Articles by Jim Bruce
How To Calculate Solar Panel Battery & Inverter - Inverter Size Calculator
Sizing solar panels, battery energy storage and inverter
Sizing solar panels, batteries and inverter for a solar system
A true off-grid solar power system includes solar panels, a bank of batteries for energy storage and one or mo...
What Size Solar Panel To Charge 12V Battery?
Correct size panel need for 12 volt battery charging?
How to work out the size of solar panel needed
Follow these steps to work out the best solar panel size for charging your 12V battery – this is what you need to know and do:
W...
Optimum Solar Panel Angle - Best Angle For Solar Panels
How to optimise solar panel tilt angle to maximize output?
The optimum solar panel angle to maximize power output depends on the system geophysical location and the season. In Summer the angle can be calculated by subtracting 15°...
Solar Farm Income Per Acre - How Much Money Does 1 Acre of Solar Panels Make?
How much power does 1 acre of solar produce?
In Portugal where I live, huge solar farms are appearing throughout the countryside as many farmers are quickly seeing that there may make more revenue to be earned in selling solar pow...
Hybrid Solar-Wind Power Generation System Design Guide
What does hybrid solar wind mean?
The word ‘hybrid’ means comprising of two different types of varieties. In the case of a hybrid renewable energy system the means of generating electricity could be a combination of PV (solar pane...
How Long Will A 200Ah Battery Last? What Can It Run?
How long does a 200Ah battery last – what can it power?
As a general rule, the run time of a 200Ah battery depends on the battery chemistry and the size of the load connected to it. Battery temperature and discharge rate also imp...
Geothermal Energy Advantages and Disadvantages - Pros and Cons
Does geothermal have more positives than negatives?
Geothermal energy facts – advantages and disadvantages
Geothermal Advantages
100% renewable natural resource
Low carbon footprint – 38 gms CO2/kWh
100% availability – const...
Does Geothermal Energy Cause Pollution?
Geothermal energy can cause pollution if not managed properly but this is minimal. While small quantities of toxic gasses are sometimes released, greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) are the main emissions. Gaseous emissi...
How Long Will A 12v Battery Last With An Inverter? Calculator
How many hours can a 12 volt battery run an inverter?
As a simple rule, to calculate how long a 12v deep-cycle battery will last with an inverter multiply battery amp-hours (Ah) by 12 to find watt-hours, and divide by the load wat...
10 Solar PV System Losses - How To Calculate Solar Panel Efficiency
PV system losses have a substantial impact on the overall efficiency and output power of solar panel arrays. Good solar design takes into account 10 main PV losses, while best design and installation practices help to reduce sola...
Which Type Of Solar Panels Are Best? Solar Cell Efficiency
Monocrystalline solar panels are the best all-round choice for efficiency, cost and length of working life. Polycrystalline panels are less efficient but also less expensive. In this case, choice can depend on your budget.
Solar Powered Air Conditioning - Solar Air Conditioner For Home
Solar powered air conditioning is perhaps the Holy Grail of the home solar energy field, particularly in very hot and humid countries.
A simple and easy-to-build DIY solar powered air conditioner makes a great project, but there’s...