Sunforce 50048 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit Review

This is a review for the Sunforce 50048 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit. You can pick up this bad boy on Amazon for around $270.  I wondered what I would get for that amount of money. Most solar systems are rather expensive. We have to first put this in context though.

This is not a solar system to power your whole house. Maybe someday they will get to that level but at this point they are not there yet. That’s why solar has been so difficult to get into. The cost is so high. My dad was looking at a system that was almost $25,000 dollars which is considered cheap in terms on solar.

The Sunforce 50048 60 Watt Solar Charging Kit gives you another reason to love the sun — it’ll help keep your batteries charged. This kit is excellent for cabins, remote power, back-up power, and 12-volt battery charging. The kit includes a PVC mounting frame, 7 Amp charge controller, 200-watt inverter, and wiring/connection cables. And with the built-in blocking diode technology, this charger kit is designed to protect against battery discharge at night. You can also use this kit to maintain the charge on any 12-volt battery for clean, silent operation of various electronics, such as deer feeders and landscaping pumps. The 50048 features a built-in ultra-bright blue LED charging indicator, and is a great choice for automobiles, recreational vehicles (RV), tractors, all terrain vehicles (ATV), boats, electric fences, telemetry and more, and it is even effective on cloudy days. This battery charger kit is made of durable ABS plastic and amorphous solar cells and has a maximum temperature range of -40 to 176-degrees Fahrenheit.

I use one at my house for drawing power for my backup battery systems. It was fairly easy to setup. I was getting enough power from this system to run my laptop computer. The laptop draws only a small amount of power. My goal is to get completely off the power grid. This is a good start to that.

Space based solar power

Don’t you wish sometimes we could harness more of the power of the sun. When the sun goes down at night, there goes the solar power as well. It could be theoretically possible to extend that time we could use the sun’s power if we could effectively lower the horizon. If we positioned a satellite in space as a solar collector and then beamed the power down to the earth that would effectively allow us to decrease our horizon and get more sunlight. It doesn’t matter if the sun goes down if your satellite is several miles high above your head. It can still see the sun.

This idea has actually be under development for some time and could be a possible way to draw more power from the sun for a longer period of time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-based_solar_power

Solar panels for your home in San Diego California

Solar Panels are solar cells that are connected to each other in order to generate energy harnessed from the sun. This energy is then supplied to your residence as electricity. The solar panels are normally set up with many panels as a single panel can not generate a lot of power.

Having solar panels for your home in San Diego California is a great idea as it can reduce your electrical bill considerably.  There are also rebates and tax credits that can be claimed just by having the solar panels installed in your home. The administration of the country is advocating smarter energy use which includes utilizing more renewable energy sources such as the sun. The oil bill on any economy is the highest it has been in years and having solar panels for your home in San Diego California can help to slash that bill. San Diego is an area that experiences a lot of sunshine and it is wise to use it in energy creation.

Many quality solar panels are sold in San Diego by many suppliers. Most of these suppliers are experience installers and usually offer discounts to their clients.  The installation of the solar panel will have many positive effects on your home. Each installation is customizable which can be adjusted to the exact needs of your household. What this can do is increase the value of your house and in the event that you plan to sell, the house will be more marketable as the buyers will be aware of the energy saving they will realize.

The state makes it easy to have solar panels for your home in San Diego California as they have set a goal to generate 3,000 megawatts of solar produced energy by the year of 2017. They have also introduced an initiative that offers cash benefits on the installation of the system and combined with the  Federal benefits can cover up to 50% of the cost of the panels.

It is quite timely for the state and federal governments to be advocating solar panels for your home in San Diego California. The rising energy costs are getting out of control and steps need to be taken to protect you from the increasing costs. This system will allow you to limit the amount of energy you will have to pay for per month.

The environment also benefits greatly with the use of solar panels. The energy created is what is called “clean” energy and is purely done from a renewable source. The need for fossil fuel consumption will be depleted and the emission of pollutants to the environment will be greatly reduced. The environment is something that should be protected at all costs and any harmful emissions should be eliminated totally.

Installing a solar panel will be a great idea as the benefits are countless. The only possible deterrent is the cost of the system, but as mentioned earlier, there are ways and means of obtaining tax credits both state and federal which can save you up to 50% of the costs of the overall system.

Installing Solar Panels

When an individual is contemplating solar panel installation, they would want to have a full understanding of how the system works. The solar panels are really just small photovoltaic cells that will capture the sun’s rays and convert it to energy to power your household.

The Solar panel installation is normally conducted on the roof tops of houses or building tops. The position of the panels has to be one in which they are receiving optimal sun from all angles. There should be no hindrances that will affect the sun in any way. The Solar panel installation can be done by any individual once they have the proper resources but it is always recommended to have a professional complete the task to ensure an excellent set up.

There are different ways to install the solar panels on the different roof types. Some of the panels are flush on the roof and some are tilted. The surroundings of the house, in terms of trees and shrubbery can probably determine which method is selected. Also, the roof type will have something to so with the selection as well.

The Solar panel installation is normally straightforward and is conducted in the same procedure each time. The procedure consists of first securing the brackets to the roof. This is done by using heavy duty solar mounts that attached to the roof to keep the structure secure.  These bolts have to be strong and able to stand up to the test of nature. Once the brackets are in place, the person doing the installation will ensure that the bolts are fastened and placed in a straight line to accommodate panels.

Metal railings are then connected to the bolts and ensured to be secured to the roof. Solar panel installation should be done carefully with precaution being taken at every step of the way. Next, the solar panels are affixed to the railings and the number of panels to be installed is based upon the requirements of the homeowner. It is important to note that one single panel does not produce a lot of energy so for any substantial installation, many panels would have to be installed.

The final step in the installation will involve running conduit from the panels to the inverter in the house. This device will now convert the sun’s energy to useful electricity and the savings will now begin.

Solar panel installation is a wise choice as the system will save you up to 60% of your electricity costs over 5 to 6 years. The cost of the system may be high initially but the savings over the years will be greater. There may be some state and federal tax claims that can be made when doing a Solar panel installation. These amounts may come in useful as some individuals use the claims to purchase the system cheaper.

The Solar panel installation raises the value of you house and is not prominent. The homeowner can be assured that they are making the right decision when installing solar panels.

Solar energy companies

Solar energy companies are one of the most profitable businesses right now. With many federal and state benefits that can be derived from the installation of solar panels, these companies are in a position to benefit greatly. The installation of a solar panel system will increase the value of your property as it makes your house more energy efficient and that will always be an attractive feature. When searching for solar companies, you should do adequate research and view the experience of that company first before making your decision. Installing the panels may be a technical task and you will want to ensure that it is being done by an experienced professional. There are some things that you have to look for when evaluating solar energy companies, such as:

Experience

The experience of the company is very important in your search. A novice company may not be a wise choice to do the installation. Although they may know what they are doing, it is better to have someone who has been tried and tested and have done many installations before. This would mean that they have knowledge and certain skills available to them in the event of any issues during the installation.

Price

Solar energy companies may vary in the prices that are quoted for installation. There could be many factors that influence the costs. Factors such as the brand of the solar panels, the establishment you choose and the difficulty of installation. The brands being sold should always be explored before any particular choice is made. Although there are price fluctuations the actual quality of the brand is what should be explored. In some instances, you may be simply paying for a brand name that can do the same job as an alternative.

Warranty

Any solar energy company should offer adequate warranties on the products that it offers. The solar products are usually sold to last for at least 25 years without failure. Once you have invested in such a system you want to guarantee that if you have any issues it will be covered by the warranty. Having a warranty allows the client to feel at ease knowing that they will not have to spend a lot of money another time if any issues arise from the system.

Information

A solar energy company should have all the information about its solar offerings readily available to its clients. This shows a professional operation and displays a thorough understanding of the systems that are offered. Clients may have questions or concerns they will want answered and these are the perfect places to find out your needs.

Finding a company that balances all of the above traits will assure you that you have selected the right company. Any solar company that you choose for your installation should make you to feel absolutely comfortable with them conducting your installation.

There is an insatiable need for power daily and if a majority of people would seek solar companies to solve their energy problems then the energy bill on countries economies can be reduced greatly.

Questions to ask before buying a solar panel system

When looking to purchase solar panels for your home you have to make sure you understand the system and how it works. There will be some questions to ask before buying a solar panel system and it is best if you know these. Each company will claim to have the best brand and will try to convince you that they are the best choice for installation. So, for you not to be swindled out of your hard earned money you have to know which questions to ask before buying a solar panel system.

This purchase is a huge investment and will have many benefits on your household. It is wise to ensure the purchase you make is the right one and the best that is available.  When looking for a dealer, it is advisable that you know the following questions to ask before buying a solar panel system.

What is the experience of the company?

The experience of the company is very important for you to verify before you make a purchase. The longer a company has been in business the better as they will have more experience with installation and supplying the solar panel system. This is also good if there are any problems that may arise, you can feel confident of their ability to fix it.

What is the Panel Power of each panel?

On some of the systems that are sold, the power listed may not be the actually power that is output from the system. It may be a little less than what is stated and it needs to be specified to the client before a purchase. An energy audit of the house can be done to figure out the energy requirements. The amount of panels can be bought based on how much power you will need.

What is the warranty on the system?

Systems that include solar technology should always give a long life span that usually extends about 25 years. There are systems that may extend to as much 40 years but any system you are getting should be at minimum 25 years. Also be mindful of retailers that attempt to give you a dealer warranty instead of a manufacturer’s warranty. This is a very costly purchase and it has to be properly covered in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Can the system be upgraded?

As time goes by, the needs of the household may eventually change.  An excellent system will have the allowance for the panels to be increased if needed. The increase in panels will increase the output energy of the system.

Can I access my benefits for buying solar panels?

In different states there may be rebates and other specials that can be claimed by any individual that is installing solar panels. The combination of state and federal assistance may allow you to obtain a system at almost half the original cost. The government has a policy that promotes the use of renewable energy and there are benefits that can be claimed by you.

California solar panels

To install a solar power system in your house will be a great decision as it can drastically reduce your energy bill. California solar panels are a great investment as that state receives a great deal of sunlight. Sunlight is easily converted by these solar panels and produce energy to power up the household. It is a huge investment to make upfront but over the long term it will eventually pay for itself.

In addition to saving money on your electric bill, California solar panels fall under the initiative called the California Solar Initiative. This is a program administered in California and what they are attempting to do is to stimulate the solar market to help the country stem the rising energy bill. The state has made an estimate to create megawatts of solar energy and lead the state to have a cleaner future.

Many people have claimed their credit from the California Solar Initiative by installing their California solar panel. This is a helpful program as the more watts you use in renewal energy will result in more credit.

The California Solar Initiative programme is quite a simple one. Once you take energy from any one the companies that offer electricity and you have a roof or ground space that can accommodate the solar panels easily. The incentives can then be claimed after some simple steps are taken.

The first thing you have to do before you get your California solar panel is to do a complete energy audit of your house to determine your needs. This will give you an idea of the amount of energy you will require from the solar panels and therefore how much panels you will actually need.

You would then have to find an experienced contractor that can carry out the work for a reasonable price with great skill. A professional installation can maximize the efficiency of the system and you will in turn have a very productive system.

The rebate claim process can be processed for you by the contractor that does the installation. This is done by qualified contractors and makes the process easier for you the consumer.

The system is then installed on your premises and the power is interconnected so you can now enjoy the benefits of renewable energy.

After the work is completed you may submit your claim form to receive your incentive.

This is a creative program and will continue to do well. The California solar panels will help to drastically reduce the energy costs if a lot of people start to take up this offer. Some of the incentive at times can help to reduce the costs of the overall system.

Installing the system will make your house more environmentally friendly.  Renewable energy is totally natural and will always be available. Natural sources of energy have to be explored as the non renewable sources are getting increasingly expensive and depleting the environment. The use of solar panels is just the start in the utilization of natural resources.