If you are hesitant about investing in a residential solar power system, small individual panels may be just what you are looking for. Less expensive than larger panels, sophisticated enough to avoid much less powerful; as an guide to solar energy, however, they can be perfect for the homeowner who isn’t quite ready entirely 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 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 get a rough idea for the type and involving household items a particular 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 a full residence. Next compared to that example, 200 watts certainly doesn’t mimic it will power much more than a couple of lamps. For example, the Grape Solar 880 watt system, in accordance with the product’s manufacturer, is capable of doing powering a 15 cubic foot refrigerator and nothing besides. As mentioned previously, the cost of these smaller panels represents a much smaller investment than would a large panel array, and are infinitely expandable, also.
Small Solar Panel Kits
The Grape Solar 880 watt is actually one example within a small solar panel kit that may be used as a involving “starter” solar system for homeowners. More commonly, these associated with 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 may be as well as how many appliances are on game board. Larger, more powerful systems will also apparent greater number of batteries as well as an inverter. The panels on these kits are generally the 12-volt type, since boat and RV components and accessories use 12 volts of DC power. Inverters become necessary when appliances run on household current, or AC power.
Small Panels are perfect for Remote Areas
Another common use for small individual 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 unexpected power backup system, a configuration of numerous 150-watt panels tend to used, depending upon the power needed. For outdoor accessories such as security lights, electric fences or water fountains, 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 battery chargers. 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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