Sun Bottles

Step 7 Final Thoughts

Ah, another fun project come to an end!  The night of Michelle's birthday party she totally bragged on me and the lights I built for her, and everyone seemed pretty impressed, so I really hope it makes up for all the presents I haven't bought her!

All in all, this one was a lot of work!  I totally think it was worth it, but if I ever make something like this for someone else I will most  definitely make sure to buy a better set of solar lights.  These ones were just too much work.

I must truly apologize for the quality of the night time pictures!  My cat, who I love but sometimes want to strangle, knocked my camera on the floor the night before I installed these.  While the camera still works, the buttons that allow me to control light sensitivity and shutter speed are broken.  It is currently impossible for me to take a decent long exposure at night so the full effect of the lights is lost somewhat.  I will post some better ones once I get a new camera, but that probably won't be soon due to financial constraints.  If anyone out there has some recommendations for a reasonably good quality but low priced camera with basic manual controls, I would really like to know about it!

As always, please take a moment to comment, rate, and/or subscribe!  I really like hearing from people about their thought regarding my instructables.  Also, if you build something based on or inspired by my project, post some pictures and I'll send you a digital patch!   Oh, and I'm experimenting with boldfacing important points in my instructable.  What do you think?  Good idea or kind of stupid?

Comments

[antling]

I totally liked solar projects and in the midst of coverting everything in my house to 12VDC and getting ready for all-solar-living (at least 80%).
in this instructible, the new panel you made consist of more than 1 "crappy" panels right?
how many to be exact? the shapes seems "off" can you tell me more on that?

[depotdevoid]

Hi antling, that's a pretty ambitious (and awesome!) project, going mostly solar!

Take a closer look at step 5, there's a link to another instructable that I pilfered the idea from. Basically, there are several retailers that sell fractured solar panels for really cheap. All you have to do is properly wire them together and you end up with a nice solar panel for much less than you'd pay for it prebuilt.

Thanks for commenting and don't hesitate to ask if you have any other questions. Also, speaking as a person who's really into solar power, I'd love to see an instructable about how to go solar at home!

[antling]

Basically My wife and I had just bought a house and moved in about 3 months ago. Since it is a new house, we decided first hand to change all the concealed cable from 1.2mm to 2.2mm (I'm using BS in Malaysia). you may need to calculate suitable cabling size for your cables if you are interested in going solar.
Fundamentally, in Malaysia, our general standard domestic voltage is 240V. bty changing to solar, I am looking at all 12VDC without any means of inverter as it is additional cost to me.

My plan is simple and will take up a long time to conceive (5 years)

STAGE 1.
By reducing the voltage to 12VDC, we will expect all equipment to have to utilize higher current (V=IR). Hence to avoid meltdown or cable fault. we decided to check all cables and finally stage 1 is already completed. all our cables are now 2.2mm instead of local developer standard of 1.2mm. this is an easy step.

STAGE 2. - Let there be light.
Lamp and all basic utilities are now running on 12VDC with the help of a little 12VDC power supply (inverter).

My staircase and night lamp is now consisted of 12V LED only!

STAGE 3 - Important appliances.
AIR-CONDITION UNITS (it is average 89F here year round!)
FRIDGES, WASHING MACHINE, Etc... All new machine will be checked before purchase. Only machines with 12VDC compatible is sought. That means, go for machines that runs on inverter, 12/24VDC is ok... It is just about when I will take off the inverters and run in DC. (This is almost complete except for our fridge and washing machine, which is quite new and I made a mistake purchase based on cost and not forward compatibilty)

STAGE 3 1/2 - Calculation.

STAGE 4 - Purchase of relevant power generation equipments.

STAGE 5 - Installation of the PG equipments and power up.

STAGE 6 - (5 years later) My solar home.. :-)
24 hours climate control and off-grid... yippee!!!

[lancruz]

You probably don't have to deal with home owners association. Where I live you can't sneeze without HOA giving you a hard time.

[antling]

Then you should cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze! actually, you can always do it descreetly as a part of small DIY stuffs. Just think of it as hanging a new flower pots somewhere, and also, do it in small manageable steps so it doesnt attract too much attention.

[depotdevoid]

Very interesting, I like the idea of doing the conversion in small, easy to manage steps over a long period of time. My parents are crazy and think the American president is going to ruin everything, so they're currently in the process of going all solar. However, they're going to do it all in one go this summer. They showed me the estimate from the contracting firm that's going to do the work, and I was shocked! I don't have that kind of money to make the transition myself, but again, I really like your idea of doing it one bit at a time. That way, the cost would be minimal and there wouldn't be the problem of "sticker shock."

[antling]

You are right!
The cost may not be reduced, but the pain can be minimized.. LOL.
Handshake for a person that share the same thought as I am.
At this rate, I guess, not only Obama is going to screw up. My country is going backward. Yet, this is for another forum.
Let us be less depending on the grid and do our part for the earth.

[EngEC]

Awsome man! Great idea for an instructable, glad you made it. And sure your sister-in-law had saw that delightful work. Thanks man!

[depotdevoid]

Thank you for the kind comment sir, I'm glad you liked it!

[nicholas1951]

Very interesting and full of possibilities for different uses. Nice job. Thanks!

[depotdevoid]

Thanks Nicholas, glad you liked it!