Mike Malloy

[GordonOKC]

Here is a great interactive. Be sure to click around on this most informative site by Scientific American.

How Much Is Left

[Tom]

The site has lots of interesting information... like this item.



August 13, 2010 | 14 comments

"Plug and Play" Solar Panel Kits Offer Homeowners Affordable Alternative Energy SourceA new company aims to make it possible to install a home solar array yourself

By David Biello




Imagine a modular solar array that you can install—without too much fear of electrocuting yourself—at a relatively low price. That's the vision of Chad Maglaque and Clarian Technologies, and one that hopes to become a reality by spring 2011.

"The key here is slowing the [electricity] meter down," Maglaque says. "Every kilowatt counts."

The "Sunfish" would work like this: Next spring go to your local hardware store or electronics retailer, purchase a power module, circuit monitor and pluggable solar panel—all the components of the "Sunfish". Return home to swap out a regular electricity outlet for the circuit monitor (not unlike installing a grounded outlet in your bathroom to prevent shock), plug in the 18-kilogram solar panel via the power module in any socket and hang it on the most convenient (and sunny) side of your house, lawn, fence or roof. Then synchronize the power module with the circuit monitor using some form of power metering software—such as Google PowerMeter or Microsoft Hohm—and electricity derived from sunlight will begin to course through the circuit of your home. "We're talking about a [do-it-yourself] handyman on the order of cable guy level of installation," Maglaque says.

... more at ...

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=solar-power-in-a-box-sunfish
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