Off-Grid Stuff

Solar system is the planetary system that consists of Earth, Sun and the other planets and cellestial objects. But it is also a common name for a system that produces usable energy from solar radiation. This may cause small confusion, but since you’re interested in off-grid living, you probably are looking for the latter, right?

There are two main solar systems available: the solar thermal systems, that produce heat, used mostly for domestic hot water and in some cases for heating, and the solar photovoltaic systems, used to produce electricity. Those two systems will soon be described in detail in two separate articles. continue reading » »

Solar photovoltaic panels are used to make electricity from solar radiation. It is one of very few ways of making electrical energy without using rotating parts, like in alternators. Those panels (also known as solar modules) are made from smaller parts, called solar cells.

Most solar photovoltaic panels are made to work with 12V systems, like the one you have in your car. It’s because this system is probably the most popular, it’s not very unusual to have solar photovoltaic panel on your camper or caravan. Of course you can always use those panels to get higher voltage, by connecting two or more panels in series. But be aware, that you will always get direct current (DC), not the alternating current (AC) you have in your wall sockets! continue reading » »

Solar water heating is a small part of the entire solar heating subject. In british climate large amount of energy you use annually goes to make domestic hot water. In sunny days this water might be prepared using solar energy with a help of solar water heater.

The solar water heater in most cases is not one device, but a system consisting of at least three components:

1. solar thermal panel, the device that makes the hot water using solar radiation,
2. storage tank, well insulated, that holds the hot water from time it’s prepared to the time you open the tap,
3. pump and controller that turns the pump on only when the sun is shining (except for the thermosiphon systems).

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Solar lights are used mostly in off-grid cases, on small or large scale. The cheapest and smallest solar light consists of three elements:

• small solar panel,
• small LED diode,
• rechargeable battery, in most cases AAA size,

with a bit of additional electronics. Such lights are used, for example, to light up your garden paths at night, if you don’t want to install electric cables there. continue reading » »

Wind generator is a device that uses wind energy to produce electrical power. In most cases it’s commonly referred to as wind turbine. There are of course some wind generators that are not wind turbines, for example so called windbelts, that have almost no practical use.

Wind generators are used to produce energy on off-grid sites, but are also very commonly used as renewable energy source for national energy grid. If installed off-grid, as energy source for autonomous systems, need to be connected to battery bank that stores the energy. continue reading » »

Solar heating is a term referring to usign free solar energy to generate usable heat. In most cases it refers to heating buildings, but sometimes to preparing domestic hot water.

Solar heating is one of the best way to utilise solar energy to produce useful energy. The alternative is to use photovoltaic systems that create electrical power using the same solar energy.

Most homes in moderate climates may produce most of heat needed for heating in winter from the solar energy, with use of solar thermal systems (mostly solar air collectors) and appriopriate amount of thermal mass to store this heat. For more info, check

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All solar photovoltaic panels are made of smaller parts, called solar cells. Those solar cells can be purchased separately and soldered together to form a desired array. A photovoltaic panel will have desired voltage if proper number of cells is connected in series, and will be able to supply desired current if the right number of cells will be conected in parallel. It’s those cells that create electric current from solar energy.

In most cases you are not exactly looking for a solar cell, but for the entire solar panel. The solar photovoltaic panel not only holds the right number of cells conected in a proper manner, but those cells are also protected by hardened glass and housing. In some cases even this panel may be prepared for mounting to solar rack (array mounting rack) or so called solartrack.

However, if you’re a DIY enthusiast and if you want to save money, you may purchase separate solar cells and connect them the way you like.

Solar cells are also installed in many solar powered devices, for example solar lights, calculators, solar chargers, etc. continue reading » »