Q:Hi, I am starting to get curious about the pros/cons of installing solar panels - has anyone done it and is it worth it?

The trouble is that it is so expensive to have installed and as you say it will take many years before you actually start saving above what the installation cost was, I personally would not go ahead and make that sort of investment, it would be more profitable to keep the money in a building society, get the interest from it and use that to pay for your electricity but the main thing that I have against solar Panels is that unless you stay in that house for at least twenty five years you will not reach the point where you are saving and to capitalise on it you would have to stay there for many years more, so you will not have the option of moving house without losing your investment and at the moment having solar panels does not increase the value of the property, it is just a good selling point, when you buy your new house, you would probably have to start all over again and then because of the years will never live long enough to reap any benefit from it.

Q:Can u guys help on how solar panels work and how it generates electricity?(or u can give me a good website that has solar panel info on it)~Thanks in advance!~

Solar okorder under products that are sorted by watts per area. Also go to wikipedia to get more detailed information on solar cells.

Q:Can I fet free solar panels. This site okorder sells a book that tells how to, but I ordered tha book more then a year a go, and in never came. I even sent them a email a day for more then 3 months and never heard back from them. If anyone knows how to get free pannels, please let me know how. A $300.00 a month bill is slowly killing me.

If you sent payment via the US mail, report them for fraud. Next, solar panels usually have a high upfront cost for the homeowner - but this is usually offset by a tax refund. The amount of refund varies by area. Check out the cost with a local installer - they have the most motivation to know all the tax breaks you can get. Then save for it, and in the mean time switch your bulbs to fluorescents, unplug your coffee pot, computer, VCR, microwave when off, and see if your energy company provides free insulation evaluation services. And reduce your temperature this winter by 2 degrees, and change that furnace filter.

Q:I had an idea for new parabolic solar panels shaped like horseshoes. They can install them outside buildings facing the equator. They could angle them from the ground based on how many degrees latitude the location and rotate them according to seasonal changes. The disadvantage of photovoltaic panels is that they are not all capable of receiving direct sunlight. That is the quintessential reason I believe horseshoe solar panels are more effective than flat rectangular ones. One side could function in the morning; the middle could perform at midday; and the other could operate during the evening. That method seems more sensible than hourly positioning. I'm certain horseshoe panels could save and produce more electricity. A football stadium, shopping mall, or outlet center would be a fantastic place. What do you think?

Well here would be the problem with a horseshoe panel... Due to its shape, you will get a seriously uneven distribution of solar charge. Since the horseshoe shape resembles a parabolic function, the majority of the electrical photovoltaic cells will be spanned over the larger rise/run, meaning the two ends of the parabolic shoe. A way to combat this is that as it approaches 0 from both sides (0 tangency) is to put a higher concentration of photovoltaic cells in comparison to the two ends on either side. An even better design I would say would not to use a flat panel or even a horseshoe, but instead, use a sphere shape. It's globe-like shape would never need to be adjusted. The side pointing towards the sun would absorb and the remaining 360 degrees of shape would absorb ambient light which can trickle in tons of ambient charge. It is an eyesore but the round shape would be the most efficient. If you think about it, nature is the best example to model. Just look at a tree. It's general tree shape is rounded so that all the leaves can pick up some sort of light throughout the day.

Q:Can solar panels be used to power swimming pools or hot tubs?

Yes, solar panels can be used to power swimming pools or hot tubs. Solar energy can be harnessed through solar panels and converted into electricity to operate the pumps, heaters, and other equipment required to maintain the desired temperature and cleanliness of the water in swimming pools or hot tubs.

Q:Are there government incentives for installing solar panels?

Yes, many governments provide incentives for installing solar panels. These incentives can include tax credits, grants, rebates, and low-interest loans to encourage individuals and businesses to adopt solar energy.

Q:in the afternoon sun heat increases to high level due to which the panels heats up very high now my question is this heat will effect the panels life time and will damage the panels or not ??

They degrade over time, losing efficiency. They're generally good for several decades.

Q:I have a solar panel 7.5V .25W 50mah, connect 2 in parallel to power a RC boat. The boat use to run on 6cell battery pack - 7.2V 800Mah.The dc motor requirement based on the provided battery pack, i assume would be 7.2V and rated at (7.2V * .8Amp) = 2.96 Watt.Would two of my solar panels run this DC motor ?are my calculations or understanding correct ?do lend a hand dear ''world''

solar cells are not rated in mah, they are rated in ma or amps. I'll assume this one is 50mA. Two in parallel will give you 300mA, so that will charge a 800mA-hr battery in 800/300 = 3 hours. Theoretically, in bright sunlight if the array is exactly at right angles to the sun's rays. The problem is, depending on the type of cells, the battery pack will need 8 volts or so to charge, and your solar cells won't deliver that. If the sun is at an angle, you may get only 3-5 volts. so you have to put them in series, so you will get only 50mA out of them, which will charge the battery in 6 hours of bright sunlight. Would two of my solar panels run this DC motor ? If the motor is .8 amps, you need the battery, the arrays are not near enough. Or are you attempting to replace the battery pack with the solar array? Your english makes that difficult to understand. If so, put them in parallel to get the 300mA, but that would run the .8 amp motor very slowly. If you had 2 of the solar panels, it might run at close to full speed if the sun is bright and shining directly on all the panels. But where did you get the .8 amps for the motor? The 800Mah rating of the battery has ZERO to do with the motor current. So the answer above is based on your number, which I suspect is totally wrong. .

Q:Can solar panels be used in apartments or condominiums?

Yes, solar panels can be used in apartments or condominiums. However, the feasibility of installation and usage may vary depending on the specific circumstances of the building, such as roof space, orientation, and ownership structure. Some apartments and condominiums have successfully implemented shared solar systems or community solar programs to enable residents to benefit from solar energy.

Q:Can solar panels be installed on a convention center or event venue?

Yes, solar panels can be installed on a convention center or event venue. In fact, many convention centers and event venues have already embraced solar energy as a sustainable and cost-effective solution. The large roof spaces available in these facilities are ideal for installing solar panels, which can generate clean and renewable electricity to power the venue's operations and reduce its carbon footprint. Additionally, the visibility of solar panels on such prominent buildings can serve as a powerful symbol of commitment to sustainability and inspire others to adopt renewable energy.