What types of Solar Panels are there?
Once you have decided what size solar panel system you would like, the next step is to judge what type of solar panels will meet your needs. This should not be decided based solely on price, because power efficiency, longevity, warranty, and space needed are all important factors.
Too often people base their purchasing decisions on cost alone, and then in two years wonder why no-one answers the phone at 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 very important to recognise 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 you should recognize the advantages and disadvantages of each one. If your only motivation when purchasing panels is price, then I suggest you compare “like with like”. It’s wrong to compare the price of Mono with the most recently developed Amorphous panel and make your purchasing decision based only on cost alone.
One of the most important distinctions to make regarding solar panels is the differing wattages on the market. Watts are related to the output of each panel, so a 200W panel would output 200 watts per hour. You should expect to pay double the price of a 100W panel.
Warranties
Solar PV (photo-voltaic) panels have a performance warranty that can last up to 25 years, and a guarantee of five to ten years. Also, your specialist can provide a warranty on workmanship, which is typically five years. Ask your solar retailer who is providing the warranty, the name of the importer and/or manufacturer, and what should happen if something breaks.
You should be aware that if a cheap solar panel importer stops trading in the future, their warranty obligation ceases. You will feel far more peace with a well-known brand that has service agents for warranty work in Australia.
The following describes the three main types of solar panels available, each with their own benefits:
Monocrystalline Cells
Monocrystalline panels are a proven and reliable technology, used over 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 are the best option if you’ve got 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 can be 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 typical in the Australian summer.
Amorphous Thin Film
Thin film panels typically have a 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 do not lose energy in higher heats.
Disadvantages are: Lifespan is less; there is a 3-6 month breaking-in period; and they typically require 2-3 times 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 achieve this faster. However, if you are looking at solar farms in Outback Australia where temperatures routinely climb higher than 40 degrees celcius and there is a bit of cloud cover (these panels also work much better in the shade}, then these panels may be suitable.
The Requirements of Solar Panels
With all types of solar panels, the owner must ensure they are kept free from dirt and shade, because these factors have a bearing on solar power output.
Panels are installed 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 place 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, though, in case you want 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 sort of Sydney nightlife. There are a number of spooky evening opportunities in this most historic of Australian cities – a history of ghosts! One of Sydney’s haunted and historic areas is The Rocks, the early favourite stomping-ground of whalers, sailors, convicts and gangs.
To explore a different flavour of Sydney at night, experience Kings Cross. Kings Cross has a rich social and cultural history and yet is a notorious suburb. It is filled with real-life crime scenes and clubs, with lurid tales of wheeling, dealing and corruption.
If your idea of a great night out involves something with a lighter theme, head to Luna Park. The amusement park is all lit up and you can let loose 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 secluded bay in the harbour and drop anchor. You can dine in wonder when the lights of the city reflect magically on the water, and witness the sensational views of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
For the more intimate occasions call Jessica De Torres for a fine dining conversation. Her highly prized skills as an elite Escort Sydney have created an amazing reputation through her stunning attributes. Jessica De Torres an independent, private, young, busty blonde escort who is definitely one of the premier escorts in Sydney. You will have so much more than just a fantastic sensual experience, by having a genuine girlfriend experience. And ultimately erotic relaxation along with a totally memorable encounter.
Sphere: Related ContentWilderness Escapes in Tasmania
If anyone enjoys escaping into the wilderness, surrounded by nature, then they should absolutely go to the Australian island of Tasmania. For holiday details about Tasmania including places to stay, attractions and things to do, visit the Tasmania Visitors Bureau. This island is blessed to have a wonderful combination of lush wilderness escapes, a long and interesting heritage and endless scenic landscapes. International travellers will need to make prior arrangements for accommodation and transport, so planning is necessary. The Tasmania Visitors Bureau saves travellers from going through all those hassles associated with holiday bookings. Quick and comprehensive answers to many queries regarding your visit to Tasmania are provided free of charge.
Travellers who are fond of extreme sports and other adrenalin-pumping activities will love Tasmania. Activities such as rafting, jet boating, diving, horse riding, sea kayaking, climbing/abseiling and cable hang gliding are sure to keep people on the edge and in high spirits. Rafting can be done on a few rivers in Tasmania including the Derwent River, Arthur River, Picton River and Franklin River. Particular mention ought to be made about white water rafting on the Franklin River as it is a wonderful multi-day adventure spot. A minimum of 10 days would be taken to complete a full experience along the Franklin. On this trip adventurers will come across the fantastic rapids of the Great Ravine. Visitors keen on a one-day rafting trip from Hobart, can do so at Picton River.
If horse riding is your passion, there are plenty of trail-riding experiences for the Tasman Peninsula, Central Highlands, Strahan, Ben Lomond and Coles Bay. Sea kayaking is another activity that is extremely popular in Tasmania and kayak availability can be found in Strahan, Hobart, Freycinet, Bathurst Harbour and Bruny Island to name a few. The Tasmania Visitors Bureau also details such adventure sports as abseiling/climbing, caving, and cycling/mountain biking. Tourists who are looking for an abseiling/climbing experience in their holidays should check out the guided trips in locations 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.
Some visitors might not be keen on adventure sports and they could look at fishing and cruising opportunities. Cruising provides a very relaxing experience for visitors and is an enjoyable way of exploring the fabulous rivers and harbours of Tasmania. Gordon River Cruises is one of the most popular tours on the island. A holiday to Tasmania remains incomplete without a captivating sail on the renowned Gordon River. For visiting heritage locations and finding the best fishing opportunities, tourists 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 ContentWhich method of carpet cleaning gets the best results?
Carpet is such a wonderful addition to any Brisbane home, but just like all fibre products, the beauty and life of a carpet hugely depends on proper 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 methods 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 dirtiest 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 delivery system. 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 uses 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.
- 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 months, 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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