solar panels
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June 28, 2013
Most solar panel setups feature the same basic design elements as they include layers of silicon built into a photovoltaic, or PV, panel. The panels collect electrons and charge them positively and negatively. In addition, the sun’s light adds photons to the silicon layers. This process causes the electrons to shift closer together. With the electrons closer together, the unit gathers the charged electrons and transforms them into electricity.
Homeowners can choose from several PV panel options when they decide to make their home more environmentally friendly with solar energy. The most common solar panels feature amorphous and crystalline silicon. In addition, there are four main types
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April 18, 2013
Solar panels continue to decline in price even though imports have recently slowed down. With the 30% federal tax credit, photovoltaic systems can cost as little as $2.00 per watt. Interested homeowners often express worry that they won't understand this complicated technology. Fortunately, solar panels are simple to maintain.
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February 11, 2013
[caption id="attachment_1772" align="alignleft" width="150"] Solar power system[/caption]
Solar cells are almost like magic. These inert devices, with no moving parts, are able to convert simple sunshine into electrical power. Although the novelty of solar power systems makes them seem complicated, in reality they are quite simple.
Parts of a Solar Power System
A complete solar power system consists of a few parts. A simple system usually contains one or more solar panels, an inverter and a mounting system. The solar panels capture the energy of the sun and are built from a carefully engineered sandwich of semiconductors. The inverter is needed to convert the DC power of the solar
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January 03, 2013
With energy costs at all-time highs, it's not surprising that many people are looking for alternative ways to generate electricity. Solar power is a prime example. If the idea of reducing your dependence on traditional energy appeals to you, you may be thinking about having solar panels installed on your home. While there are plenty of advantages to doing so, there are many disadvantages as well. It's important to weigh the pros and cons before taking the plunge.
Advantages of Solar Panels
Once solar panels are installed, energy is generated for free. No raw materials are needed to produce solar energy; all you need is sunlight. Many
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December 05, 2012
ImpactBattery.com and several of our Goal Zero solar panel and battery products were featured on a segment of Living In Style called "I Gotta Have That". Hosted by Rhonda Castagna, the segment shows how cool and functional it is to use these Goal Zero products and underscored (not in a scary way) how easy it is to have them available in the case of unforeseen disasters like Hurricane Sandy, earthquakes and similar events.
We love these products because they are fun and easy to use for daily living, like when we go camping in our pop-top tent trailer (or even without) and do not have electrical hookups. Check this out:
Host: Rhonda Castagna
TV Show: -
July 31, 2011
Follow this link to view or purchase flexible or portable solar panels, otherwise enjoy the blog article.
[caption id="attachment_468" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Bolan Peak Fire Lookout"][/caption]
This past weekend (July 22-24, 2011) I had the pleasure of taking my oldest son into the Siskiyou mountains of Southern Oregon and Northern California for some father/son time. We stayed in an old fire tower atop Bolan Peak nestled around 6200 ft amongst a handful of craggy peaks reaching around 7500 feet. The weather was perfect as we finally experienced summer like temperatures that had eluded
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July 13, 2011
Summertime is prime season for enjoying the outdoors and array of warm-weather sports like boating, motorcycling, RV trips, and extreme sports. But don’t overlook another advantage of our good ol’ sunshine: charging your portable electronics!
Amstron’s compact solar battery and charger for mobile devices let you have the power of the sun at your fingertips and provides for emergency or backup power for your phone or any mini USB using device, such as MP3/MP4 players or digital camera under 1200mAh.
The solar charger is designed for use with Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson or other mini USB cell phones. But cell
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May 09, 2011
[caption id="attachment_324" align="alignright" width="264" caption="MP3450 Tekkeon Portable Battery"][/caption]
The Tekkeon portable battery packs have arrived at Impact Battery! These lightweight lithium polymer batteries can be used to power a multitude of gadgets including, cell phones, laptops, PDA's, portable DVD players, iPhone, iPad, hand held gaming systems--the list goes on. They are versatile rechargeable units that draw power from the included AC adapter and DC power sources such as the cigarette lighter adapter in vehicles and solar panels. The output voltage ranges from 5V (USB portal) to 19V. At 6.85" (L) x 3.32" (W) x
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February 17, 2011
As consumers continue to look for ways to save on their energy costs and reduce household expenses, more and more are turning to solar panels as an option. Solar power is an environmentally sound way to utilize existing energy, and many naysayers who used to fight against the use of solar panels are now agreeing it makes sense. Solar panels are being allowed in more neighborhoods with deed restrictions than ever before, and the trend is expected to increase in popularity in the coming years. They are not just for homes either; energy-conscious consumers are utilizing them for their boat, RV and other purposes as well, including extending the run time of your laptop computer!
If you are in need of anything solar, look no further than Impact Battery. We feature a variety of solar panels from industry leaders like Sharp, BP Solar, iMob, Power Up and Global Solar Energy and have a user-friendly site so you can search by
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December 17, 2010
Welcome to the brand new Impact Battery Blog! Each week you will find a new blog post discussing information about the products we sale on Impact Battery. and also helpful tips to help you get the most out of your batteries. You might even hear about a few sales and discounts. So, whether you are looking for a motorcycle, golf cart, solar powered, scooter, or ATV battery we are starting this blog to help you better understand the great world of batteries.
However, we aren't just focused on selling batteries, as our mission states, we give back a portion of every sale to local community organizations and schools. We believe everyone plays a role in strengthening our neighborhoods which is why you, the customer, get to choose who we support. This is our