Paul Scott
-
DIY Solar-Powered Air Conditioner for Beginners
While conventional air conditioners are usually fairly complex, comprising several units mounted inside and outside the building, a DIY solar-powered air conditioner can be simple and is made from equally simple parts. In this DIY build, we’ll show how to put together simple yet effective solar DIY air conditioners. The Concept These types of solar…
-
A Complete Guide on Disconnecting Solar Panels
Disconnecting your solar panels may sound pretty simple and straightforward. Unfortunately, this is not really the case, and getting it wrong can have dire consequences. Many folks don’t realize that there are several “active” or “live” components in any solar system, particularly a hybrid solar system. This makes applying correct safety precautions when disconnecting a…
-
Setting Up a DIY Halloween Solar Lights System
Halloween must figure right up there with the most popular dates on many folks’ event calendars, and there are few things that add more spine-chilling fun to any October 31’st nighttime festivities than cool Halloween lights. And what better way to light Halloween up than green energy solar lighting? If you find that concept a…
-
DIY Solar Pool Skimmer – Complete Guide With Diagrams
A pool skimmer is a static or mobile device that removes debris from the water surface of a swimming pool. It does this by “skimming” the water surface, trapping floating debris as it goes. In this article, we’ll describe building a mobile DIY solar pool skimmer that is within the abilities of most DIY enthusiasts.…
-
Can a Solar Generator Power a House?
Probably the best departure point for answering this interesting question is to define exactly what a solar generator is. This is important because, in many people’s minds, a generator can power a house or even an entire industrial complex. However, solar generators, or solar power stations as they are also known, are far less capable…
-
What Size Solar Water Fountain Pump Do I Need
When installing a solar fountain pump, correctly sizing the fountain pump is one of the first of several important considerations. If the pump is incorrectly sized, the results will be disappointing at best, or, at worst, even damage the fountain. When considering pumps, solar or otherwise, there are two key factors to consider that influence…
-
How to Convert an Electric Fountain Pump into a Solar Fountain
Mains-fed electric fountain pumps may do the job well, but they use a lot of electric energy. Particularly if they run 24/7. A cheaper, and certainly greener solution, is to convert an electric fountain pump into solar power. Garden fountains are perennial favorite water features in many a garden nowadays. Their visual appeal is obvious…
-
Why Do Solar Lights Come on During the Day
Stand-alone solar lights should switch on at dusk and off again at dawn. At least that’s what they are supposed to do. Sometimes that doesn’t work out though, and a solar light will come on or stay on during the day. There’re a couple of reasons this happens, and fortunately, it’s seldom necessary to drop…
-
Replacement Stakes for Solar Lights – Best to Buy and DIY Guide
Worn or broken solar light stakes needn’t mean the loss of the fitting, as they are fairly easy to replace. Stake-mounted solar lights are perennial favorites in most solar landscape lighting enthusiasts’ arsenals. They are convenient, portable, and, with today’s sophisticated solar technology, increasingly efficient and effective. Unfortunately, they fail sometimes, with their mounting stakes…
-
How to Build a Solar-powered Electric Fence (With Diagrams)
You can build a permanent DIY, 3-acre solar-powered electric fence can with basic technical skills in under a week. And depending on whether you opt for a custom or off-the-shelf solar fence charger, costs between $1,400 and $1, 800. And it could be up and running in a couple of days or less, depending on…
-
How Does a Solar-Powered Drip Irrigation System Work
Solar-powered drip irrigation can be installed in most gardens using a small solar system, readily available irrigation materials, and minimal tools. If you already have a home solar system, it can be tapped into without installing a dedicated system. And the installation of an average drip irrigation system is well within the abilities of most…
-
How to Convert Lamp Post to Solar
Converting high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamp posts to solar fittings requires removing the existing light fitting. A suitable solar lamp post-light fitting is installed in its place to complete the conversion. Most post-lights recently utilized HPS, LPS (low-pressure sodium), or MH (metal halide) lamps. Collectively known as high-intensity discharge lamps(HID), they are very effective at large-area…
-
How to Clean Solar Lights – Why, When and How
Solar lights and their moderately dirty panels are best cleaned with a mild detergent and a soft, damp cloth. Light lenses that have become cloudy can be coated with clear lacquer, buffed with a mild abrasive, or polished. The same applies to solar panels with a build-up of salt or rain-born mineral deposits on their…
-
MPPT vs PWM – The Difference Explained (With Diagrams)
MPPT charge controllers can harness optimal performance from any solar array under a wide range of conditions, while PWM controllers are limited in their scope of application. But, against the backdrop of modern solar technology, MPPT charge controllers can do it all while PWM controllers can’t. Check out the difference between MPPT vs. PWM charge…
-
Solar Landscape Lighting Ideas
Solar landscape lighting ideas can make the environment more attractive. Adding solar light bollards to a walkway, up lights under trees, underwater lighting in pools and water features, or LED strips under steps can turn the most mundane outdoor space into a wonderland. And the value of landscape lighting extends beyond the obvious aesthetic appeal.…
-
How to Light a Flagpole?
To adequately light any flagpole carrying the US flag is best achieved by using existing ambient lighting or strategically placed spot, flood, or integral pole-mounted lights such as pole-top or clamp-on fittings. Lighting your American flag is more than an aesthetic consideration. It’s a legal requirement. The Federal flag code requires you to ensure your…
-
Is It Illegal to Fly a Flag at Night Without a Light?
In the case of the American flag, yes, it is illegal. The US Flag Code states that it is illegal to fly the US flag at night without adequate light. The American flag code is part of federal law. Each state using it as a foundation for its own specific flag codes regarding the handling…
-
Pure Sine Wave Inverter vs. Modified Sine Wave Models
The main difference between pure sine wave inverter vs. modified sine models is that the pure sine wave inverter outputs closely resemble AC mains power and are suitable for all applications. A modified sine wave model is choppy, less stable, and only suitable for more robust devices. The power from any 120-volt AC mains outlet…
-
DIY Solar Generator – Complete Guide With Diagrams
Building a weatherproof DIY solar generator involves mounting and wiring a battery, charge controller, inverter, trickle charger, and fusing inside a weatherproof case. Then all the relevant input and output sockets are wired and mounted on the outside of the case where they are easily accessible. What Exactly Are Solar Powered Generators? A lot of…
-
Pool Solar Panel Installation: Pro Installation or DIY?
A DIY pool solar panel installation can save you almost half the cost of a pro installation, and before you doubt yourself, you CAN do it. Let’s get started with the basics. What Are Solar Panel Pool Heaters? A solar panel pool heater relies on pool water circulated through a series of tubes or pipes…
-
DIY Solar Pool Heater – Beginner’s Guide With Diagrams
Although you may think it’s a tall order, you can build a DIY solar pool heater using irrigation tubing and fittings, framing lumber, and basic tools and expertise, all in a weekend or less. And that’s not an exaggeration. You can build a functional and efficient solar pool heater using Home Depot class hardware and…
-
DIY Solar Shower Ideas – Guide With Diagrams
In the afternoon, you can easily build a DIY solar shower with affordable hardware store supplies such as PVC pipes, hoses, buckets, and garden-grade spigots or spray heads. In addition, most solar shower projects, particularly simple, mobile types, require no specialized technical skills or equipment. On the other hand, formal, permanent DIY solar shower setups…
-
Solar Combiner Box Wiring Diagram: Essential Installation Roadmaps
If you have a solar combiner box with a confusing or missing wiring diagram, you’ll have to find a better example, seek advice on deciphering it, or even draw one up yourself. We can help you do this by describing the different types of diagrams you may encounter and how to find, read, and understand…
-
Solar Panels Series or Parallel: The Evergreen Solar Dilemma
Solar panel series offer good expansion potential and lower cost, parallel connections are less prone to shading issues, while hybrid options combine the best of both worlds. Series connected arrays produce higher voltages and low amperage, allowing for growth and low installation costs. In contrast, parallel wiring models produce low voltages and high amperage and…
-
Convert Outdoor Light to Solar – 3 Easy Ways With Diagrams
An “off the shelf” kit to convert outdoor light to solar power can save you time and fuss, but doing it yourself will save you money and ensure a system that stands the test of time. Let’s jump straight in. 3 Ways to Convert Outside Mains Lights to Solar Power 1. Stand-Alone Solar Light Fixture…
-
How to Size MPPT Solar Charge Controller Units
So, you think sizing an MPPT charge controller is hard? A job reserved for guys in horn-rimmed glasses and lab coats. Well, think again. Sizing a charge controller actually nowhere near as difficult as you imagine. And we are going to show you how to size MPPT solar charge controller units the easy way! Granted,…
