Cross-Tied-Battery-Bank

In larger battery banks, where you have multiple series – parallel strings of batteries, you run the risk of some batteries getting more “depleated” than others, and this degrades your pack performance.

A simple way to reduce this effect is to cross-tie your batteries. This is a not often used but important method of getting extreme life out of your expensive batteries.

See above diagram for details of Cross-Tied-Battery-Bank

The dotted lines show the cross tie cables. It’s also important to make sure your cables are large enough so that you are not losing power as heat through resistance.

If you have caps on your batteries, not maintenance free, check the water levels once a month and top them off during charging. Do not overflow.

Breaking-News-Eco-Friendly-Couple-Go-Shopping-On-Horseback

Video Link: (Source STV) CLICK HERE

An eco-mad Aberdeenshire couple have swapped their hatchback for horseback when embarking on their weekly shopping trips.

Green-thinking Joyce Youngson-Lamb and her husband Geoff now embark on a scenic two hour horse ride to pick up their groceries – when it only takes ten minutes by car.

But the environmentally aware pair insist the eight mile round trip to Ballater that involves crossing the River Dee is no big deal.

Joyce said: “Shopping on horseback is under-rated. It’s the perfect way to multi-task and today’s modern woman has to do exactly that to keep up!

“I like to trot along to the shops with my husband and our two horses. It gives us fresh air and exercise and we’re able to support the local community”.

Geoff added: “I’m an environmentalist, so I like doing things the hard way. Environmental living is about being difficult and it’s never the most economical or the most profitable”.

Their journey is made possible by following the old Deeside Railway line which has been closed since the 1960s.

And recent repairs to some of the bridges mean horses can now go along the picturesque route

Joyce said: “Prior to that it was pedestrian and cyclists only and with us having half a tonne of horse each, we needed to know the bridges were safe”.

Their shopping list is chosen with extreme care. After all – there is only so much they can carry back.

Joyce added: “Some things suit horse shopping better than others. For instance - our steak. If you think it’s tender when you get it, by the time you get it back on the horse, it’s absolutely super-dooper tender.

“Gin and tonic is a bit heavy but we can usually manage. Eggs though are a definite no, no”.

Breaking-News-UK-Government-Release-New-Microgeneration-Tarrif-For-Renewable-Energy

The Government has announced today (July 16th 2009) the details of the proposed feed-in tariff for microgeneration from systems like small wind turbines and solar photovoltaics. The new tariff will pay for all energy generated by your system, irrespective of if you use it yourself or sell it back to the grid. The amounts paid are in addition to any saving you will make by purchasing less electricity from your supplier and any income you earn from selling your surplus power to your electricty supplier.

The key points of the announcement are:

- 36.5p/kWh for small solar photovoltaic systems up to 4kW and 28p/kWh for systems up to 10kW.
- 23.0p/kWh for small wind turbines between 1.5kW and 15kW.- Replaces the current ROC system which pays 10p/kWh.- Effective as of the 1st April 2010, but all systems commissioned from now on will qualify.- Systems installed from now until April 2010 will be eligible for both LCBP grants AND the new tariff.

A typical home solar photovoltaic system of 3kW, generating approximately 2,300kWh per annum will therefore earn around £1,000 per annum, which is an additional £600, dramatically reducing payback times.

An Evance Iskra R9000 small wind turbine will typically earn £2,000 - £3,000 per annum which is an additional £1,000.
A Gaia 133 small wind turbine installed at a modestly windy site will earn £6,000 - £9,000 per annum which is an additional £3,000, making it a very economic proposition with likely payback times of less than 5 years on a typical site.

Grid-Tie-Inverter-G83-Certification

What is a Grid-Tie Inverter?

A Grid-Tie inverter converts DC (Direct Current) from renewable energy sources such as Solar PV and Wind Turbines into 230 VAC (Volts Alternating Current). What is clever about a Grid-Tie inverter is that it synchronizes with the national grid's electricity supply frequency and back feeds the grid. This pushes electrical current back into the national grid and if the power your inverter is supplying is in excess of the power you are consuming then it will effectively run your electric meter backwards.

The clever part of a Grid-Tie inverter is that if the national grid supply is shut off then the inverter instantly senses this and ceases to create power. If this did not happen then the grid would still be energised by your Grid-Tie inverter (Extremely dangerous to a linesman / electrician working on a supposedly dead grid!)

In the UK a Grid-Tie inverter has to have a G83 Certificate to allow it to interconnect to the national grid system.

With recent advances in technology a Grid-Tie inverter can be purchased for around £100 GBP for a 200W version which will allow you to reduce your electricity bills. They can be added in parallel over time to allow for expansion. You can use them with many sources of renewable energy, some examples are: A Wind Turbine, Solar Panels, Micro-Hydro Turbines or even a Diesel Generator running on WVO (Waste Vegetable Oil)

The ever popular Windsave house mounted wind turbine uses the same setup described above to back feed the national grid system.

NanoSolar-Printed-Solar-Cells-Cheapest-In-The-World

NanoSolar Inc - Printing Solar Film

For a number of years I have been watching the development of a Californian based company NanoSolar Inc (Nano Solar Inc). My interest started when I realised that the cost of solar cells were so high it would never become viable for every rooftop to have a solar panel array. I have thought of various ways and means to bring cheap renewable energy to the masses but always strayed back to Solar PV cells.

What they have come up with is a way to print (Screen Print) Solar Substrate straight onto a thin foil material which means no more expensive silicon wafer based panels which are thick, heavy and expensive to produce. The new technology opens up a whole new dimension for end users.

Imagine an all electric vehicle with a Solar PV shell? How about solar slates that are cheaper than roofing tiles? A parking lot for electric vehicles with a solar roof? The new uses are endless!

NanoSolar Inc are fully booked with orders for the next 2 years (Correct as of July 2009) The demand is huge, they are gearing up for more production capacity already!

I would love to see a time when renewable energy can directly compete with fossil derived fuels (Coal, Oil & Gas) I think the Printed Solar Panels are a step in the right direction.

Semiconductor Printing

Printing is by far the simplest, highest-yield, and most capital-efficient technique for depositing thin films. Printing is extremely fast; the equipment involved is easy to use and maintain; and it works in plain air (no vacuum chamber required).

Another key advantage of a printable CIGS ink is that one can print it just where one wants it to be, achieving high materials utilization of the semiconductor material.

Printing is much simpler and more robust than vacuum deposition techniques such as sputtering or evaporation which have conventionally been used to fabricate thin-film solar cells; the process cost of vacuum techniques is so high that the result is not an inexpensive cell relative to the per-square-meter economics that the solar industry requires.

Renewable-Energy-Website-UK

FreeLoader–Globetrotter-Pack–Review–Cheapest-UK-Price

FreeLoader – Globetrotter Pack – Review – Cheapest UK Price!

‘To purchase a Free Loader Globetrotter Pack at an exclusive price we have teamed up with the UK’s leading distributor of alternative energy products ‘Tango Group Limited’ If you would like to purchase one then please use Discount Voucher Code AMSC8093

This is an offer not to be missed! 10% Off plus free P&P in the UK!

Pros
If you are an outdoors type or are planning a holiday in a remote location or backpacking across the globe then this really is something you will be glad you purchased. The FreeLoader Globetrotter is a portable solar energy recharging station; it is a battery pack for storing solar energy and a recharging pack for charging up practically any portable electronic device!
On a sunny day you can recharge the FreeLoader battery pack via the 2 small solar PV wings and also attach the Supercharger solar cell to boost the charging. Once the Free Loader battery pack is fully charged you can take it with you and when you need to recharge something you have the means to do so.

Never be without charging power again, regardless of where you are on earth, providing the sun shines, you have what it takes to keep energised!

Due to the technology behind the Free Loader – Globetrotter Packs batteries (Li-Ion) they hold lots of power and are incredibly light unlike the older battery technologies (NI-CAD – NiMH) which store similar amounts of power but weigh much more.

Cons
When road testing the FreeLoader Globetrotter Pack from Tango Group we found it really hard to pick fault with its performance, design, ruggedness nor its overall feel. The only thing we considered a tiny problem was that the Free Loader power pack case was finished in a stainless steel effect and it may, over time, get scratched! This is merely an aesthetic design issue and cannot be counted as something that goes against the product.

Design
The design of the FreeLoader Globetrotter Pack is great. The power pack is compact and has detachable solar PV wings. This enables compact storage and prevents against accidental damage when not in use.

The FreeLoader Globetrotter Super Charger (The Large Additional Solar PV Panel) is practically indestructible. The Solar Cells are mounted on a clear PVC sheet (Not Glass) so it will withstand knocks and drops! It comes in its own weatherproof carry pouch with can be attached to all manner of items via the Velcro straps. It will mount to a Bike, Back Pack, Tent Roof, even On Top Of Your Head!

Features
The FreeLoader Globetrotter Pack has the following features.

1. Will charge virtually any electronic portable device
2. Master cable to connect the unit to any of the 11 charging adaptors
3. 11 Adaptor charging clips
4. FreeLoader Portable Solar Charger
5. Supercharger solar PV panel
6. Supercharger case
7. FreeLoader tough case
8. Li-Ion 1000MAH internal rechargeable battery
9. 6V DC output charging voltage
10. 250MA output charge current

Durability
The FreeLoader Globetrotter Pack is designed with durability in mind. The last thing you want is your only source of power breaking in the middle of nowhere! Everything in its design has been thoroughly though about to make the FreeLoader Globetrotter Pack long lasting and able to withstand the most hostile of climates.

Value
£49.49 including UK Delivery is an exclusive price only available from HomeBrewPower, just Email us HERE to receive your special discount code for use at Tango Group Limited

Rating (1-5)
5 out of 5!

Free-Loader-Product-Reviews

We are proud to announce that we have teamed up with 'Tango Group' to enable us to offer you reviews on all of their Eco / renewable energy products.Use our links on the left and right of each web page to browse for the Brand of your choice.

Read the review and follow the instructions to obtain your special TangoGroup discount code from HomeBrewPower

For product reviews and to purchase Free Loader products at the best prices on the internet!

PowerMonkey-Product-Reviews

We are proud to announce that we have teamed up with 'Tango Group' to enable us to offer you reviews on all of their Eco / renewable energy products.Use our links on the left and right of each web page to browse for the Brand of your choice.

Read the review and follow the instructions to obtain your special TangoGroup discount code from HomeBrewPower

For product reviews and to purchase PowerMonkey products at the best prices on the internet!

EcoZone-Product-Reviews

We are proud to announce that we have teamed up with 'Tango Group' to enable us to offer you reviews on all of their Eco / renewable energy products.Use our links on the left and right of each web page to browse for the Brand of your choice.

Read the review and follow the instructions to obtain your special TangoGroup discount code from HomeBrewPower

For product reviews and to purchase EcoZone products at the best prices on the internet!

Horizon-Fuel-Cell-Technologies-Product-Reviews

We are proud to announce that we have teamed up with 'Tango Group' to enable us to offer you reviews on all of their Eco / renewable energy products.Use our links on the left and right of each web page to browse for the Brand of your choice.

Read the review and follow the instructions to obtain your special TangoGroup discount code from HomeBrewPower

For product reviews and to purchase Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies products at the best prices on the internet!

Air-Free-Product-Reviews

We are proud to announce that we have teamed up with 'Tango Group' to enable us to offer you reviews on all of their Eco / renewable energy products.Use our links on the left and right of each web page to browse for the Brand of your choice.

Read the review and follow the instructions to obtain your special TangoGroup discount code fromHomeBrewPower

For product reviews and to purchase AirFree products at the best prices on the internet!

Solio-Product-Reviews

We are proud to announce that we have teamed up with 'Tango Group' to enable us to offer you reviews on all of their Eco / renewable energy products.Use our links on the left and right of each web page to browse for the Brand of your choice.

Read the review and follow the instructions to obtain your special TangoGroup discount code fromHomeBrewPower

For product reviews and to purchase Solio products at the best prices on the internet!

Solar-Technology-International-Product-Reviews

We are proud to announce that we have teamed up with 'Tango Group' to enable us to offer you reviews on all of their Eco / renewable energy products.Use our links on the left and right of each web page to browse for the Brand of your choice.

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For product reviews and to purchase Solar Technology International products at the best prices on the internet!

Eton-Product-Reviews

We are proud to announce that we have teamed up with 'Tango Group' to enable us to offer you reviews on all of their Eco / renewable energy products.Use our links on the left and right of each web page to browse for the Brand of your choice.

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For product reviews and to purchase Eton products at the best prices on the internet!

Tefal-Product-Reviews

We are proud to announce that we have teamed up with 'Tango Group' to enable us to offer you reviews on all of their Eco / renewable energy products.Use our links on the left and right of each web page to browse for the Brand of your choice.

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Trevor-Baylis-Brands-Product-Reviews

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For product reviews and to purchase Trevor Baylis Brands products at the best prices on the internet!

Moppel-Product-Reviews

We are proud to announce that we have teamed up with 'Tango Group' to enable us to offer you reviews on all of their Eco / renewable energy products.Use our links on the left and right of each web page to browse for the Brand of your choice.

Read the review and follow the instructions to obtain your special TangoGroup discount code fromHomeBrewPower

For product reviews and to purchase Moppel products at the best prices on the internet!

Efergy-Product-Reviews

We are proud to announce that we have teamed up with 'Tango Group' to enable us to offer you reviews on all of their Eco / renewable energy products.Use our links on the left and right of each web page to browse for the Brand of your choice.

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Radiator-Booster-Product-Reviews

We are proud to announce that we have teamed up with 'Tango Group' to enable us to offer you reviews on all of their Eco / renewable energy products.Use our links on the left and right of each web page to browse for the Brand of your choice.

Read the review and follow the instructions to obtain your special TangoGroup discount code from HomeBrewPower

For product reviews and to purchase Radiator Booster products at the best prices on the internet!