What types of Solar Panels are there?
Once you have ascertained what size solar panel system you want, the next step is to judge what type of solar panels will meet your needs. This should not be a decision based only on price, as power efficiency, lifetime, warranty, and the area needed are also important factors.
Too often people base a purchasing decision on price only, and then in two years wonder why no-one answers the phone from the “fly-by-night company” they purchased their solar panels from when the inverter dies or their output is reduced by half. It’s also quite important to know that there are different qualities of panels on the market and you should compare “apples with apples”.
There are three main types of panels: Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, and thin-film or Amorphous, and it’s important to know the advantages and disadvantages of each. If your sole hurdle when buying panels is price, then I suggest you compare “like with like”. It’s senseless to compare the price of Mono with the latest Amorphous panel and make your purchasing decision from cost alone.
One very important distinction to make regarding solar panels is the range wattages on the market. Watts are related to the output of each panel, so a 200W panel would output 200 watts per hour. You can expect to pay double the price of a 100W panel.
Warranties
Solar PV (photo-voltaic) panels come with a performance warranty that should last up to 25 years, and a guarantee of five to ten years. As well, installers can provide a warranty on workmanship, which is typically five years. Ask your solar retailer who will be providing the warranty, the name of the importer and/or manufacturer, and what should happen if something fails.
You should be aware that if a cheap solar panel importer stops trading in the future, their warranty obligation ceases. You’d probably feel far more peace with a well-known brand that has service agents for warranty work in Australia.
These are three main types of solar panel available, each with their own benefits:
Monocrystalline Cells
Monocrystalline panels are a proven and reliable technology, used for the past 50 years and still popular today. They have the best conversion efficiency at 12-18% of all sunlight. As these have the highest power to size ratio, they’re the best option if you have limited roof space. They also degrade very slowly, generally losing 0.25 – 0.5% per year. Their lifespan can be 25 years, and even up to 50 years if taken care of.
Disadvantages:
Monocrystalline cells don’t perform as well as other panels in shady conditions, and they are quite fragile. They are more expensive to manufacture due to their complexity.
Polycrystalline Cells
Polycrystalline compares fairly well in performance and longevity to monocrystalline, and provide efficiency of 12-13%. Well known brands include BP SX, Sharp and Kyocera.
Polycrystalline panels withstand great longevity (around 25 years). They work best at 25 degrees C but will lose some efficiency at higher temperatures (over 50 degrees C), which is common in our summer.
Amorphous Thin Film
Thin film panels typically have a much lower efficiency at 6%, however, Cadmium Telluride Thin-Film panels (CdTe) have progressed to 11% efficiency. These are more suitable for inland Australia conditions where space is no problem and temperatures are hot. Amorphous panels don’t lose energy in higher heats.
Disadvantages are: Expected lifespan is reduced; there is a 3-6 month breaking-in period; and they typically require double to triple the roof space for the same output of crystalline cells.
When choosing solar panels remember to focus on the goal of recouping your set-up costs through savings in electricity. The more efficient and higher watt panels can do this faster. However, if you are looking at solar farms in Outback Australia where temperatures routinely go higher than 40 degrees celcius and there is some cloud cover (these panels also work much better in the shade}, then these panels may well be for you.
The Requirements of Solar Panels
With the various types of solar panels, the owner must ensure they are maintained and kept free from dirt and shade, because these factors affect solar power output.
Panels are placed facing north and at a roof angle of a minimum 10 degrees. Do the solar panels you’ve budgeted for physically fit in the space you want to install them? Each solar panel is about 1.6 m long by 0.8 m wide. A 1.5kW solar panel system requires around 12 m² of north-facing roof space. As mentioned, this footprint varies depending on the type of panel. Don’t worry if you can’t work out the amount of unshaded space the roof has for your panels, because your specialist will calculate it precisely when quoting. You may want to be conservative with the space, however, in the event you wish to add more panels later to cover more of your energy needs.
My Solar Price specialise in solar power, solar hot water, and solar pool heating quotes. For three free quotes you can visit My Solar Price.
Sphere: Related ContentSydney - Australia’s Harbour City
If you think a night out in the Harbour City is mainly clubs and pubs, think again. Be creative and you’ll find another type of Sydney nightlife. There are a number of spooky evening options in this most historic of Australian cities – a history of ghosts! One of Sydney’s haunted and historic areas is The Rocks, the original favoured stomping-ground of whalers, sailors, convicts and gangs.
To discover another kind of Sydney at night, experience Kings Cross. Kings Cross has a rich social and cultural history and yet is a notorious suburb. It is full of true crime scenes and clubs, with lurid tales of wheeling, dealing and corruption.
If your idea of a good night out involves something with a lighter theme, try Luna Park. The amusement park is all lit up and you can be thrilled on the wild rides.
Thrill seeking of another kind awaits those who are game to venture high above the harbour with a bridge climb. For an evening on the harbour rather than above it, hire an experienced skipper to sail you to a private bay in the harbour and drop anchor. You may dine in wonder when the lights of the city reflect magically on the water, and witness the beautiful views of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
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Sphere: Related ContentWilderness Escapes in Tasmania
If anyone loves getting out into the wild, surrounded by native life, then they should absolutely visit the Australian island of Tasmania. For holiday details about Tasmania including accommodation, attractions and activities, consider visiting the Tasmania Visitors Bureau. This island is blessed to have an amazing combination of lush wilderness escapes, a long and interesting history and endless scenic vistas. International visitors will need to make prior arrangements for accommodation and transport, so planning is essential. The Tasmania Visitors Bureau saves travellers from going through all those hassles connected with holiday bookings. Prompt and in-depth answers to the questions regarding your visit to Tasmania are given free of charge.
Visitors who like high impact sports and other adrenalin-pumping activities would enjoy Tasmania. Activities such as rafting, jet boating, diving, horse riding, sea kayaking, climbing/abseiling and cable hang gliding are guaranteed to keep people on the edge and in high spirits. Rafting is available on a number of rivers in Tasmania including the Derwent River, Arthur River, Picton River and Franklin River. A special mention ought to be made about white water rafting on the Franklin River as it is a fabulous multi-day adventure spot. A minimum of 10 days could be used to complete a full experience along the Franklin. On this trip adventurers will come across the amazing rapids present at the Great Ravine. Tourists interested in a one-day rafting adventure from Hobart, can do this at Picton River.
If horse riding is your love, there are lots of riding experiences on the Tasman Peninsula, Central Highlands, Strahan, Ben Lomond and Coles Bay. Sea kayaking is yet another activity that is extremely popular in Tasmania and kayak operators can be located in Strahan, Hobart, Freycinet, Bathurst Harbour and Bruny Island to name a few. The Tasmania Visitors Bureau also elaborates on such adventure sports as abseiling/climbing, caving, and cycling/mountain biking. Tourists who are looking for some abseiling/climbing thrill in their holidays should check out the guided trips in places like Tasman Peninsula, Coles Bay, Cataract Gorge (Launceston) and Ben Lomond. For avid cyclists, bikes are available for hire to cycle around Hobart. Bikers can also trek through the mountains and the national forests of Tasmania.
Many visitors might not be keen on adventure sports so they can look for fishing and cruising opportunities. Cruising provides a great, relaxing experience for tourists and is an enjoyable way of exploring the magnificent rivers and harbours of Tasmania. Gordon River Cruises is one of the most popular tours on the island. Any trip to Tasmania remains incomplete without a captivating sail on the renowned Gordon River. For visiting heritage locations and finding the best fishing opportunities, visitors are advised to check out the West Coast of Tasmania.
The Tasmania Visitors Bureau are the specialists for Tasmania holidays and cheap package deals. Tasmania holiday packages not only take the pain out of planning a vacation but save you time and money also. Great deals for Hobart accommodation are in good supply too.
Sphere: Related ContentThe Development of the Diesel Engine
The most outstanding feature of the diesel engine is its efficiency. By compressing air rather than using an air-fuel mixture, the diesel engine is not limited by the preignition issues that affect high-compression spark-ignition engines. Thus, higher compression ratios may be achieved with diesel engines than with the spark-ignition variety; equally, higher theoretical cycle efficiencies, when compared with the latter, can often be realized.
It should be noted that for a given compression ratio the theoretical efficiency of the spark-ignition engine is more than that of the compression-ignition engine; but in practice it is possible to operate compression-ignition engines at compression ratios high enough to produce efficiencies greater than those attainable with spark-ignition systems. Furthermore, diesel engines don’t rely on throttling the intake mixture to control power. As such, the idling and reduced-power efficiency of the diesel is far superior to that of the spark-ignition engine.
The principal drawback of diesel engines is the emission of air pollutants. These engines typically discharge high levels of particulate matter (soot), reactive nitrogen compounds (commonly designated NOx), and smell, compared with spark-ignition engines. Consequently, in the small-engine category, consumer purchase is low.
A diesel engine is started by driving it from an external power source until conditions have been established by which the engine can run by its own power. The easiest starting method is to allow in air from a high-pressure source, about 1.7 to nearly 2.4 megapascals, to each of the cylinders in turn on their normal firing stroke. The compressed air becomes heated enough to ignite the fuel.
Other starting methods include auxiliary equipment and include admitting blasts of compressed air to an air-activated motor geared to rotate a large engine’s flywheel; supplying electric current to an electric starting motor, similarly geared to the engine flywheel; and applying a small gasoline engine geared to the engine flywheel. The selection of the best starting method depends on the actual size of the engine to be started, the type of the connected load, and whether or not the load is able to be disconnected on starting.
Looking for cheap cars? Brisbane can offer cheap cheap cars for students, workers and visiting backpackers. Pool together and share the costs.
Sphere: Related ContentWhich method of carpet cleaning gets the best results?
Carpet is such a worthwhile addition to any Brisbane home, but just like all textile products, the looks and longevity of a carpet hugely depends on through cleaning and maintenance.
Generally, proper carpet care involves regular vacuuming and cleaning using these techniques: shampooing, foam cleaning, dry cleaning, bonnet cleaning, and steam cleaning, or hot water extraction.
Now, the question is, which one of these techniques deliver the best results? Most carpet manufacturers, including professional carpeting and cleaning organisations, are unanimous with their answers.
They state that steam cleaning or hot water extraction is the most thorough way to clean even the grummiest carpet. Steam cleaning is the most common technique used by professionals. In fact the Australian Standard even states that other methods are only interim cleaning methods and that hot water extraction is the primary method.
Steam cleaning uses a hot water cleaning solution that is sprayed on the carpet via a high pressure jet spray. A truck-mounted or portable machine is then used to thoroughly extract the solution (together with the dissolved dirt). However, note that the truck-mounted equipment is more powerful than the portable one and should be used where possible.
Steam cleaning also consists of a number of phases - from pre-vacuuming to remove the dry soils in the carpet before wetting and turning to mud, treating stains and spots (if any), pre-spraying with a cleaning solution, agitation (hand or machine operated) of the cleaning solution into the carpet, hot water extraction, rinsing with a neutralising aid, and speed drying.
But why is it considered the best? Because only steam cleaning does the following:
- The high amount of heat it emits kills bacteria, molds, fungus, and dust mites, making it the most hygienic process to clean carpets.
- It doesn’t leave any residue if done correctly, making your carpet soft, fresh and clean once dry.
- It is the only technique that has the vacuuming process used the entire time which means more “nasties” are removed from your carpet.
As we all know, carpets are very expensive - so you want them to always be in great condition and to last as long as possible.
Highly recommended by professionals, steam carpet cleaning is the best way for you to maintain your valuable investment in soft floor coverings.
Now that we know the best method for keeping your carpets clean the question most asked is how long will my carpets take to dry after cleaning?
The time frame for carpets to be totally dry depends on several variables, such as the level of soiling and the cleaning method used. Generally, it can be anywhere from 30 minutes to 12 hours. The Australian Standard states that up to 24 hours is acceptable.
If you use steam cleaning or hot water extraction by a professional, drying should take 2 hours to 12 hours. Take into consideration the following factors to determine how long it will take for your carpet to dry, and what you can do to make it dry much faster.
The type of fibre- This is by far the most important thing. Wool carpets take a lot longer to dry then synthetics. Wool carpets are about 30 % absorbent compared to the few percent range for synthetics.
Thickness and Weight of the Carpet – The thicker the carpet, the longer time it will need to dry.
Exposure to Air – If your room doesn’t have windows, or if the windows are shut, to create ventilation, evaporation will be lessened. Turn on the fan in your room to improve air circulation, making your carpet dry faster. During warmer seasons, turn on the air conditioner instead.
The Humidity and Weather conditions- Obviously the higher the humidity the longer it will take for carpets to dry. Is it a hot fine day or a cold wet day for example?
Now, if you really need your carpet to dry at a much faster rate, opt for professional carpet cleaners that offer speed drying services on top of state of the art equipment and years of experience.
Carpet Cleaning Brisbane specialise in carpet cleaning Brisbane as well as other associated services. Carpet Cleaning Brisbane are highly trained, professional Brisbane carpet cleaners.
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