How can I get into using solar panels?
 

I'm only in a small apartment right now, are there any solar panels that will provide enough electricity for some room lighting?

I have a solar powered battery charger for AA,AAA etc. But I've read that some briefcase solar panels can power a refrigerator or similar appliance.

So what experience do you have with these, or what would you recommend?

Re: How can I get into using solar panels?
 

In an apartment you might want to put them outside of the southern windows.

In most apartments the hassles you have to go through to put them up far outweigh the benefits from use you can extract.

the panels work best as larger installations. large pv area, large battery bank.

to put up a small panel to power your reading light at night seems quite unproductive. if you want to be prepared for possible loss of electricity then buy a generator.

Although, living in an apartment, this is akin to giving headache medicine to a mortally wounded

Re: How can I get into using solar panels?
 

http://www.off-grid.net/index.php?p=420

Run a search on solar + diode lighting, you should find somethings.

http://cgi.ebay.com/LARGE-OUTDOOR-SO...QQcmdZViewItem

:cheerful: Maybe put this outside during the day and bring it in at night.

Re: How can I get into using solar panels?
 

thanks, will take a look!

Re: How can I get into using solar panels?
 

I have a small system I built using a panel that I got for free 2 older car batts & a bunch of White LED's mounted in my drop cealing set up for emergecy lighting.

Re: How can I get into using solar panels?
 

I lived for years with only a 45 watt solar panel for lighting and radio.you will need storage in the form of lead acid batteries I only ever used marine deep cycle which seemed to need replacement every 5 years the true deep cycles
are more expensive but can last 20 years.led or flouro lighting is your most
efficient lighting for small solar setups.I did also have a small generator
for recharging in poor weather and running larger tools I dont know how you would use a generator in an apartment because of CO poisoning? to make best use of low energy lighting think about light coloured rooms and free of clutter.
also candles are good, if you have a window with good DIRECT sun you have a viable location for your panel You
could probably pretty easily fit a 50 watt panel they are not that large.may even work for you inside window though
probably not as efficiently.most refrigerators are huge energy hogs on a small solar setup would probably rule that
out while you are in an apartment.

Re: How can I get into using solar panels?
 

for lighting I like led lanterns. Some of them will last over 200 hours on low, on one set of batteries. That's over one month using it 6 hours a night.

My NiteHawk Emitter bike lite will run for something like 200 hours on 4 AA batteries.

Re: How can I get into using solar panels?
 

If you have a southern exposure, get this:
harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90599
and a 12 volt gel cell and some 12 volt led light bars.

Re: How can I get into using solar panels?
 

interesting ideas, i've never thought of lanterns before, i'll look into it.

Re: How can I get into using solar panels?
 

whenever you use solar panels it is always best and cheaper to use the most efficient bulbs which are LED's

i heard that DOT throw away functional panels that only have a damaged cell, you may want to call them

you can get dead forklift batteries cheap and recondition them