Solar Panel Applications

The large, dark-blue panel atop a rooftop supplying solar-powered electricity is now a familiar image. Thousands of magazine stories have been written over the past 30 years accompanied by photos depicting them; even though relatively few homes have them. Such systems are often regarded as ‘the wave of the future’ always just out of reach, due to their relative rarity. The sticking points with these applications are always their cost and efficiency – even though there are dozens of cost-effective solar-panel applications available today.

Lawn lights are a popular example of these applications and come in the form of stakes about a foot long with lights mounted on the stake with solar panels on top of those. They don’t generate much power, but then not much is needed for them to do the job. They can be placed anywhere as they require no wires and can last for years without any maintenance since they use no batteries and the bulbs are ultra-long lasting.

Calculators that are purely solar powered have been in use for decades now and that same technology has recently been expanded to encompass laptops. While these don’t currently generate enough power to run a standard hard drive or monitor, solar power has been combined with new inventions to make that unnecessary as they use something called organic cells.

A standard solar cell uses layered wafers of silicon doped with phosphorus – other elements and more complex molecules however, are also subject to the photoelectric effect. Many organic molecules will shoot off electrons when struck with light; they’re not currently as efficient, but they make up for it by being flexible and super cheap – what is more; they can be incorporated into certain inexpensive plastic alloys. This makes it possible to make an affordable keyboard or monitor that can be folded or rolled-up. With this technology, it’s possible to roll up a computer like a newspaper and tuck it in your pocket; when you want to use it, it is unrolled and powered by the available light.

There are still more applications that can be powered by a solar system. One common use of solar power is electrical fencing – whether you need to power a dog retainer system or a cattle barrier, low voltage systems are often used to keep animals in check. A small stun doesn’t harm and is often enough to keep them from wandering outside the perimeter. Many animals can jump over standard fencing, but electrifying the system discourages these attempts.

Powered boats, like cars, have batteries that start the engine and power small electrical devices when the motor is off, running lights, speedometer and more; however, those batteries need to be recharged after use. In normal circumstances the running motor recharges the battery, replacing the power needed to start it.

Clearly, the fact that battery chargers exist means that the method doesn’t always work. However, when you’re out on the water, and in many cases even when you’re near the shore, it is nigh on impossible to use a standard charger. Electrical outlets aren’t always available in docks and never on the water; this means that a solar-powered charger can come in handy just when you need it most. That same charger can recharge the battery in your RV just as easily as your boat. But beyond that emergency use, a solar-powered system can be useful for an RV in lots of ways.

Many times an RV is stationary, with its motor off. Some have generators to power the RV at those times but generators are noisy and consume gasoline or diesel that produces smelly fumes. Not exactly what you want when you’re outdoors enjoying the fresh air, however, a solar power system can supply at least part of the energy needed. It can run a radio; power a DVD and/or TV, or a small refrigerator.

Electricity generation isn’t the only possible application either water heating is a popular home-oriented application for solar power.

Small parabolic dishes are used to focus the sun’s energy into a small area; energy which is then transmitted to a water storage system. Not all such systems are meant solely for inside the house; the hot water supplied can be used to bathe the dogs outside or provide an alternative to washing the car with cold water.

Any kind of washing chore is usually easier with warm water and water from the hose gets soon cools. A solar heating system can provide a reservoir of warm water to wash the exterior of the windows, supply a sink in the garage and other uses around the house and garage.

Today’s solar systems are more efficient and cost effective than ever. They provide householders with freedom from dependence on the utility companies for all their electrical and hot water needs – and this alone makes them a good deal.