Off The Grid

Home Bright Solar Powered Landscape Lights

Amazon is slashing prices and offering free shipping on qualified items.  Now is the time get your solar home and garden supplies.  This fabulous set of HomeBright Solar Powered Garden Lights are marked down to $28.60.  You can get them a few pennies cheaper from the ‘as seen on TV Guys’ but the shipping is higher.

Technical Details

* Item sold in a set of 2 lights
* Engineered with Homebrite exclusive Super Bright Technology
* Large size stainless steel lamp with special optically design fluent lens
* 3 high output cool white LEDs incorporated with Homebrite’s 3 way diffusion system
* Marvelously brilliant light and contemporary design is the nature of our Alpine Solar Light

Product Description:  Marvelously brilliant light and contemporary design is the nature of our Alpine Solar Light. Using our new and exclusive super bright technology, this light brightens up for 10 hours at night when fully charged. Each light consists of three Super Bright Natural White LEDs in wide angles, providing 360 degree direct lighting. Through a unique 3-way diffusing system and special optically designed lens, the light beams are magnified to create an incredibly super intense light. Each lamp covers an area of 20 feet and can be seen from 300 feet away. Made of quality stainless steel. Auto Dusk-To-Dawn mode and two AA rechargeable batteries included. This true ultra bright path light really adds beauty to any home. Engineered with Homebrite exclusive Super Bright Technology Large size stainless steel lamp with special optically design fluent lens. 3 high output cool white LEDs incorporated with Homebrite’s 3 way diffusion system Item sold in a set of 2 lights

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Technorati Tags: solar landscape lights, solar power, solar powered garden lights

If you are like me, you will want to research for yourself exactly how much a solar panel is going to cost you before you jump into a do-it-yourself solar project.  If you are looking for some serious reading material on the subject start with the three books listed below.  If you can get through these three you will not only be well on your way to becoming a solar panel expert but you will have good idea what the actually solar panel cost is going to be.

Large-scale Solar Thermal Power – Technologies, Costs and Development

This important contribution to the issue of renewable energy describes the technical and economical requirements of mass-produced solar thermal power plants, from the different types of power plants to the development needs and a massive development program. The authors – renowned and experienced experts in the field – show that solar thermal power plants, because of their simple technology, are easy to build with high production rates and therefore can play a substantial role in the rapid substitution of fossil fuels. On the basis of solar thermal power and coal from substituted coal plants, a future energy system is described supplying gas and liquid fuels. This is the first discussion of a complete concept, a Crash-Strategy, for the partial replacement of oil and natural gas.

Photovoltaics Guide Book for Decision Makers

First I’d like to say that this book isn’t for scientists. When they say its for decision makers, it is. There are lot of the facts written in here with graphs showing trends in the economic and financial markets. It looks at many different factors so that a person in charge can make a sound financial investment.  I would definitely not recommend this book for someone who is interested in the scientific aspect of solar power. There is a small section in the book that goes over the science of solar cells but isn’t very comprehensive. This would be a good book to supplement a business presentation.

High-Efficient Low-Cost Photovoltaics: Recent Developments (Springer Series in Optical Sciences)

A birds-eye view of the development and problems of recent photovoltaic cells and systems and prospects for Si feedstock is presented. High-efficient low-cost PV modules, making use of novel efficient solar cells (based on c-Si or III-V materials), and low cost solar concentrators are in the focus of this book.

 

Technorati Tags: diy solar construction, research solar, solar panel cost, solar panels cost, solar power

By Susan L Young

So I am not an electrical engineer, I am a retired GISP (Geographic Information Systems Professional) and that in no way makes me an expert on the subject of solar power units, renewable energy resources or magnetic generators that produce five times the power they require to run. I have however personally received a PG&E bill for over $700 (for a household of five for one month) and that in itself was motivation enough to start me asking questions and looking for alternative energy options.

A quick Google search provided over 32 million references to the term “solar power”… a little overwhelming to say the least. So where do you begin if you know nothing about a subject and want to become, if not an authority, at least an educated consumer? Some might advise you to stay clear of the the internet and Google but I am not one of those purists. I LOVE the internet and Google.

There was a time when I loved the library and would spend hours flipping through indexes and making notes, but not anymore. This may have been the result of country budget reductions which caused shorter library hours and or my loss of student privileges when I finally received my bachelor’s degree but whatever the cause, I now find the internet a much handier resource.

Of course caution must be taken when looking for information on the internet to assure that you are getting credible data and not marketing hype but that was always true with print media because things weren’t always TRUE just because they were printed in a book.

So who do we believe?

There are some tried and true publications out there like Consumer’s Report that are dedicated to bringing the straight scoop to their readers. Another source I favor, has been publishing since 1987. It is a magazine called HomePower. It is available in print or online for a reasonable subscription cost. As with most publications, you will find advertising but you will also find excellent guidelines for getting stared with renewable energy, an extensive glossary of terms and articles about the latest developments in the field.

HP is available in print or electronic format. A subscription entitles owner to download a pdf copy of each month’s issue but online access includes a search feature that give the reader access to previously published articles. Since HP has been published monthly since 1987 that’s a lot of knowledge at your fingertips. If you can’t find answers to your questions in the regular publication, HP also offers links to articles on specific topics such as green building, cash benefits of using renewable energy, and the latest energy fairs. These “REsources” are updated regularly from current articles in HP.

Join me in my pursuit of green energy and lower energy bills at DIYEnergy-Net.

Susan Young is a retired GIS Professional who is spending her golden years learning to blog and design web sites for her friends and family members. Susan also publishes DIYEnergy-Net.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_L_Young
http://EzineArticles.com/?Where-to-Go-to-Be-In-the-Know-About-Renewable-Energy&id=2724798

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Technorati Tags: alternative, energy, renewable, solar, solar power

Coleman 72002 CL-600 9-Watt 15-Volt Solar Panel Battery Charger / Maintainer

There is no excuse for being in the dark anymore.  With all the resources available anyone with a computer or cell phone can read up on a product before they buy.  If you have ever wanted to know what other users think about a product all you need to do is type the word “review” and the make and model of the product you are curious about into the search box of Google, Bing or Yahoo and you will get hundreds or even thousands of real product reviews.

• I recently entered the words Reviews: Coleman Solar Charger CL-600 and here are some of the comments I found:
• It seems to be very well-made; the pre-drilled corners for mounting to surfaces was a good idea.
• This product kept my popup camper battery’s average charge around 12V for the duration of a 4 day trip.
• I especially liked the two ways to use this solar battery charger; either with the supplied alligator clips or the 12v socket.
• …wonderful product so far easy to use.
• Instructions were simple enough and easy to read.
• I just got this panel. Put it out in the Georgia sun, and its putting out over 22 volts. As with everything I get from Amazon, it came on time and in perfect condition. So far I’m very happy.
• The unit is more or less what I expected and appears to be working well for my application as a trickle charger for my deep-cycle marine battery operating an ornamental iorn entry gate.

Even some negative comments come up… one writer indicated the bracket kit he bought to mount it were not long enough for his purpose but he was able to fabricate an extension and the charger worked fine.  Another reviewer caution users to disconnect charger when sun goes down as Coleman advises leaving it connected when not charging may discharge your battery.

Note:  Comments are quoted from both Amazon and Walmart buyers.

Technorati Tags: Coleman Solar Charger, solar chager, solar power