Re: [CGUYS] solar battery chargers
On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 11:58 AM, Tony B <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > You are mistaken. Current technology requires a LOT of light to > generate usable amounts of electricity. > > It's hard to find real data, so let's just take an example from Amazon: > http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EQ8WKA#moreAboutThisProduct > Tony, bad example. Not a photovoltaic trickle charger, as betty was talking about. The example from Amazon doesn't mention that it requires a lot of light. If you haven't used these products, why are you so certain of their requirements? Haven't you seen the March issue of Wired Magazine, cover story: *Free! Why $0.00 Is the Future of Business*?? Photovoltaic devices provide free electricity. Free is good. Free is profitable. Free isn't even anticapitalist! I charge AA batteries using a couple of old outdoor solar lamps that I replaced with brighter ones this year. I put the old lamps, minus the posts, on an east-facing window sill in the morning and the batteries are charged by later in the day, even on cloudy days. These are 4-year-old very cheap technology. My point is that the technology has improved to a point where it takes about the same time to charge with a new solar charger as it does with regular electric chargers, 6-8 hours [not the fast-charge type]. Tony, you're looking at old technology. Even old technology works on cloudy days, better on sunny days, but if you're not familiar with the industry or the products, you probably haven't seen or used the more efficient products. Betty * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] solar battery chargers
John Settle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> escribió: Betty, Do you by chance live in Maryland? My wife and I have been discussing going solar with our circa 1905 house and an looking for a reliable solar contractor. John, Go to Chesapeake Climate Action Network, http://chesapeakeclimate.org/. Mike Tidwell has renovated an older home in Takoma Park with solar and renewable energy efficient features. He has an open house every month or so to provide direct information about them and the industry. Solar retrofits are fairly straightforward these days. Info is much easier to find now than 30 years ago when we started, and the state and federal tax incentives are back, finally. Contact me directly if you need more links. Betty * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] solar battery chargers
Then you're going to have to enlighten me. It uses solar cells (photovoltaic cells, if you will) to charge a battery at a slow current (trickle charge), so I don't know of a better example. On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 12:20 PM, John DeCarlo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 11:58 AM, Tony B <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > You are mistaken. Current technology requires a LOT of light to > > generate usable amounts of electricity. > > > > It's hard to find real data, so let's just take an example from Amazon: > > http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EQ8WKA#moreAboutThisProduct > > > > > Tony, bad example. Not a photovoltaic trickle charger, as betty was talking > about. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] solar battery chargers
Has anyone on the list heard of Citizenre? http://renu.citizenre.com/
Someone told me about this company a couple years ago. They rent solar panels
to homeowners and the electricity produced by the panels is offset against the
amount of power purchased from the power company. I don't think my house would
work because of the way it is oriented.
You have to live in a state or jurisdiction that allows net-metering (credit
for power sold back to the power company). Other restrictions, of course,
apply.
The company sends someone out to your house to make sure it is a suitable
location: ("Your house should have a roof with enough space to accommodate the
REnU as well as have an unobstructed, south facing flat or sloped roof. This
may not always be necessary; however, in order to ensure that you are eligible,
this prerequisite should be adhered to.")
The homeowner rents the panels for a fixed term (1, 5 or 25 years). The rent
paid for the panel depends on the amount of power the panel will produce.
Also from the FAQ:
Q. What exactly do I pay? How is that calculated?
A. You pay a flat monthly rent for the use of the solar equipment. For that
rent, you get to use all the electricity that your system produces. You are
actually producing your own power from the sun. Our system designer will go
through your past energy bills. Then, if you are interested, they will walk
through your house and show you how to save energy.
Taking all this into consideration, they will calculate how much electricity
your REnU will need to produce in order to best serve your needs. They will
then design the system to supply that energy. You simply pay a flat monthly
rent. Because of our Performance Guarantee, you have no worries. The system
will work as promised or your monthly rent will be reduced accordingly through
an audit at the end of the year.
FAQ section is: http://renu.citizenre.com/index.php?p=edu_faq
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
*
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Re: [CGUYS] solar battery chargers
On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 11:58 AM, Tony B <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > You are mistaken. Current technology requires a LOT of light to > generate usable amounts of electricity. > > It's hard to find real data, so let's just take an example from Amazon: > http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EQ8WKA#moreAboutThisProduct > Tony, bad example. Not a photovoltaic trickle charger, as betty was talking about. -- John DeCarlo, My Views Are My Own * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] solar battery chargers
You are mistaken. Current technology requires a LOT of light to generate usable amounts of electricity. It's hard to find real data, so let's just take an example from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EQ8WKA#moreAboutThisProduct >From the ad copy: >Charging 2 AA (or AAA) batteries in only 10 hours, this is one of the the fastest AA/AAA solar chargers money can buy! Now, assuming they've put the best possible 'light' on the product, that means 10 hours of full sunlight just to charge 2 small batteries. Multiply that by many times to recharge the much larger batteries on a FIOS device. Multiply that by x times if the sunlight is diffused. Sorry, but it's just not practical with today's solar cells; they're just too inefficient. BTW I don't even want to bring up that if you're getting that much direct sunlight in summer you're spending a fortune in air conditioning to offset it. Silly to try to compare 2 AA batteries to your AC draw. PS Solar homes have NOTHING to do with solar battery chargers. For god's sake take 2 seconds and CHANGE YOUR SUBJECT LINES please. On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 10:51 PM, betty <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I've lived in a solar house since 1980. We have at least 100 trees. From > my experience with passive and active systems, all you need is > daylight--sun, clouds, rain or snowy weather, direct or reflected > light--to produce enough electricity to run a battery charger, or > produce enough electricity to run most home appliances, including > recharging a laptop; same weather conditions apply for heating and cooling. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] solar battery chargers
I would love to find reliable solar in MD with an affordable up front cost. Basically if I have to finance it, I need the electricity I am not buying from the power co. to generate enough savings to make the payments on the solar financing. On Mar 28, 2008, at 11:17 AM, John Settle wrote: Betty, Do you by chance live in Maryland? My wife and I have been discussing going solar with our circa 1905 house and an looking for a reliable solar contractor. betty wrote: And what about Windows users who are perpetually in the dark? >The price for those panels is lower >than some of the new cable/ DSL/ADSL modems. Searched online and found >one that retails at $44.99, and another for $37.95; will be much less if >bundled with FIOS service boxes. Betty: Is this packaged in a way that will allow a DIY installation? First time I saw photovoltaic trickle chargers for 12V batteries was at a Volkswagen dealer. They had the chargers plugged into many of the cars on their lot, with the PV panel on the dashboard. I'd guess they might have some kind of deal from the German government where homeowners and businesses are given incentives to install PV panels on their buildings to generate electricity. These panels are integrated roofing, like tiles [search SunSlate], not big panels bolted to the roof, as were used 20 years ago. Initially the equivalent cost of energy from PV was around 40 cents per kw hour while power companies charged 10 cents/kwh. Government paid the difference to the customers. Cost has gone down to 30 cents, 20 cents, and is expected to reach parity within 5 years. After that the electricity from PV panels will be free. I didn't look at the brand that they were using, but I could ask the VW dealer, or you could ask a dealer that uses them. I got the prices by using a search engine. These chargers plug into the cigarette lighter in a car. The laptop chargers were well over $200 when I looked for one several years ago and are still expensive, but chargers for cell phones and iPods can be found for under $40. And, yes, the battery chargers are easy to set up. Some models are even sold in the online NPR shop and many other places on the Internets. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http:// www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http:// www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] solar battery chargers
Betty, Do you by chance live in Maryland? My wife and I have been discussing going solar with our circa 1905 house and an looking for a reliable solar contractor. betty wrote: And what about Windows users who are perpetually in the dark? >The price for those panels is lower >than some of the new cable/DSL/ADSL modems. Searched online and found >one that retails at $44.99, and another for $37.95; will be much less if >bundled with FIOS service boxes. Betty: Is this packaged in a way that will allow a DIY installation? First time I saw photovoltaic trickle chargers for 12V batteries was at a Volkswagen dealer. They had the chargers plugged into many of the cars on their lot, with the PV panel on the dashboard. I'd guess they might have some kind of deal from the German government where homeowners and businesses are given incentives to install PV panels on their buildings to generate electricity. These panels are integrated roofing, like tiles [search SunSlate], not big panels bolted to the roof, as were used 20 years ago. Initially the equivalent cost of energy from PV was around 40 cents per kw hour while power companies charged 10 cents/kwh. Government paid the difference to the customers. Cost has gone down to 30 cents, 20 cents, and is expected to reach parity within 5 years. After that the electricity from PV panels will be free. I didn't look at the brand that they were using, but I could ask the VW dealer, or you could ask a dealer that uses them. I got the prices by using a search engine. These chargers plug into the cigarette lighter in a car. The laptop chargers were well over $200 when I looked for one several years ago and are still expensive, but chargers for cell phones and iPods can be found for under $40. And, yes, the battery chargers are easy to set up. Some models are even sold in the online NPR shop and many other places on the Internets. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] solar battery chargers
I'll look at the solar panel in my wife's trunk. It is about the size of a news paper folder over on the newstand. It has a cord that plugs into the cigarette lighter. They recommend plugging it and placing it on the dashboard if you do not intend to use the car for several weeks. I wonder if that means that VW expects the battery to discharge at a more rapid rate than most vehicles. A solar panel was standard equipment of the 2005 Jetta. The dealer didn't think so until i showed them the manual. I wonder if they need to be shown every time? On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 11:56 PM, betty <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > And what about Windows users who are perpetually in the dark? > > > >> >The price for those panels is lower > >> >than some of the new cable/DSL/ADSL modems. Searched online and found > >> >one that retails at $44.99, and another for $37.95; will be much less if > >> >bundled with FIOS service boxes. > > > > Betty: Is this packaged in a way that will allow a DIY installation? > > First time I saw photovoltaic trickle chargers for 12V batteries was at > a Volkswagen dealer. They had the chargers plugged into many of the cars > on their lot, with the PV panel on the dashboard. I'd guess they might > have some kind of deal from the German government where homeowners and > businesses are given incentives to install PV panels on their buildings > to generate electricity. These panels are integrated roofing, like tiles > [search SunSlate], not big panels bolted to the roof, as were used 20 > years ago. Initially the equivalent cost of energy from PV was around 40 > cents per kw hour while power companies charged 10 cents/kwh. Government > paid the difference to the customers. Cost has gone down to 30 cents, 20 > cents, and is expected to reach parity within 5 years. After that the > electricity from PV panels will be free. > > I didn't look at the brand that they were using, but I could ask the VW > dealer, or you could ask a dealer that uses them. I got the prices by > using a search engine. These chargers plug into the cigarette lighter in > a car. The laptop chargers were well over $200 when I looked for one > several years ago and are still expensive, but chargers for cell phones > and iPods can be found for under $40. > > And, yes, the battery chargers are easy to set up. Some models are even > sold in the online NPR shop and many other places on the Internets. > > > > > * > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > * > -- John Duncan Yoyo ---o) * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] solar battery chargers
And what about Windows users who are perpetually in the dark? >The price for those panels is lower >than some of the new cable/DSL/ADSL modems. Searched online and found >one that retails at $44.99, and another for $37.95; will be much less if >bundled with FIOS service boxes. Betty: Is this packaged in a way that will allow a DIY installation? First time I saw photovoltaic trickle chargers for 12V batteries was at a Volkswagen dealer. They had the chargers plugged into many of the cars on their lot, with the PV panel on the dashboard. I'd guess they might have some kind of deal from the German government where homeowners and businesses are given incentives to install PV panels on their buildings to generate electricity. These panels are integrated roofing, like tiles [search SunSlate], not big panels bolted to the roof, as were used 20 years ago. Initially the equivalent cost of energy from PV was around 40 cents per kw hour while power companies charged 10 cents/kwh. Government paid the difference to the customers. Cost has gone down to 30 cents, 20 cents, and is expected to reach parity within 5 years. After that the electricity from PV panels will be free. I didn't look at the brand that they were using, but I could ask the VW dealer, or you could ask a dealer that uses them. I got the prices by using a search engine. These chargers plug into the cigarette lighter in a car. The laptop chargers were well over $200 when I looked for one several years ago and are still expensive, but chargers for cell phones and iPods can be found for under $40. And, yes, the battery chargers are easy to set up. Some models are even sold in the online NPR shop and many other places on the Internets. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] solar battery chargers
I've lived in a solar house since 1980. We have at least 100 trees. From my experience with passive and active systems, all you need is daylight--sun, clouds, rain or snowy weather, direct or reflected light--to produce enough electricity to run a battery charger, or produce enough electricity to run most home appliances, including recharging a laptop; same weather conditions apply for heating and cooling. Most people I know who live in apartments, even basement ones, have at least one window. There's enough light coming in through a window to use a PV battery charger, or the panel can be hung out the window--doesn't even have to face south. Ambient light can also activate a trickle charger indoors. Besides it's not likely that an individual apartment would have its own independent connection. The building owner, manager, super, would have the FIOS boxes installed in one location for the entire building. No, "we" aren't generalizing. It continues to amaze me that there are so few people _in_the_US_ who take advantage of almost free heating, cooling and electricity, and simply make up excuses for not doing it. Aren't we generalizing a bit? I'm under trees here, there's not nearly enough sunlight to charge batteries. People in apartment buildings would have the same trouble. On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 1:56 PM, b_s-wilk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Photovoltaic solar panels are the sensible answer to unlimited backup > for FIOS. They can be standard equipment with FIOS boxes. PV solar > panels are small and will keep the backup batteries charged > indefinitely, even on rainy days. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] solar battery chargers
>Aren't we generalizing a bit? I'm under trees here, there's not nearly >enough sunlight to charge batteries. People in apartment buildings >would have the same trouble. And what about Windows users who are perpetually in the dark? >The price for those panels is lower >than some of the new cable/DSL/ADSL modems. Searched online and found >one that retails at $44.99, and another for $37.95; will be much less if >bundled with FIOS service boxes. Betty: Is this packaged in a way that will allow a DIY installation? * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
[CGUYS] solar battery chargers
Aren't we generalizing a bit? I'm under trees here, there's not nearly enough sunlight to charge batteries. People in apartment buildings would have the same trouble. On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 1:56 PM, b_s-wilk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Photovoltaic solar panels are the sensible answer to unlimited backup > for FIOS. They can be standard equipment with FIOS boxes. PV solar > panels are small and will keep the backup batteries charged > indefinitely, even on rainy days. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
