ok 2 solar panels, the first (sp1) is just outside of the earths atmosphere. the second solar panel (sp2) is 20km away towards the sun…..what is the difference between the power output of each solar panel?
my friends says it would be tiny, but i say there sould be at least a usable difference? (i know it would be small-but not tiny?)

who is right? please quote any numbers? im looking for the actual difference between the two power outputs..many thanks in advance….:)

Well, after doing the math and crunching some numbers, I have to admit the difference is a lot more than I thought it would be.

Lets suppose your panel further from the sun receives 1000 watts of power from the sun.

1000 = x / 150000000^2
x = 2.25 * 10^19

Decreasing the 150 million by 20, instead of 1000 watts of power reaching your panel, you now have

Power = 2.25 * 10^19 / 149000080 ^2 = 1013.4 watts.

A difference of 1.34%

Lets suppose your panel is 25% efficient, and your voltage out is regulated to 100 volts.

The two panels would produce
1000 * 0.25 / 100 = 2.5 amps
and
1013.4 * 0.25 / 100 = 2.5335 amps

… a measurable amount, but not what I would call signifficanty more.

Hello all and thank you for helping!

I’m building a solar panel with solar cells from ebay and I wanted to know what supplies will I need other than 1.Solar Cells 2.Soldering Gun 3.Solder 4.Flux Pen 5.Tabbing 6.Tabbing Wire 7.Bus Wire 8. Materials for the frame 9.12 Volt Batteries

What kind of power inverter do I need if I’m trying to charge 12 Volt Car Batteries? I need these supplies to be-able to handle a moderate amount of power because I want to keep adding on cells to my panel. I pretty much know how to make the panel but what all do I need to connect the home built Solar Panel to the batteries? I’m willing to spend around $500.00 to $800 for all the parts total a side from the solar cells. I have 140 3×6 cells I should be buying another 60 and want to make a panels that will charge car batteries. I need to know what parts and equipment I will need aside from the solar panels to to charge them. Equipment that that tells me how much power is flowing and if the batteries are charged are not. Thank you all for viewing my question I am very appreciative to all who help and answer.
-John

the wattage of your power converter will depend on how much power you want to be able to use at any given time. buy one as big as you can afford, you could always add another converter in parallel later if the first one you buy isn’t big enough. the power converter will be used to convert the 12 volts from the batteries into 120 volts to power light, etc. solor panels should produce 12 volts and basically directly connect to the batteries.

Hi, i need help to determine parts required for a complete solar project for my seniour Engineering designing class.The panels have to be integrated with special mirrors to enhance production of power.
I need a list of all the parts required.It should include all the sensors and stuff.

It’s your project, you should do the work, but you have the order wrong.

first task is to develop a set of specifications, such as voltage, current, time, amount of sun.

then do a design based on those specifications

Then develop a parts list based on the design.

PS, most solar cells and panels have max temperature limits, and using mirrors may exceed those limits and cause damage.

.

I am doing a science fair project that deals with solar energy. i was just confused with the part that deals with measuring using a digital multimeter.

Can anyone help me by explaining how to do this project? It is online at …

http://sciencebuddies.com/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Energy_p004.shtml?fave=no&isb=c2lkOjEsaWE6RW5lcmd5LHA6MixyaWQ6NDcyNzAxOA&from=TSW

This is the multimeter I am using:

http://www.frys.com/product/4108273

Questions:
Is the V symbol with a squiggly line on the top the one I use to find the open circuit voltage? Or
is the V with a dashed line on top and a full line?

What do I use to measure the short-circuit current?

*** I already have the red and black clips from the solar panel connected to the ones of the multimeter. I need to know how to measure the maximum power available from the solar panel. Also, if someone can explain this project in simpler terms it would be helpful. I think I already know what I am supposed to do, but I am just confused.

(So, am I supposed to tilt the solar panel at different angles then measure the maximum output from each position and see which angle produced the most output power?)

THANKS!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, the sooner the better. I hope to place 1st place this year and the more time and effort I put on this project, the better.

The red V with squiggly line is AC power. That is what the house runs on and is on the output of an inverter, which you don’t have. The V with the dashed line is DC power. That is the output of the solar panel, you’ll use that for measuring the voltage.

To measure the current, move the red lead to the A plug and move the dial to Amps. Measure across the leads.

You’ll see when you tilt the panel at different angles, the output will change as the sun hits the panels straight on.

Please watch this short video showing how to measure panels. http://www.altestore.com/video/video-Solar-Panel-Testing-v3/

I am doing a science fair project that deals with solar energy. i was just confused with the part that deals with measuring using a digital multimeter.

Can anyone help me by explaining how to do this project? It is online at …

http://sciencebuddies.com/science-fair-p…

This is the multimeter I am using:

http://www.frys.com/product/4108273

Questions:
Is the V symbol with a squiggly line on the top the one I use to find the open circuit voltage? Or
is the V with a dashed line on top and a full line?

What do I use to measure the short-circuit current?

*** I already have the red and black clips from the solar panel connected to the ones of the multimeter. I need to know how to measure the maximum power available from the solar panel. Also, if someone can explain this project in simpler terms it would be helpful. I think I already know what I am supposed to do, but I am just confused.

(So, am I supposed to tilt the solar panel at different angles then measure the maximum output from each position and see which angle produced the most output power?)

THANKS!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, the sooner the better. I hope to place 1st place this year and the more time and effort I put on this project, the better.
Fixed Link:
http://sciencebuddies.com/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Energy_p004.shtml?fave=no&isb=c2lkOjEsaWE6RW5lcmd5LHA6MixyaWQ6NDcyNzAxOA&from=TSW
For the first response, I can’t get my computer to enable the yahoo communications thing or something so I can’t email u. but my project is on science buddies titled Get Something for Nothing: Free Power from the Sun

‘404 Error: The page you are looking for does not exist. ‘ for your first link!

Typically a wavey line will measure the rms voltage for an AC voltage, but a solar panel is a DC (Direct Current) device, so you’ll want the one with a flat line.

The maximum power output will depend on the light you put into the thing - you probably won’t have enough light to work out the true maximum power output of the solar panel. You can shine as much light on it as possible and you should get the most output when the light is going straight into the panel, ie is perpendicular - but for your report you’ll want to do what the experiment says (the one on the webpage I can’t find! )

You can work out the efficiency of a solar panel from its current-voltage characteristics provided you have 2 multimeters and a voltage source. If you want to know how to do this, feel free to email me off my profile - this might get you better marks

Our school service learning group came up with a design for a briefcase which has the internal components that allow the user to charge items using the attached solar panels. We did not come up with any of the parts ourselves, but just ordered them from several different sites. Is it possible to patent this in a creative-commons-type manner? We want other non-profit groups to be able to use our designs.

Is it even possible to patent in the first place?

Please say how we can patent it and reference your source. Thank you.

You can patent the DESIGN that you come up with for the briefcase, but not the idea of a solar-powered briefcase. Draw out your design(s), and submit them to the patent office with a description of the function of the case. It can all be done online, but if you really think you have a design worth protecting, then you would need to hire a patent attorney to perform a search for similar patents and to properly file yours.

I’m doing a project for school where I will buy a solar panel and utilize/improve the power output of the panel. I want the panel to have an improved amount of energy output compared to the original. My budget for the solar panel itself is ~$100. Anything else that will be needed is covered.
Also, I will be comparing the power by lighting a light bulb and checking to see the output energy of the panel.

Where or how should I approach this project?

What are the parts of the solar panel that I will need to buy?

What factors could I change/improve to improve the overall energy output?

What are the things (other than the panel) that I will need to buy?

How can I attach a light bulb to the solar panel?

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The Earth4Energy eBook is one of the most popular guidebooks about making your own solar power. Not only does it include a hefty, information filled eBook, it also has a lot of video walk throughs that detail every step involved in making your home energy efficient and environment friendly. The low upfront cost of $49.97 makes it a very cost effective solution to solving your clean energy needs.

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well the normal classroom uses approximately 150-450 60 watt bulbs. multiply that by the number of classrooms in a school and it uses ALOT of energy. not only would solar panels save energy and change a small part of the world, it would save the school hundreds of dollars in energy bills. i hope u see my point.

thats a great idea! there are so much electricity costs, schools would save a lot and there could be more field trips, newer equipment, etc. awesome idea!

answer mine any1? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkDTG8ossNhxlmaO5Q68cX_sy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20091205175621AABrsJW

Hi,

I want to buy a town house in Bay area (San Jose, SFO). But my question is can we install solar panels on my roof?

Is it allowed? Or roof is part of HOA maintenance program? What is the law states here?

Is a single family home is the only way to install solar panels?

Thanks for your help.
UPDATED QUESTION:

Can i install on my backyard at least?

Look up AB2473 - The California Solar Rights Act. That removed most of the barriers to installing solar on any property you own. If you had a detached home, even in a gated community with a homeowner’s association, you have a good chance of getting solar even if the HOA doesn’t like it.

The problem with a townhome is that you don’t own the roof. Before you buy, have a cordial conversation with the president of the HOA, to get an idea of how they feel about this sort of thing. If they don’t like it, I wouldn’t fight. Even if you win legally, your neighbors will give you dirty looks for being a troublemaker. But you might be surprised. This IS the bay area, after all, pretty liberal.

Which side of the building would I put them on and what part of the roof? The apex?

It’s not that easy. Generally the placement maximizes sun exposure while minimizing hazards, threats, and expense:
* South facing in the northern hemisphere, angled upward from level approximately by the installation’s latitude. At the equator, they can lay flat. At the north pole, vertical.
* Away from chimneys, flue vents, overhanging trees, etc.
* Minimize strong wind exposure—or at least decrease deleterious effects of strong winds being able to uplift or remove the panels.
* Reasonably convenient maintenance access

They need not sit directly on the roof—called "flush mount". Usually either a lattice-style frame or a tower is mounted to the roof or ground and the panels are mounted on it. See these examples:
* http://www.wdtrade.com/showroom/tradelead/1073207/Swimming_Pool_Solar_Heater_Compact_Solar_Heaters_Solar_Energy_Power.aspx
* http://www.solar-electric.com/PV_Mounts/Solar_Panel_Mounts.htm
* http://www.solazone.com.au/frames.htm
* http://www.wirefreedirect.com/solar_panel_pv_mounting_frames_and_accessories.asp

Also there are "tracker" systems which face the panel toward the sun based on the time of day and day of year.