If you are hesitant about choosing a residential solar power system, small solar power may be exactly what you are searching for. Less expensive than larger panels, they are also much less powerful; as an guide to solar energy, however, they can work best with the homeowner the ones won’t be quite ready to completely solarize his or her home.
Small Solar Panels Don’t Create lots of Energy
As you can imagine, a small solar panel will usually have fewer watts than a larger panel. Experts in the Solar Guide, for example, note in which a two square foot panel would typically produce about 50 watts, while an eight square foot solar panel would generate more in neighborhood of 190 watts. Panels are priced per watt, and you should be able to receive a rough idea of this type and regarding household items a specialized panel will have the ability to power from the item description. For comparison purposes, let’s make use of the average California installing of 3100 watts, which typically powers an extensive residence. Next special example, 200 watts certainly doesn’t mimic it will power much more when compared with a couple of bulbs. For example, the Grape Solar 880 watt system, based on the product’s manufacturer, is capable of powering a 15 cubic foot refrigerator and nothing else. As mentioned previously, the cost of these smaller panels represents a much smaller investment than would a large panel array, and are infinitely expandable, as well.
Small Solar Panel Kits
The Grape Solar 880 watt product is one example with regards to a small solar panel kit that can also be used as a sort of “starter” solar system for homeowners. More commonly, these kinds of kits are through recreational vehicle owners and boating enthusiasts to power on-board components and appliances by keeping the car battery bank fully charged. These particular kits usually contain panels rated anywhere from 50 to 440 watts, depending upon how heavily the vehicle or boat is used as well as how many appliances are on stance. Larger, more powerful systems will also need a greater number of batteries as well as an inverter. The panels on these kits are usually the 12-volt type, given that boat and RV components and accessories use 12 volts of DC electric power. Inverters become necessary when appliances run on household current, or AC power.
Small Panels are great for Remote Areas
Another common use for small solar panels is to power an off-the-grid lodge or cabin. This is the low-cost and low maintenance method of keeping a backup battery bank charged in order to power several DC appliances. Free Sun Power shows an 800-watt system that closely resembles the Grape Solar kit, using eight 100-watt panels. For an emergency power backup system, a configuration of the many 150-watt panels in many used, depending upon the power required. For outdoor accessories such as security lights, electric fences or water fountains, much smaller panels are often used. Smaller are still the solar panels that power electric exhaust and vent fans, as well as solar hand phone and laptop rechargers. In fact, backpacks, laptop carrying cases and messenger bags are now available with built-in solar panels with which to charge your mobile devices. Small-scale solar living is gaining momentum with each passing day!
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