How to choose a battery for photovoltaic / solar power system?

A home battery system stores surplus solar power for later use. The solar battery extends the use of a photovoltaic system’s generated energy and will provide free, sustainable power even when the sun is not shining and the modules don’t produce energy.

 Photovoltaic systems without a storage opportunity produce electricity to be used immediately. This is rarely effective, since solar energy is mainly generated during the day, when the power demand of most households is low. However, electricity demand increases significantly in the evening.

The difference between the Lead and lithium batteries
Battery storage systems for residential use are equipped either with lead-acid, lead-gel, or lithium batteries. Lead-acid batteries were used mostly in the past, amongst other things, as car batteries. Given their considerable advantages, lithium batteries are becoming increasingly accepted over lead-acid batteries. They have come to be regarded as the standard in photovoltaic in recent years. Lifetime: The expected lifetime of lithium batteries is around 15 years, whereas the maximum for lead batteries lies between 5 and 10 years.
Safety: Lead batteries must be housed in a ventilated room since they emit gases. This is not necessary with lithium-ion batteries.
Depth of discharge: Lithium-ion batteries discharge up to 100% of stored power. Lead-acid batteries, however, can normally only be discharged up to 50%, since deeper discharge reduces their overall lifespan.
System efficiency: The system efficiency of lithium-ion batteries can exceed 90%, where only approx. 70% is possible with lead batteries. Photovoltaic systems with lead batteries therefore have to be larger, leading to unnecessary extra costs.
Our advice: Choose a lithium battery to store electricity for solar power systems

Photovoltaic modules / PV modules / solar panels

solar panels: high-performance, efficient and durable
 Solar or photovoltaic modules are the heart of every photovoltaic system. The modules contain parallel or series-connected solar cells that generate energy from solar radiation. For private applications and small businesses, the solar modules are usually mounted on the roof of the house. The output of the PV system created by interconnecting the modules depends on many factors such as the number of modules, module type and output, roof pitch or solar radiation.

How do solar panels work?
 Photovoltaic modules (PV modules, solar panels) convert sunlight into electrical energy. The solar cells inside each panels are responsible for this. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers. The stronger the sunshine, the more electricity is produced.

Since an individual solar cell produces only a little electricity, several of them are combined per solar panel. Inside these cells is a layer with a surplus of positive charge carriers (p-layer) and a second layer with a surplus of negative charge carriers (n-layer). An internal electrical field builds up at the so-called p-n junction (the interface between the layers) which is normally made of silicon. This leads to a charge separation of the charge carriers released by the incidence of light. The electrical charge can be made usable via metal contacts. Direct current then flows if an electrical consumer is connected.

How to Choose Solar Panels for Camping

You have noticed that you need additional power for your camping trips, and you have realized that solar panels are the best choice to achieve this.
Having solar power camping gear is one of the best ways to ensure that your batteries won’t run out of power when you are enjoying your vacations in a remote location. However, with so many brands, models, and possibilities, it might be hard to select the right solar panel for you.
First, you need to select the type of solar panel that best suits your needs.
For instance, there are three types of camping solar panels.

Solar Chargers
The best solar panels for camping are the so-called solar chargers. These devices generally have a small size mainly designed for charging electronics such as smartphones, laptops, iPads, etc. They integrate monocrystalline or polycrystalline technology in a foldable solar suitcase that can be easily put away or taken out.
The portability of these products makes them an attractive option for those campers that constantly travel and that are mainly looking for a camping phone charger. There are also bigger solar chargers that are occasionally called solar blankets that can be easily folded to put under the seat.

Portable Solar Panels
The second choice is the so-called transportable solar panels. These are generally traditional modules that can be folded and safely installed or kept away. The size of these modules is bigger than the solar chargers and they can be used for more demanding applications such as charging appliances and 12V battery packs. This is a good option for campers that do not regularly go on trips, but instead go for vacations.

Fixed Mounted Solar Panels
The third choice is the typical fixed mounted solar panels. These are the traditional modules that we constantly see on top of the roof. In this case, it would only be applicable for people that have a camping trailer or that want solar panels for an RV.
The greatest advantage of these products is that you won’t have to set up the power station kit every time that you go out camping and it avoids the possibility to get the modules stolen since they are fixed on the roof. These are the perfect options for campers that have a nomadic lifestyle.

LIGHT ON THE CHILD’S ROOM

What should the space dedicated to our children look like in our home? You may get the impression that it doesn’t matter. Yet children grow up with what we give them. Therefore, moms and dads pay more attention to it.

 

The first point we want to address is that of light. Like a young plant, the child – and each of us – needs clarity to flourish. Betting on natural light passing through the room via multiple sources is ideal. It is one of the keys to well-being and it is also important for vision. When lying on the floor, your kitty will absorb the pages of a book, it is crucial that it benefits from quality lighting.

 

Wood, a material with energy

When you sleep, it is crucial that your windows have good wooden shutters, completely opaque. Neither the light of the Moon nor that of the street must filter, under penalty of reducing the quality of its sleep. Make sure you use suitable long range remote control relay shutters, so that they do not slap in the wind either.

wireless lighting

To return to wood, some interior decorators encourage parents to rely more on natural materials, even if industrialization does not really encourage us to do so. From toys to furniture, plastic is omnipresent, but it does not transmit any energy, unlike wood.

 

The cabin bed, for the imagination

Also, think of leaving him a space of freedom, even if you have the impression that this zone seems “empty”. This will allow him to express his creativity by putting what he wants into it. We’ll try soon enough to get him into a rigid hut. This room must be a cocoon, a refuge for him, where he finds absolute comfort and rest. Think of cabin beds or tent beds that allow him to have a semi-closed and rf remote control bed. This will certainly make his imagination gallop, in complete safety.

 

Aqara smart home system supports Apple HomeKit

Xiaomi, a Chinese manufacturer of phones, is working on HomeKit support for various devices. With the Aquara products you will soon be able to control sensors, curtains and cameras via Siri and HomeKit.

Xiaomi is working on HomeKit support

If you’re an Apple user, there’s little chance you already have some Xiaomi products in your home. That might change soon, because the Chinese manufacturer presented a number of new products this week, including a lamp, a smart door lock and a fingerprint scanner. Most interesting for Apple users is the planned support of HomeKit. The products will probably be in store before the end of the year. Xiaomi makes Android phones, fitness bracelets and some other products that stand out because they are so cheap. While you soon pay more than a hundred euros for a Fitbit, at Xiaomi you will find something very similar for a few tens.

aqara smart home devices

Products from Aqara

The HomeKit support includes a number of products from the Aqara brand, which is part of Xiaomi ecosystem. The company manufactures, among other things, various sensors, but also security cameras and motors for curtain rails. It is also not yet clear whether a separate bridge will be needed to let the devices work with HomeKit and whether the company will use hardware or software authentication. The latter is possible since iOS 11.3 and makes it easier for manufacturers to make their products HomeKit-enabled.

HomeKit is becoming standard

With the promised Homekit support, Xiaomi also wants to expand to other countries. In China, Xiaomi is best known for the phones and computers they make. HomeKit is gaining popularity when it comes to smart devices. This is partly because of the large number of iPhones and iPads in circulation, but also because Apple is making it increasingly easy for developers to make their products suitable for HomeKit. As a result, the number of suitable HomeKit products is increasing.