth-the-effort-to-save-money/#comment-77893 If this is the holy grail, then the power comapnies would be very wise to get them accepted into building codes ASAP and become the supplier/installer for this tech. As today's Houston weather proves, solar arrays alone will not be anywhere close to sufficient. They will need to be tied into the grid in a sophisticated way that permits centralized power generation to supplement it. Large power companies have the network and the capital to implement something like this effectively.But this is based on a big "IF". If this is the holy grail, then the power comapnies would be very wise to get them accepted into building codes ASAP and become the supplier/installer for this tech. As today’s Houston weather proves, solar arrays alone will not be anywhere close to sufficient. They will need to be tied into the grid in a sophisticated way that permits centralized power generation to supplement it. Large power companies have the network and the capital to implement something like this effectively.But this is based on a big “IF”.

]]> http://blog.coolerplanet.com/2009/06/09/are-diy-solar-panels-worth-the-effort-to-save-money/#comment-53001 dannyvouw Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:42:59 +0000 http://blog.coolerplanet.com/2009/06/09/are-diy-solar-panels-worth-the-effort-to-save-money/#comment-53001 Ron, sorry for the late reply. Your calculation is a bit off. All appliances are rated for a given wattage, say 1500 watts as you state, but you would most likely use a small appliance like that for say 15 minutes a day or 375 watt/hours. A 120 watt panel in a state like California can produce up to 120 watts * 6 sun hours a day or 720 watt/hours in a given day. So 1 panel would be more than a enough to power a small appliance like that. Does that make sense? Ron, sorry for the late reply. Your calculation is a bit off. All appliances are rated for a given wattage, say 1500 watts as you state, but you would most likely use a small appliance like that for say 15 minutes a day or 375 watt/hours. A 120 watt panel in a state like California can produce up to 120 watts * 6 sun hours a day or 720 watt/hours in a given day. So 1 panel would be more than a enough to power a small appliance like that. Does that make sense?

]]> http://blog.coolerplanet.com/2009/06/09/are-diy-solar-panels-worth-the-effort-to-save-money/#comment-38813 Ron Fri, 01 Jul 2011 01:22:22 +0000 http://blog.coolerplanet.com/2009/06/09/are-diy-solar-panels-worth-the-effort-to-save-money/#comment-38813 It has been 2 weeks since I asked my question and it is still awaiting moderation??? Is anyone on this site or do you just not want to answer my question? It has been 2 weeks since I asked my question and it is still awaiting moderation??? Is anyone on this site or do you just not want to answer my question?

]]> http://blog.coolerplanet.com/2009/06/09/are-diy-solar-panels-worth-the-effort-to-save-money/#comment-33839 Ron Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:40:09 +0000 http://blog.coolerplanet.com/2009/06/09/are-diy-solar-panels-worth-the-effort-to-save-money/#comment-33839 All the DYI plans make it sound so simple. Build a 120 WT panel for $150.00. I guess I must be missing something. A toaster, coffee pot or microwave all take about 1500 watts so doesn't that mean that you would have to build 1500/120 or 12.5 panels at a cost of $1875.00 just to power a toaster? All the DYI plans make it sound so simple. Build a 120 WT panel for $150.00. I guess I must be missing something. A toaster, coffee pot or microwave all take about 1500 watts so doesn’t that mean that you would have to build 1500/120 or 12.5 panels at a cost of $1875.00 just to power a toaster?

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