The existence of global warming is endlessly debated. But no matter where you are on the matter, you have to accept that we have seen some extreme weather events in the last ten years. The United States has seen many of them.
Hurricane Sandy, for example, caused more than $70 billion in damage and resulted in more than eight million people losing power. People like my New Jersey native fiancé who, along with everyone else in his neighborhood, lost power for an entire week..
With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that residential power generation equipment sales are surging right now as people try to prepare for when the worst happens. Gasoline and diesel generator sales are through the roof, with the global market expected to reach $22.4 billion by 2019. The Residential Solar Power Equipment Market 6 Advantages of Solar Panels You Probably Won't You Have Considered 6 Advantages of Solar Panels You Probably Haven't Considered Solar energy is becoming more common among middle-class consumers, and more and more people are realizing the advantages of solar panels. Read More is also enjoying a boom, fueled by greatly improved performance, lower costs, and government subsidies (although these are being phased out in some areas).
But while fossil fuel-powered generators are well known, the same is not true for residential solar power kits. There are thousands of products on offer, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Which ones are right for you? Read on to find out more.
Residential Solar Power Kits are photovoltaic cells that you can use to generate electricity on your property. These are useful when the grid is down, but you can also use them outside of emergency scenarios to lower your monthly utility bill.
The range of products available is truly diverse. Some are gigantic in size and can power large appliances that use a lot of electricity. Others are smaller, and are less capable.
You don't need to go to a specialist solar retailer to buy them. Big box hardware retailers like Home Depot sell them. In particular, at Home Depot, you can get small-scale kits for around $200. These will put out around 80 watts, which should be enough to recharge a cell phone or laptop, or power a few LED bulbs.
As is the case with most things, the more money you spend, the more money you get. Around $2,500 will get you a 1,060-watt solar kit. This will physically take up more space, but will also be able to power some larger appliances like a refrigerator or freezer.
Of course, Amazon also sells some home power kits.
It is worth emphasizing that these kits do not necessarily have to be fixed to the roof to generate power. Some are portable and can be placed wherever you have space. This is ideal if you only want to use them in an emergency, or if you want to place them in your backyard or on a balcony.
Solar power has many advantages over generators that run on fossil fuels. Solar Generators vs. Fuel Generators:Which is Best for You? Solar Generators vs Fuel Generators:Which is Best for You? Would a solar generator make more sense than a gas generator? What solar generator options are there? Those are the questions we will look at today. Read More
The most important advantage is that you do not need a regular supply of diesel or gasoline for them to work. When roads are closed and deliveries cannot be made or supplies are low, people can be prone to panic buying. One of my fiancé's most vivid memories of Hurricane Sandy was the endless gas lines stretching across the blocks. People's tempers online often boiled over, and fights broke out. It was horrible.
Solar cells also require less maintenance since they are solid state and lack the moving mechanical components of generators. Ongoing costs of ownership are virtually nonexistent, and can be scaled up or down as needed.
During emergencies you can see the actual use of a solar power kit.
If you are diabetic and need to keep your insulin stored in a cool place, a properly sized solar cell would provide enough power to run a small refrigerator. The same goes for any temperature-sensitive medicine.
They can also keep you connected. If you've been unlucky enough to lose power, but your cable provider's infrastructure is still online, you just need to plug your modem, router, and laptop into your solar kit to get connected.
When connected to a large battery How to use a battery bank to protect your home from blackouts How to use a battery bank to protect your home from blackouts Your office computer can continue to work during a power outage because it has a UPS. Can you put your whole house on a UPS? Yes. Yes you can. Read More
In short, they are affordable, reliable, renewable, and can often save lives. But which kit is right for you?
We are going to look at a range of kits, representing the low, mid and high ends of the market. I recognize that not everyone will have the need (or perhaps the space) for a wide variety of PV systems.
At under $200, the Renogy 100 Solar Starter Kit represents the absolute bottom of the market. Contains a single 100-watt monocrystalline solar kit, a charge controller, and a cable to connect the controller to a 12-volt battery.
Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Starter Kit with 100 Watt Solar Panel + 30A PWM Negative Ground Charge Controller + MC4 Connectors + Tray Cable + Z Brackets for RV, Boat PWM Negative Ground Charge Controller + MC4 Connectors + Tray Cable + Mounting Z Brackets for RV, Boat Buy Now On Amazon $196.99
It's basic, and it's designed to be used in mobile applications, like on a boat or an RV. In sunny conditions, you should expect it to be capable of powering a laptop at the very least. You shouldn't expect much more than that, since it's a small cell.
Let's take a look at the next level from the previous item. At $800, the WindyNation Complete 400 Watt Solar Panel Kit balances price with performance and represents excellent value for money.
WindyNation 400 Watt Solar Panel Complete Kit with 1500 Watt VertaMax Power Inverter RV, Boat, Off Grid 12 Volt Battery WindyNation 400 Watt Solar Panel Complete Kit with 1500 Watt VertaMax Power Inverter RV, Boat, Off Grid mains 12 volt Buy now on Amazon $805.99
It comes with four 100-watt polycrystalline solar panels that can work in parallel; a solar charge controller; a DC to AC power inverter; and all the necessary cables to connect everything, and to connect the inverter to a battery.
Depending on sunlight, you can expect this kit to provide around 1600 watt hours of charge per day. That's enough to power your iPhone many times . Realistically, it should be enough to power a home refrigerator (depending on the size and age of the refrigerator), some lighting, and a small TV. Of course, your mileage will vary depending on the energy efficiency of your equipment.
At nearly $1,800, the Goal Zero 39004 Yeti 1250 is the most expensive home solar kit we're going to cover. The core of this kit is the Yeti 1250, which is a 1250-watt battery that you can directly plug your home appliances into. It can charge anything from consumer electronics to home appliances like refrigerators and freezers.
Goal Zero Yeti 1250 Solar Generator Kit with Boulder 30 Solar Panels Goal Zero Yeti 1250 Solar Generator Kit with Boulder 30 Solar Panels Buy Now on Amazon
It has three USB chargers, three DC outlets, as well as an AC outlet and an Anderson Powerpole outlet. This makes for a truly versatile kit.
This package includes two Goal Zero Boulder 30 cells, which can charge the Yeti in approximately 24 hours. The advantage of these is that they are small enough to be truly portable, and could easily fit in the back of a car, or on top of an RV. Additional cells can be purchased on Amazon for around $200 each, and can be daisy-chained to charge the Yeti even faster.
Goal Zero Boulder 30 Solar Panel Goal Zero Boulder 30 Solar Panel Buy now on Amazon
While not the cheapest kit on the market, it is well built and emphasizes simplicity that makes it attractive to solar starters.
Right now, solar power is an attractive concept, especially if you live in an area that is prone to extreme weather events. The appeal of solar looks will only improve, as cells become more efficient (this is already happening, thanks to growing research in perovskite solar cells Efficient. Cheap. Impressive. Here's why the new cells The cost of solar power will drop precipitously after a team of scientists working at the University of Sheffield on the The UK announced the development of solar cells using a spraying process (Read More), and the continuous improvement of battery technology. Tesla Powerwall's Upcoming Launch Tesla's battery could change the world, but does it actually save you money? Tesla's battery could change the world, but does it actually save you money? Innovation has a cost. One of the hopes in energy innovation is that there will eventually be a financial payoff. Tesla's battery is no different. Read More .
So, to you. Will you be installing some solar cells in the near future? Have you ever had to use them in the event of a power outage? Tell me about it in the comments below..
