Solar energy is the wave of the future. Soon enough you may be using it to power your entire home. You might have concerns about completely powering your home with solar energy, so a solar generator makes a great step in that direction. You can use solar generators to power your home during blackouts, and to power devices when you’re camping or tailgating. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of solar generators along with the dangers, and long-term payoff. You’ll get a great introduction to solar generators.
How Does Solar Energy Work?
Solar energy uses photovoltaic cells to convert the sun’s rays into electricity. The electricity charges the battery in the generator to create a direct current. An inverter within the solar generator converts it to alternating current, which most devices and appliances use for power. So as long as you have sunlight, you can use solar generators.
Pros
Solar generators come with some major benefits that make them a good choice.
No exhaust: Since solar generators don’t use any fuel they don’t create harmful exhaust. This means can place them almost anywhere outside your home.
Good for indoor use: No exhaust means you can use them indoors without any worries. Thus they make the perfect energy source for use during bad weather like big storms.
Fuel-free: Solar generators run off the power of the sun, so you don’t have to worry about filling them up with fuel. Once you charge the battery, it’s ready to go. Merely re-charge with the power of the sun during the day when the battery runs out.
Almost silent: Unlike a fuel generator, a solar generator creates almost no noise, because it doesn’t have a combustion engine. It also contains almost no moving parts, which keeps the noise level down.
Easy maintenance: Solar generators don’t contain a lot of moving parts, so they don’t require much maintenance.
Environmentally friendly: solar generators create zero pollution and leave the environment intact. If environmental impact matters to you then use a solar generator.
No work on your part: Once you set up solar generators you’re good to go. You don’t have to worry about refueling it when it gets low. The solar panels will automatically recharge the battery as long as it’s setup.
Abundant energy: As long as you have sunlight you can power solar generators. Some solar panels recharge during cloudy weather at a slower rate, so you’re covered during severe weather. Fuel may become scarce during times of crisis, and you might not find enough to power your generator.
Cons
Cost: The initial cost of solar generators is much higher than fuel generators. If you don’t have a bunch of spare money to burn a solar generator might seem like a huge expense.
The size: a solar generator that’s strong enough to power your home is probably going to be heavier than a fuel generator. This could make it harder to set up by yourself and move it.
Harder charging: you need to think ahead when using solar generators. They require the sun for charging, so you need to plan ahead for something like a storm or hurricane. As long as you have cans of fuel on hand, there’s no problem running a fuel generator.
The Long-Term Benefits of Solar Generators
Solar generators come with some great long-term benefits that make the initial cost worthwhile. They don’t use fuel, which means there’s no added cost outside of occasional maintenance. Fuel costs add up over time especially as fuel prices rise. Solar generators pay for themselves many times over in the long run. Also, they need less maintenance which means they’ll save you more money.
The Potential Dangers
Solar energy and generators come with some dangers. Greenhouse gases find their way into the making of solar panels. The greenhouse gases used have major environmental effects. Nitrogen trifluoride finds its way into many solar panels and is 17,000 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. If the panels break, these chemicals get released into the environment. Additionally, solar power creates a large amount of e-waste. According to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, e-waste makes up the consumer electronic products that have no more use. They contain harmful chemicals that need to be handled with care. As of now, it’s impossible to completely recycle solar panels.
Conclusion
Solar generators make a great choice for your back up needs. Their pros outweigh the cons and will save you money in the long run. You can count on solar generators to take care of your back up needs for years to come. If you would like more information on solar generators in the area click here. If you can afford to purchase a solar generator, it’s well worth considering, especially if you live in an area that’s prone to storms and hurricanes.
