Since this week my studio is running on Solar-Power and i'm proud of it!
8 panels (thinking of getting more already) are connected to a MasterVolt (hence the name) powerinverter delivering more than enough to power my complete studio.
Even if it's cloudy or raining it's still working, though less of course.. to bad the weather is this bad right now..
I have the power of the sun heating my control room this instant, even when my AMPEX 440, my 16-track, my console, two computers and 300 watts of light are running in addition to my three racks of outboard gear and surround monitors with subwoofer.
Since this week my studio is running on Solar-Power and i'm proud of it!
8 panels (thinking of getting more already) are connected to a MasterVolt (hence the name) powerinverter delivering more than enough to power my complete studio.
Even if it's cloudy or raining it's still working, though less of course.. to bad the weather is this bad right now..
Anyone else running on solar-power?
What does a rig like that cost?
I have 10 synths and 2 full 5 foot racks of gear...
Since this week my studio is running on Solar-Power and i'm proud of it!
8 panels (thinking of getting more already) are connected to a MasterVolt (hence the name) powerinverter delivering more than enough to power my complete studio.
Even if it's cloudy or raining it's still working, though less of course.. to bad the weather is this bad right now..
Anyone else running on solar-power?
That's awesome man. One day when I move into my own property I would love to run my studio on solar. Kudos to you!
Levitating perpetual motion, with an occasional nudge from solar power?
JT
It has constant solar powered motion and is self starting when the sun is out. Stops pretty soon though when it isn't.
Here's how it works: Each opposing pair of rows of solar panels on the floater feeds one copper coil, which builds up a magnetic field, which in turn changes the rotation of the floater to align the generated magnetic field with the fixed, constant magnet beneath the it. In doing so, the floater rotates, and the next row of solar panels is automatically brought up, now facing the light source, which then results in the next coil creating the magnetic field, again turning the floater. And so on. It's very yin/yang in concept
I have 10 synths and 2 full 5 foot racks of gear...
I was looking at a system like this in 2010 and back then it was something like 8.000 euro. Now i payed 3.000 for it but i must say that i installed it myself which saved me about 1100 euro. Right now if you buy a solarsystem you will get back 15% from the Dutch state for a limited period.
It's not that hard actually to install but you need to know what you're doing.
In my case it's a flat roof which made that part quite easy, just set, put on some weight with stones and done.
The system I have right now is delivering 1560 watt per hour, more then enough to power the studio and what you don't 'use' will be send back to the powernet. The meter is actually running backwards when it does!
If there is no or less sun you will use the normal power but it's atcually the power that you send back to the powernet. Quite a clever system.
I get calls every week selling solar panels. So far, not cost effective here. The lifespan is 20 years before the elements break them down or fog up the plastic coatings here. The subsidies still don't pay off enough for it to be worth it. The weather here tends to be cloudy in the mornings, that limits effectiveness. You can't use them at night. The power companies here hate them and place all sorts of r o a d b l o c k s in your way. Getting them assigned to the grid is a major PITA here. There are fees and extra costs involved.
So far it's a scam here and only independent, wealthy eco folks can afford them like Ed Begley, Jr. You will loose money on them over a 20 year period, unless the power rates shoot sky high. So far that has not happened here.
If you are off the grid in a remote area, it's a great idea when your generator runs out of gas. I use panels hiking in remote areas to re-charge my camera batteries.
You do need to do your homework and get friendly with a calculator, or you can loose $.
I get calls every week selling solar panels. So far, not cost effective here. The lifespan is 20 years before the elements break them down or fog up the plastic coatings here. The subsidies still don't pay off enough for it to be worth it. The weather here tends to be cloudy in the mornings, that limits efectiveness. You can't use them at night. The power companies here hate them and place all sorts of r o a d b l o c k s in your way. Getting them assigned to the grid is a major PITA here. There are fees and extra costs involved.
So far it's a scam here and only independent, wealthy eco folks can afford them like Ed Begley, Jr. You will loose money on them over a 20 year period, unless the power rates shoot sky high. So far that has not happened here.
If you are off the grid in a remote area, it's a great idea when your generator runs out of gas. I use panels hiking in remote areas to re-charge my camera batteries.
You do need to do your homework and get friendly with a calculator, or you can loose $.
Damn. I live in Oceanside CA, just 5 minutes up the road from you. Too bad it's not a viable option yet.
I get calls every week selling solar panels. So far, not cost effective here. The lifespan is 20 years before the elements break them down or fog up the plastic coatings here. The subsidies still don't pay off enough for it to be worth it. The weather here tends to be cloudy in the mornings, that limits efectiveness. You can't use them at night. The power companies here hate them and place all sorts of r o a d b l o c k s in your way. Getting them assigned to the grid is a major PITA here. There are fees and extra costs involved.
So far it's a scam here and only independent, wealthy eco folks can afford them like Ed Begley, Jr. You will loose money on them over a 20 year period, unless the power rates shoot sky high. So far that has not happened here.
If you are off the grid in a remote area, it's a great idea when your generator runs out of gas. I use panels hiking in remote areas to re-charge my camera batteries.
You do need to do your homework and get friendly with a calculator, or you can loose $.
That is not a good thing indeed.
Here in Holland it's not even allowed for an energy company to charge you in case you need a new meter when it doesn't support uploading and registering power.
The panels work best with sun of course but the newest panels also work pretty good with shadow and rain (I see it in practice now since the weather s*cks big time right now in NL) Still at least 50% effective.
I even read that with a clear sky and full moon in line with the panels it even works for like 5/10%.
In my case I will earn the investment back in 5 to 6 years and the panels last indeed something like 20/25 years. I also see it as an investment for the world myself.
FYI for those in Ontario.. I believe the feed-in tariff program is still in effect. Last time I checked they pay 13 times the cost of electricity over a 20 year contract. Minuscule environmental benefit of a single household installation aside, even if you'll make a return, you've got to ask if your $20,000 investment will yield more in something else..
Damn. I live in Oceanside CA, just 5 minutes up the road from you. Too bad it's not a viable option yet.
It's viable, the guy across the street has them on his roof, ugly as hell too. It just doesn't paper out here, if you invest in it the returns are good feelings, not monitary savings. If you want more of those, try a charity.
My solar systems installed in 2005 at Manley Labs in sunny Chino, California and at my old house in Chino Hills, CA have proven viable and continue to produce. They have been producing what the installer promised and the math added up.
My solar systems installed in 2005 at Manley Labs in sunny Chino, California and at my old house in Chino Hills, CA have proven viable and continue to produce. They have been producing what the installer promised and the math added up.
It has constant solar powered motion and is self starting when the sun is out. Stops pretty soon though when it isn't.
Here's how it works: Each opposing pair of rows of solar panels on the floater feeds one copper coil, which builds up a magnetic field, which in turn changes the rotation of the floater to align the generated magnetic field with the fixed, constant magnet beneath the it. In doing so, the floater rotates, and the next row of solar panels is automatically brought up, now facing the light source, which then results in the next coil creating the magnetic field, again turning the floater. And so on. It's very yin/yang in concept
I wish! The 'light commutated motor' was invented by Daryl Chapin of Bell Labs in the sixties, and the specific hexagonal model in that video above was designed by Manfred Klose, a German physics teacher, who makes & sells these building kits for a hobby.
Anything can be criticized, i.e. energy payback for energy expended on manufacturing of panels takes a long while, toxic non biodegradable materials in them, all real concerns but solar just has to be the way forward, endless free energy once infrastructure in place. As a species we have been nuts not developing, refining and making more efficient this technology decades ago. Respects for going ahead. I looked into it and could not make the money aspect work.
To have an impact (same with vehicles) this tech needs massive investment such as that which has been afforded to oil extraction. We would be flying with it if that had been the case, then we could all easily afford it and we would not be in such a situation as we are now.
When you consider what human endeavor can achieve it is not hard to see that there are reasons beyond the technical as to why this has not happened.
Solar photoelectric panels are not mature technologies yet. The efficiency is still very low. The lifespan is still too short. These are issues that further refinements will solve, but we are not there yet.
Solar panels last a very long time in the vacuum of space, here on earth the sun and elements fog the coatings up so they loose efficiency long before their lifespan is used up. The output levels of energy have not improved much since the 1960's, those must improve before they become a viable alternative for the masses. As with many green technologies, the promise is far ahead of the delivery.
the studio im working is powered since fourteen years with solar pannels. only two month each year its not drawing enough power for the whole house... also the new extrem a amp is getting enough power from that ;-)
__________________ ____________________________________
Ludwig Maier www.gkg-mastering.de
Mastering Studio Freising - München - Bayern Attended & Unattended / Online Mastering
Solar photoelectric panels are not mature technologies yet. The efficiency is still very low. The lifespan is still too short. These are issues that further refinements will solve, but we are not there yet.
Solar panels last a very long time in the vacuum of space, here on earth the sun and elements fog the coatings up so they loose efficiency long before their lifespan is used up. The output levels of energy have not improved much since the 1960's, those must improve before they become a viable alternative for the masses. As with many green technologies, the promise is far ahead of the delivery.
This is what I don't understand why ground source heating/ geo thermal isn't seen so often it's very efficient and works in most places, small wind turbines are considerably cheaper than solar it lasts longer too so the efficiency is less of an issue. The efficiency of solar isn't great but if it was cheap to mass produce that wouldn't matter. The problem is a lot of our economy is dependent on fuel/ utilities trading. So someone powerful enough has to figure how they can still make money from the same customer over and over again with solar panels. E.G rent panel refurbish panel then rent it again. But it's easier to have a solar farm and grid it, we feel better and the energy companies still make money.
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