| Using solar power for homes seems as though it | | | | There are many solar powered items on the |
| would be an inexpensive and safe way to go. | | | | market that can also help in your endeavor to |
| There are several pros and cons when one | | | | change to solar power, items such as, solar lamps, |
| considers using solar power. This article will cover | | | | water heaters, lanterns, and security lights. DIY |
| the basic information that you need to know | | | | solar panel are used mostly for heating water, |
| about residential solar power. | | | | and consists of a flat structure with copper tubes |
| When the word "Solar Power" is heard, people | | | | which allow water to flow through, and an |
| today think of solar cell panels. Although the first | | | | aluminum plate under a thin glass reflects sunlight |
| solar power cell was made with gold and selenium, | | | | and absorbs the energy produced by the sun. Like |
| it was much more inefficient than the silicon solar | | | | a large magnifying glass, when held a distance |
| power cells of today. | | | | from the sun and a specific source will create a |
| Solar cells are made of two layers (a positive side | | | | fire, the glass and the aluminum cause heat to |
| and a negative side), when they are placed on top | | | | pass through the copper tubes and heats the |
| of each other they create an electric field, the | | | | water, thus the larger the DIY panel the more |
| same way a magnet does. However, the cost of | | | | volume of water you will have. |
| installing these solar panels to heat your home is | | | | Today you can even buy an air conditioner that is |
| very expensive, in that it is not just the cost of | | | | powered by solar cells during sunny days and at |
| the panels but there has to be other components | | | | night you can run it from the backup batteries, |
| purchased in order to make a solar powered | | | | which are recharged the next day. |
| home work. When you consider the parts such | | | | The development of solar technology has now |
| as, inverters, controls, safety devices, timers, | | | | discovered ways to use the infrared rays of the |
| wires, cables, switches, relays, and connectors | | | | sun's energy, so that now it doesn't even have to |
| that have to make the over all product work. | | | | be a sunny day to activate the solar power for |
| Using solar power for homes is very different | | | | homes. With a little more development we will son |
| from powering a calculator or a wrist watch. | | | | be able to use over 30% more power from the |
| If you live in an area that has trouble with power | | | | infrared rays, which is a tremendous boost from |
| outages or blackouts then it is normal to look | | | | the 6% that we now use. |
| toward solar power for an alternate means of | | | | The decision to go all or even partial solar power |
| electricity. This would make the high cost of the | | | | for your home is one that only you and your |
| installation of solar power for homes worthwhile, | | | | family can answer. Yes it is expensive to be |
| since the energy that is saved from the solar | | | | installed but the money you will save in the long |
| panels will pay for themselves after a few years. | | | | run is really worth transferring to solar power for |
| Using such green energy from the sun, means | | | | homes. |
| that it is a clean and renewable energy source. | | | | |