Home Renewable Energy

Many people are trying to save costs during tough economic times like these.  In addition, the threat of global warming and depletion of our natural resources is becoming worse.  For example, we use up 4 barrels of oil for every 1 that is produced.  This dual malady has sparked a heightened interest in harnessing renewable energy sources for our daily lives.  Renewable energy sources like the sun and the wind can never deplete.  But so far, the processes of utilizing solar and wind energy were too technical and expensive for the individual consumer to take advantage of.  This has been the main hindrances that prevent people in general from taking advantage of the power of the sun and the wind to generate electricity.

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However, with the development of more user-friendly methods, solar and wind energy utilization has now become a possibility for everyone.  You can generate electricity from renewable energy sources like the sun and wind for your own home.  There are many solar and wind generator kits available today that make constructing your own solar panel and wind turbine a breeze (no pun intended).  I have am one of the people who have taken the steps in making my own solar panel and wind generator.  And I must say it was not as difficult as I thought it would be. 

My first renewable energy project was constructing my solar panel.  I bought 40 mono crystalline solar cells from eBay and connected them together in series into a panel of 9x4 solar cells.  I made a shallow box to glue my solar cells into and covered it with a sheet of plexiglass.   To prevent rainwater getting inside, I sealed its edges with silicone caulk.  The solar cells were then connected to a diode and subsequently to a voltage regulator and then to a battery that stores the electricity generated.  This electricity is in the form of DC current so it has to be converted into AC using an inverter before being used to power your household appliances.

The good thing about using renewable energy is that you can increase the amount of electricity you use by simply making more solar panels.  But you need to bear in mind a few basics.  Solar cells come in various sizes and the size determines the amount of current that the cell can produce.  However the size makes no difference to the amount of voltage produced.  Instead, it is the solar cell’s measured output that determines its voltage.  I recommend buying solar cells of about 0.55V and 3.98Amp.  The voltage (measured in volts) is the electrical potential difference in the circuit that causes the current (measure in amperes) to flow.  You want to increase the amount of volts your circuit produces while maintaining a constant amount of current.  Why?  So that your battery can charge as quickly as possible without burning your wires.  How do you accomplish this?  By wiring your solar cells in series not in parallel. 

My other renewable energy project was making a wind turbine.  I bought wind turbine blades and a wind generator motor from eBay and connected them together.  The turning of the turbine blades causes electromagnetic induction within the motor and electricity is generated which is channeled to a battery through an electrical rotary connector.  I also connected my motor to a diode that prevents the battery from discharging current back to the wind generator motor when the wind does not blow.  I then made a body and a vane to house my motor and face it towards the wind.  My turbine had to be mounted on an old modified TV tower about 25 feet above the ground, held by 4 taut guy cables. 

Finally I earthed my tower with some thick wire connected to a steel rod planted in the ground.  I also installed a fuse just before the battery in case some lightning travels down towards the battery (which is in the house). 

My 2 renewable energy projects combined consistently save me an average of 50% of my electricity costs.  It feels really good to be able to produce my own electricity.  I would recommend doing this to anyone.

Click Here for Ultimate Home Renewable Energry Guide