Free Article Submit ::

submitted: 2008-04-10 07:21:19 | by: AdrianFletcher
Total views: 29 | Word Count: 644 | |

The sun's energy can be used to create electricity to power homes, businesses and many remote devices and vehicles. There are quite a few systems around these days and while in many cases it is obvious which system is the best fit for your needs this is not always the case. This article will cover some of the solar power systems and discuss which one is more suited for your requirements.

If you have a vehicle that requires a power source like a boat or an RV then a portable solar power system may be the best bet. It is smaller than a system that might power a home, so will be cheaper and easier to maintain. It will not give out the same capacity as a bigger system but is flexible enough to be moved around to capture every ounce of sunlight.

A stand alone solar power system is configured with a number of solar panels. The more solar panels the more electricity can be created. The electricity is stored in a battery or a series of batteries. The batteries store DC current and this needs to be converted to AC current using an inverter.

Many people that are inexperienced with solar power choose a grid tie system. This has a couple of advantages over other systems. First, it takes a lot of the complexity out of setting up a solar powered electric system. And second, it has a contingency plan that protects the home or business from cloudy weather or days without sunlight. The grid tie system still has a connection to the utility grid so that electricity that is used comes from the solar panels or the grid if the solar panels cannot produce enough.

When there is no sun or the solar panels do not have the capacity to supply the building then the grid supplied electricity can fill the gap. Thus there is usually no need for batteries which makes this system cleaner and easier to operate. It also means that electricity can be transported to the power station and used elsewhere.

The natural evolution in using solar power to generate electricity in your home or business is to go completely off grid. You will not be reliant on the utility company. You will save money and you will have an environmentally friendly method of creating energy for your property. However there is more responsibility and time consuming tasks involved in running an off grid system and this might not be for you.

The complete off grid system will contain more inverters, probably two, so that there will be enough current to run large appliances like air conditioners and electric heaters. It also gives the solar power system more flexibility in that one can be operated while the other is being maintained.

Off grid systems are often installed in outlying or remote areas where there is no grid system to connect to. The solar power system could be the only source of electricity and would be essential to the survival of the individual property or the community in the area.

Hybrid systems are also used in remote regions or in homes where the aim is to be self sufficient in energy. A hybrid system is simply a coordination of two separate energy generating systems. In remote areas, a hybrid system would comprise of a solar and wind system. It may also be a solar and generator system for creating electricity. The generator would be a fossil fuel powered device that could back up or compliment the electricity created by the soar system.

It makes sense to have as many contingencies to your solar power system as you can afford. The sun can't always be relied on. However introducing three or four different methods of creating electricity significantly increases the complexity and may not be worth the effort in maintaining them for the benefits that you may receive.

About the Author

For more details on off the grid solar power systems and information on solar hydronic heating visit the solarpowerappliances website.

Comments

No comments posted.

You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you may be able to comment.