Solar generators are the solution to your home energy problems if you want to go off the grid. For decades we have been hearing about the need to go “green” and start producing our own electricity. Well, here we are over 40 years later and we are finally seeing the results of our efforts. It is free, reliable and can potentially be the main source of your energy needs for years to come. Here is what you need to know about solar generators for homes and how to make one yourself.
Solar generators are the answer you have been looking for to power up your home during an energy crisis or even a prolonged period of bad sun. Turns out, neither was it just a myth. A lot of people were asking about some sort of portable solar system used to supply emergency backup power which are now being sold under the name of, yes, solar generators. It wasn’t until one of our readers asked us about this energy system that we began investigating the idea for our website.
Our readers want to know more about portable solar generators because they are beginning to see how useful they can be in times of crisis. As we have mentioned before, the primary use for them is for supplying emergency power for your home in times of blackouts or severe weather. This can be done with the use of a small portable solar generator like those that use photo-voltaic cells or what is also known as a PV panel. There is no need to worry about installation costs because these solar generators are so simple and easy to put together that you can do it yourself – no need for a professional.
The way these solar generator systems work is pretty straight forward. When the sun goes down during the day, the PV panels charge the batteries. When morning comes and the sun comes out again, the cells are ready to produce electricity again. So, all you need to do is connect the solar panels to the batteries. Connecting the solar panels to the batteries is as simple as snapping the cells into place or drilling into the ground.
When you begin recharging the batter, make sure that you leave at least three or four hours between each top rate recharging. This will ensure that you get the most power out of your battery. Once you have recharged the battery to its full capacity, you can then connect the system to the electrical grid. Since there is no connection necessary, your solar generator will not affect the normal operation of your home’s electricity supply. There will be no need to worry about the power outages that happen during these periods.
How long does it take to recharge a standard size household battery? In most cases it will take at least five hours. With many solar generators, however, this time may vary depending on the size of the solar panel battery being used. Most large solar panels typically take about ten or twelve hours to fully charge. The smaller solar generator batteries have even longer life spans.
How many watts do you need to charge your battery to fully restore it to a full state? While you may be able to guess, the actual number will be different depending on the type of battery you are using. If you are using a large deep cycle battery that stores watt hours, you will need to charge it up to at least ten hours before you will be able to use the backup power. For other types of batteries, such as lead-acid batteries, it will only take a few hours.
Once your solar generator has charged the battery to its fullest capacity, the next step is to store the excess energy in a deep cycle battery. If you are planning to use this extra energy later, all you have to do is let it sit for a few days and it will recharge itself. However, if you intend to use the energy right away, it is a good idea to keep the battery system charged. This will ensure that it will never run down, allowing you to have a continuous flow of energy for your home.