How do I figure out how many solar panels I need to run my house?

This depends on your goal. If you wish to produce all of the electricity in terms of annual kilowatt hours that you use, your calculations should include that you will only get about 1/6 of the total energy output from an optimally place panel. That is a one kilowatt panel could produce at most 24 kilowatt hours in a 24 hour day if the sun were to shine continuously. Realistically, the 1 kilowatt panel will produce about 4 kilowatt hours per day.

Now, figure out how many kilowatt hours you use per year. Divide that number by 365 to get the average daily usage. Then divide that by 4 to get the number of 1 kilowatt panels you will need which are optimally oriented.

If you want an automatic calculator that does this calculation for you and even lets you put in the appliances you will be running off of it, go to:
http://www.mysolarsecret.com/solar-power-calculator.html

Technorati Tags: appliances, electricity, how many solar panels do i need for my house, kilowatt hours, power calculator, solar panels, solar power

No related posts.

I only need to power fans and lights. How many solar panels do I need for my house?

Ok. Go to the solar power calculator here:
http://www.mysolarsecret.com/solar-power-calculator.html

At the top left side under "List load items", select the type of light bulbs you are using. For this example, I will select "Lights 100w equiv. fluorescent". Now there is no fan but a fan should use about as much electricity as a blender. So on the next row, in the drop down box, select "Blender".

Now select the wattage of solar panels you will build. I'm using 300 watts for this example.

Now select the city nearest you. In this example I'm using Fresno California.

That's it. The calculator tells you that you need 1 to 2 solar panels and that if you build it yourself it will cost you about $200 dollars.

Play around with the calculator, you'll get the hang of it.

Technorati Tags: electricity, fresno california, how many solar panels do i need for my house, light bulbs, power fans, solar panels, solar power, solar power calculator, wattage, watts

No related posts.

Where can I buy solar panels? Are you able to install them in town or do you need a special permit to put them on your roof? With energy prices going back up, I've got to do something now. I'm sick of the power company taking an ever increasing chunk of my income.

There's two main approaches, do it yourself solar panels and professional installation of solar panels.

To go 100% solar in a 2000 sq/ft house with a professional install will cost about $50,000. If you have the money, go for it. But most people don't. I'm talking 99% of the people out there. So here's a cheaper option: do it yourself solar panels.

The do it yourself approach is a piece-meal approach. You build one solar panel, then take something in your home off the power grid and put it on this solar panel and battery bank. Over time you build more and more solar panels, a larger battery bank, and you take more and more appliances in your home off the power grid.

For example, you could build 1 solar panel system for about $300 that will take your computer, monitor, tower, modem, and speakers off the power grid.

A couple months later or when you have the money, you take something else off the power grid.

Use this solar power calculator to calculate the number of solar panels you will need to build:
http://www.mysolarsecret.com/solar-power-calculator.html

Technorati Tags: appliances, battery bank, energy prices, how many solar panels do i need for my house, money, power calculator, power grid, professional installation, solar panel, solar panels, solar power

Related posts:

1. How much do solar panels cost? How many would I need to power a 2000 sq/ft house? How much do solar panels cost? How many would I need to power a 2000 sq/ft house? Where can I buy solar panels? Are you able to install them...

I would love to put in solar panels on my roof, but how hard would it be, and how expensive? Would I be able to do the work myself, or would I have to hire a pro? Also I live in Oregon, so much of the time it is overcast, so would it really be worth it?

Not worth it unless you can get a fat subsidy. But Congress is working on a bill to provide a significant subsidy, and Oregon may have one as well. A solar plant costs about $10 per watt of installed capacity, and can produce a maximum of two kWh per watt per year -- which is worth about two bits. Without a subsidy, you are better off leaving your money in a savings account.

Technorati Tags: diy, diy solar panels, home solar panels, solar plant

Related posts:

1. 100 Watt Solar Panels Live 100 Watt Solar Panel Auctions Each cell or wafer in a solar panel operating at maximum performance, generates 1¼ to 2 volts DC. The cells are wired in...
2. Broken Solar Cells Live Auctions On Broken Solar Cells You can save a lot of money by using broken solar cells to make a solar panel. You lay the broken solar cells...