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I came across some very confusing information regarding battery balancing and equalization on the internet. Some of it was correct, some was misleading, and some was outright non-sense. I recently installed a 48 volt battery pack onto my boat as part of my off grid solar system and found that the batteries needed to be equalized. This article shows how I figured out how I needed to balance the batteries and how I went about doing it.

This post covers my attempt at modeling both the old and the new economic models discussed in Michael Bauwens article. I also discuss how the repercussion of the new economic model are captured in my drawings – the big one being that open source technology unarguably creates value at higher efficiencies (lower cost), but rarely replaces the share of market value (dollars) when it displaces proprietary competitors.

This article covers my latest efforts in the Free Charge Controller project. I’ve been working with Jameco to create a development kit for a new version (v4.01). The development kit that Jameco will soon have available for order is a huge step up from my original efforts to build a kit. The design is built on top of an Arduino and is based on Tim Nolan’s design. A charge controller schematic of the design is available.

The need for a cool attic cannot be overemphasized. In case high temperatures build up in the attic, the performance of your air conditioning unit will also be affected. At the same time, your energy bills will shoot up. When heat and moisture in the attic is kept to their respective minimums, the energy efficiency of the house improves considerably.

Solar panels grow more efficient with each passing year. Spurred by private and government sponsored research, efficiency records in thin film solar modules fell at least three times in the past year. Competing technologies spark this race to converting sunlight into electricity, which currently hovers at about 17.4% efficiency.

Small portable solar panels should just be considered for purposes where you have absolutely no connection to the grid!

This article covers some of the philosophical epiphanies and adventures I had while traveling in the Bocus del Toro archipelago of Panama.

There are three main systems for using this type of energy in a home and each of them in their own way can have a very positive influence in the supply of energy to the home. All these systems operate on the same principle of using solar panels to collect energy from sunlight which is freely available.

Wind energy is one of the most economical types of alternative energy available. It is a 100% clean power source and basic wind turbines can be built at home. It uses no traditional fuel, produces no emissions, and is reliable for providing power all throughout the year.

Thanks to rising energy costs, grid parity may be reached sooner.  While solar panel manufacturers are fighting to lower the price of their panels, energy officials are struggling to lower their own energy prices.  We may soon see a point where the rising energy costs and cheaper solar panels unexpectedly intersect, ushering in a new age of power.