Help building solar panels at home

[Quad Dad]

Hello. Just thought I would ask the experts here where to get started. I want to build a few solar panels of my own, but do not know much yet. Sort of in the "collecting information" stage. Thanks for any help,

-Jim

[Quad Dad]

Actually, I can get very low cost panels exactly like this Ebay sale:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Solar-Panel-Front-Back-Glass-hole-wires-/170497239704?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b26d6a98

These are panels that are used by the bigger solar panel companies. They are "A" grade glass panels. I know a guy that works where they make them. Would they work to make my own panels??

[Sunking]

Jim if you intend to use these panels in a grid tied system, or any part of your home wiring, don't bother wasting your time or money as these applications have to use UL listed products.

[Quad Dad]

Yes, something I just learned on these forums yesterday. I could use the electricity generated to run my fans for the solar space heater, could run inside lights, shop lighting, or outside lights. There are still applications that can use the energy. I wish i could think of things to power during daytime hours. I would like to avoid buying an expensive bank of batteries, if possible.

[MarineLiner]

.....
There are still applications that can use the energy.
I wish i could think of things to power during daytime hours.
I would like to avoid buying an expensive bank of batteries, if possible.

[Quad Dad]

How do you use a small turbine?? If I have to convert the energy into another medium to use it at night, and then at night convert it back to another form of energy to use it, I am guessing the energy losses will be huge??

Still, buying batteries and all the supporrting equipment seems like a huge expense also.

maybe I need to ask this question in another forum here??

-Jim

[russ]

We went over this in another forum recently. The conclusion as far as I was concerned was that the energy losses we far to great for the pumping and turbine solution to be practical. The water volumes required were also a bit massive when storing even 1 kW of power and costs are substantial.

[MarineLiner]

How do you use a small turbine??
If I have to convert the energy into another medium to use it at night, and then at night convert it back to another form of energy to use it, I am guessing the energy losses will be huge??
Still, buying batteries and all the supporrting equipment seems like a huge expense also.
maybe I need to ask this question in another forum here??

right,
energy losses is huge or efficiency is low.
We need to find the most efficient water turbine.

[russ]

Came across a site with a micro hydro calculator - 2 gpm (7.5 liters) per second with 33 feet (10 meters) of head at 60% efficiency will generate 441 watts.

Lot of water and not much power. When you see the turbines in a dam they are immense and generate relativley low power.

[MarineLiner]

Came across a site with
a micro hydro calculator -
2 gpm (7.5 liters) per second with
33 feet (10 meters) of head
at 60% efficiency will generate 441 watts.

Lot of water and not much power. ...

[russ]

Guess I forgot to attach the URL for the calculator

http://www.alternate-energy.net/micro_hydro_calc.html

[MarineLiner]

Thank you very much.
I visited it and got if:
1 mtr head
1 ltr/sec ( = 60 ltr/mnt = 3600 ltr/hour )
Hydro Power: 10w
Generated Power: 6w

So, if 3600 ltr/hour then
How many watt we can get ?
Will it be in watt hour ?

[russ]

1 meter head * 1 liter per second flow at 60% efficiency = 6 watts which for 1 hour = 6 watt hour or for 170 liters per second = 1 kW

Lottsa water!

Say 10 meters head and 17 liters per second = 1 kW so the storage tank would be 61 m3 - kind of big to have in the attic