If you have ever heard the term living off the grid you may have already looked into solar energy before the boom of recent popularity. For years environmentalists have been boasting the power of the sun and encouraging anyone and everyone who could afford to invest in solar panels to live off the grid. This is by far the simplest and most effective way to reduce the greenhouse gases constantly being emitted into our atmosphere and of course there are many household benefits that can be reaped as well.

Non existent energy and power bills after solar panels are installed
Little to no maintenance required
Never ending power source
Consistent power even during dark hours of the day or storms that used to cut power with our current source of energy
Variety of solar power systems to fit any household lifestyle

The number one personal benefit is of course the elimination of electricity bills for the foreseeable future. There is a sizable upfront installation cost to get a solar power system started but once it is installed that will be your lost bill associated with the power to your home or business. On the other hand the number one benefit of solar power in relation to the environment is of course the elimination of the use of fossil fuels and the consistent use of a renewable energy source that has the potential to provide for the majority of this planet.

The biggest question associated with solar power for any household is how will we get power after the sun has gone down? This is a common question and once it is cleared up you will have no more reasons not to consider solar energy for your home or business. As you can imagine the power associated with the sun is quite immense. What this means for your solar panels and collectors is that for the average household it will collect far more energy than you will require during the day and this excess power will be stored and used for days where the sun is not as strong as others and yes for night time hours as well. With this being said, why are you not considering solar power?

The main disadvantage associated with solar power is the upfront costs. It can be substantial depending on the size of your home and how much power you use on a daily basis but remember this is a one time fee. When you do the math you are actually saving a great deal of money in the long run but spending a lot up front to make it happen. For some households this is not yet feasible but for others it is an investment that you cannot afford to not take advantage of. Solar power is only going to continue to grow throughout the world and as this happens, it will become more affordable for the masses. For now consider options like solar lights for your yard, solar pool heaters, solar water heaters and smaller solar accessories such as this to get your home ready for the big switch over to solar power when the time is right.

The first and most prominent issue with RV camping is the reliance on electricity enabled campsites. You are only capable of running your battery so long before you are forced to plug into their power resources. This not only costs you money but it leaves you limited to the areas of the country you can visit and tour. These campsites are very often booked solid during the busy camping seasons and this means booking ahead and hoping to get a good location for your family trip. These types of accommodations can really take the fun out of camping and make it more of a chore than anything else. The main problem with this scenario is that if you do not use their electricity you are running your vehicle to power your camper and this is that much worse.

The emission gases you are putting into the environment is only compounding our current environment problem and the solution to this predicament is solar energy. It is quite simple and affordable to implement solar panels onto the roof of your RV. You are then allowing the photovoltaic cells within the panels to turn the sunlight directly into the wattage you need to run your camper for an 18hour day. From day to day your camper will recharge for free!

RV solar power kits are designed to repower and charge your vehicles power during the day while the sun is charging the solar panels. Each of these kits contains one solar panel, a charge controller and all the wiring you will need to connect this solar panel directly to the battery within your vehicle. RV solar power kits are definitely able to expand should you decide you need more power in the future. You will find that the companies selling these kits offer several different sizes (wattage) and deciding what you need can be configured by using a simple calculation. You simply go through your RV and count everything that runs on electricity and how much wattage it currently utilizes (a 60watt light bulb for example). Then you multiply this by how many hours it is running a day. By adding each and every answer together you will get the answer to how much electricity your RV uses within a day.

You will find these solar kits range from 10watt packages all the way to 320watt packages. The prices start from $175 to $1,855 depending on how much power you need. In regards to mounting your solar panel or panels you are not required to drill into the roof of your RV if you don’t want to. These panels can just as easily be installed with special adhesive tape and you will never have to worry about them blowing off during a drive or becoming unstable at any time.

If you are an avid camper, consider how your RV can negatively affect the environment. Solar panels and solar kits can greatly increase the security of your travels and limit the amount of fossil fuels being used to make it happen. This one time investment is definitely worth the money and you will never have to worry about paying or finding electricity campsites again!

Photovoltaic cells and modules come in several different sizes. The most common is often 10cm by 10cm and this size has the capacity to generate about half a volt of electricity. Of course photovoltaic cells are combined or bundled together in solar panels in order to produce larger amounts of electricity at a time for best results. This is the only way solar energy would e possible for the masses; residentially as well as commercially. To give you an example, if you have a 12volt module or solar panel there are more than likely at least 30-40 photovoltaic cells within this panel to transform the sun into electricity upon impact.

Benefits of Photovoltaic Cells

• Produces completely free electricity
• The sun is never going to be depleted within our lifetime
• They covert 15% of the sun’s light into electricity
• Almost zero maintenance is involved
• No moving parts, liquids or chemicals needed to make this happen
• Available everywhere on earth

There are many benefits associated with the technology of solar power brought to us by photovoltaic cells but there are also several disadvantages that should be noted here as well. If you have not yet looked into solar panels for your personal home or cottage you will soon find out that the cost of solar panels is quite expensive and for many people is not quite an option financially. It won’t be long before the initial cost of solar panels will become more affordable to the masses but for now it is a major expense. Remember, after the initial cost of solar panels and proper installation you will be living on free electricity for the rest of your life; this is an energy and money saving goal we can all get on board with.

Sizing your Photovoltaic cells and panels can be a difficult task. You want to ensure that you get enough cells to power your home or cottage on rainy and cloudy days as well as sunny days. What this means is enough cells to store the energy to be used on days when the sun is not directly powering the home. This is an aspect that is often over looked because we assume the sun is out everyday which it is, but it is not always a bright and sunny day. The estimate just how many cells you will need to power your home a simple calculation can be done. Start with one electrical device at a time and multiple its power in watts by the number of hours a day it will be on. Go through each and every device and your home and you will find the number of watts you need each and every day to power your home as it is now.

Based on solar energy and photovoltaic cells you can save a great deal of money in the long run and help save the planet at the same time. It is time we allow the natural resources of our planet to guide our lifestyles and solar energy is the first major breakthrough we can all utilize in some form or another.