Summertime Solar Projects You Can Do Yourself
One of the largest operating expenses in a home is electricity use. With the rising cost of electricity, many home owners and businesses alike are turning to renewable resources as a means of cutting down costs. Solar power has become one of the leading generation sources over the past 5-10 years. A high volume of electricity can be harvested from the sun’s rays on a bright, sunny day and stored for use on those gloomy days. The return on investment is quite substantial for many home solar projects with the cost of materials paying for itself in a short period of time. Here we have listed some DIY projects that can have you saving your pennies, thanks to the sun, in no time!
Back-Up Power Grid
If you are looking to ensure a constant electricity supply in the event of a power outage, then a back-up power grid may be at the top of your DIY list. While a DIY back-up grid will not be able to supply enough electricity for average whole-home use, it can provide enough to supply light sources or keep refrigerated and frozen goods from spoiling. The scope of this project includes a solar photovoltaic panel, which will be used to collect energy, and a 12-volt, lead-acid storage battery (use the same precautionary measures during charging as you would with a car battery).
Solar panels can be mounted on a rooftop or on a frame in an open area that will face directly into the sun for the majority of the day. A charge controller will restrict overcharging of the battery while an inverter will convert the battery power to a usable 120-volt AC power that a standard home outlet requires. Many times home solar kits can be purchased as a bundled starter pack or you can purchase components individually from specialized suppliers or hardware stores. A small-scale system can generate around approximately 800-watt hours which could power a seven-watt LED light bulb for over 100 hours. This system can recharge in about 16 hours. A larger system can generate approximately 2,200-watt hours, enough to power a seven-watt LED light bulb for 314 hours or a 50-watt refrigerator for 44 hours. This system can recharge in about seven hours. No matter what scale of project you choose, a back-up generation system can provide a little bit of relief in the event of an extended power outage.
Convert Outdoor Equipment to Solar
Much like a back-up solar system, a battery charging station can be built to supply power to battery-operated outdoor equipment such as a lawnmower, weed eater, or snow thrower. Use a similar solar panel, inverter, and battery system to create a charging station at your outdoor shed. Solar panels can be mounted on top of the shed while your equipment charges inside. Not only will you be saving electricity costs by not plugging into a home outlet, you will also save on the cost of fuel by not using fuel-powered equipment. Electric outdoor equipment eliminates the dangers of working with gasoline (spills, fumes and burns) and is more environmentally friendly. Do your part to save the environment and money by switching to solar-charged equipment!
Solar Device Charger
A miniature version of a solar charging station can be used for a portable device charger. A mini-charger can come in handy when spending long periods of time outdoors or on camping adventures when you still want use of your phone or tablet in the event of an emergency, or just can’t stop yourself from keeping in touch with the digital world. A mini solar panel creates a charge to a lithium ion battery pack with a USB-type charging cable that will connect to various electronic devices. With the first prototype created using a mint-tin, an assembly pack called the Minty Boost can be purchased online providing the required components for your battery pack to USB output conversion. The assembly of this particular mini charger can be slightly complex with some soldering involved, but having a portable power supply and not having to plug into your home is a payoff you may wish to consider!
