95 Home Power EE
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“ By generating our own clean electricity, Why did we choose a BP Solar electric system? our family is reducing air pollution while “ ” being energy independent. And we’re doing it now so that our children can inherit a better world. When we decided to buy a solar electric system, we spent a lot of time researching. We finally selected BP Solar – their system had the high quality modules and system components that gave us the exactly what we wanted. But we also considered something else: the company’s experience. We wanted to do business with a name brand in the solar industry – one known for quality and reliability. And since BP Solar has been around for thirty years, we felt comfortable that they’re going to continue to be here. After all, what good is a long warranty if the company isn’t around to honor it?” For more information, visit our website: www.bpsolar.com USA Dankoff Solar Products - Hutton Communications - Georgia Polar Wire - Alaska Southwest PV Systems - Texas Talmage Solar Engineering, Inc. - Soltek Powersource Ltd. - Alberta Soltek Powersource Ltd - Ontario Alternative Solar Products - New Mexico Toll Free: 877.896.2806 Phone: 907.561.5955 Toll Free: 800.899.7978 Solar Market - Maine Toll Free: 888.291.9039 Toll Free: 888.300.3037 California Toll Free: 888.396.6611 Phone: 770.963.1380 Fax: 907.561.4233 Phone: 281.351.0031 Toll Free: 877.785.0088 Phone: 403.291.9039 Phone: 705.737.1555 Toll Free: 800.229.7652 Phone: 505.473.3800 Fax: 770.963.9335 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 207.985.0088 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 909.308.2366 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.polarwire.com Internet: www.southwestpv.com E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.spsenergy.com Internet: www.spsenergy.com E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.dankoffsolar.com Internet: www.huttonsolar.com Internet: www.solarmarket.com Internet: www.alternativesolar.com Solar Depot, Inc. - California Sun Amp Power Company - Arizona Soltek Powersource Ltd. - Trans-Canada Energie - Quebec Effective Solar Products - Louisiana Intermountain Solar Technologies - Toll Free: 707.766.7727 Toll Free: 800.677.6527 CANADA British Columbia Toll Free: 800.661.3330 Atlantic Solar Products, Inc. - Toll Free: 888.824.0090 Utah Phone: 800.822.4041 Phone: 480.922.9782 Generation PV, Inc. - Ontario Toll Free: 800.667.6527 Phone: 450.348.2370 Maryland Phone: 504.537.0090 Toll Free: 800.671.0169 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Toll Free: 800.311.4286 Phone: 250.544.2115 E-mail: [email protected] Toll Free: 800.807.2857 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 801.501.9353 Internet: www.solardepot.com Internet: www.sunamp.com Phone: 905.831.6111 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.worldbatteries.com Phone: 410.686.2500 Internet: www.effectivesolar.com E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.spsenergy.com E-mail: [email protected] Internet: Internet: www.generationpv.com Internet: www.atlanticsolar.com www.intermountainwholesale.com “ By generating our own clean electricity, Why did we choose a BP Solar electric system? our family is reducing air pollution while “ ” being energy independent. And we’re doing it now so that our children can inherit a better world. When we decided to buy a solar electric system, we spent a lot of time researching. We finally selected BP Solar – their system had the high quality modules and system components that gave us the exactly what we wanted. But we also considered something else: the company’s experience. We wanted to do business with a name brand in the solar industry – one known for quality and reliability. And since BP Solar has been around for thirty years, we felt comfortable that they’re going to continue to be here. After all, what good is a long warranty if the company isn’t around to honor it?” For more information, visit our website: www.bpsolar.com USA Dankoff Solar Products - Hutton Communications - Georgia Polar Wire - Alaska Southwest PV Systems - Texas Talmage Solar Engineering, Inc. - Soltek Powersource Ltd. - Alberta Soltek Powersource Ltd - Ontario Alternative Solar Products - New Mexico Toll Free: 877.896.2806 Phone: 907.561.5955 Toll Free: 800.899.7978 Solar Market - Maine Toll Free: 888.291.9039 Toll Free: 888.300.3037 California Toll Free: 888.396.6611 Phone: 770.963.1380 Fax: 907.561.4233 Phone: 281.351.0031 Toll Free: 877.785.0088 Phone: 403.291.9039 Phone: 705.737.1555 Toll Free: 800.229.7652 Phone: 505.473.3800 Fax: 770.963.9335 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 207.985.0088 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 909.308.2366 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.polarwire.com Internet: www.southwestpv.com E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.spsenergy.com Internet: www.spsenergy.com E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.dankoffsolar.com Internet: www.huttonsolar.com Internet: www.solarmarket.com Internet: www.alternativesolar.com Solar Depot, Inc. - California Sun Amp Power Company - Arizona Soltek Powersource Ltd. - Trans-Canada Energie - Quebec Effective Solar Products - Louisiana Intermountain Solar Technologies - Toll Free: 707.766.7727 Toll Free: 800.677.6527 CANADA British Columbia Toll Free: 800.661.3330 Atlantic Solar Products, Inc. - Toll Free: 888.824.0090 Utah Phone: 800.822.4041 Phone: 480.922.9782 Generation PV, Inc. - Ontario Toll Free: 800.667.6527 Phone: 450.348.2370 Maryland Phone: 504.537.0090 Toll Free: 800.671.0169 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Toll Free: 800.311.4286 Phone: 250.544.2115 E-mail: [email protected] Toll Free: 800.807.2857 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 801.501.9353 Internet: www.solardepot.com Internet: www.sunamp.com Phone: 905.831.6111 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.worldbatteries.com Phone: 410.686.2500 Internet: www.effectivesolar.com E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.spsenergy.com E-mail: [email protected] Internet: Internet: www.generationpv.com Internet: www.atlanticsolar.com www.intermountainwholesale.com ULUL ListedListed 700700 andand 11001100 WattWatt InvertersInverters AAvailablevailable Now!Now! Sunny Boy 2500 / 1800 www.usbattery.com RECYCLED POWER At U.S. Battery, we’re committed to doing our part in keeping the environment clean and green for future generations, as well as providing you with premium deep cycle products guaranteed to deliver your power requirements when you need them. Don’t settle for anything less than U.S. Battery products! 1675 Sampson Ave. Corona, CA 91719 (800) 695-0945 / 653 Industrial Park Dr., Evans, GA 30809 (800) 522-0945 HP95 contents 12 energy education Scott Ely U.S. and Mexican students join together to learn about energy and interconnectivity. 22 solar-electric grid-tie Daren Webster A Southern California family covers all of the electricity needs of their suburban home with solar power. 32 what the heck? Joe Schwartz Amp-hour meter. 34 fridge efficiency John Bertrand A solar energy user in Hawaii increases the efficiency of his family’s refrigerator. 42 hot water how to Chuck Marken & Ken Olson How to install a closed loop antifreeze solar domestic hot water system—Part 2. 54 solar history John Perlin Property of AT&T Archives. Property of AT&T Reprinted with permission of AT&T. The silicon photovoltaic cell is 50 years old! 6 home power 95 / june & july 2003 On the Cover Regulars Scott Ely, with teachers and students from both Boulder, 8 From Us to You Colorado and Laguna San Ignacio, Richard Perez Mexico install PV panels on the A new look for Home Mexican school’s roof. Photo by Chris Leonard. Power. 94 Code Corner John Wiles Code calculations for an off-grid PV system. 104 Independent Power Providers Don Loweburg Following the fight against exit fees. 108 Power Politics Michael Welch Not War—ANWR, energy bill, & FERC admits CA gouged. 112 Word Power Ian Woofenden 60 pool heating “Semiconductor” Tom Lane 114 Home & Heart The basics of installing a solar pool heating system—Part 2. Kathleen Jarschke- Schultze 70 veggie fuel Life on the river. 122 Wizard Speaks Gary Liess The Wiz A three-car family runs entirely on straight vegetable oil. REasoning. REview 132 Ozonal Notes 76 Richard Perez AJ Rossman & Joe Schwartz Meet the Home Power The Watts Up? Pro kilowatt-hour meter. crew—old & new. 80 HP Subscription 82 guerrilla efficiency Form GEOffREy 81 HP Business A guerrilla action saves energy and prevents a potential fire at a mountain lodge in Washington State. 118 Renewable Energy 86 fuel alternatives Happenings Shari Prange 124 Letters to Home Power The pros and cons of different combustion fuels—vegetable oil, biodiesel, natural gas, propane, and alcohol. 138 Q&A 92 what the heck? 142 Micro Ads 144 Joe Schwartz Advertisers Index Charge controller. www.homepower.com 7 from us to you Home Power’s HP staff Publisher Richard Perez New Look Publisher & Business Manager Karen Perez Home Power's original design was incredibly long- lived. Stan Krute and I created it back in the day. The Chief Executive Officer & Technical year was 1986. The design was tailored to the fact that Editor Joe Schwartz the magazine was printed on newsprint (like a Advertising Manager Connie Said newspaper) on newspaper presses—hardly the most Marketing Director Scott Russell accurate printing process. Customer Service These days, Home Power is printed on very & Circulation Marika Kempa accurate, high speed, printing presses. We’re using modern electronic Shannon Ryan prepress techniques—digital photography, PostScript art, and higher Managing Editor Linda Pinkham resolution type fonts made possible by digital direct-to-plate printing Senior Editor & Word techniques.