Did you know about Wind and Solar Power?

Solar and Wind power energy are the wave of the future for generating electricity. Both methods are extremely powerful and excellent for the environment.

In the past few years there have been quite a few do-it-yourself (DIY) home energy guides emerging online that can teach you how to make simple wind and solar powered energy systems that can reduce your energy bills by as much as 80%.

I reviewed 7 Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Guides. Only 3 of them which met the criteria

- Sizable Energy Savings – At least a 50% or better reduction in energy costs.

- Easy to Install – Step by Step instructions on installing simple wind and solar powered systems for your home.

- Affordable Setup Costs – Less than $200 to buy necessary materials from your local hardware store.

Home Energy DIY Guide Reviews

1. Earth4Energy
We found that Earth4Energy is by far the easiest-to-follow guide we came across. Our own experience says you should set aside at least 2-3 days to buy the parts and get it fully installed and working. Some people may take a little longer.

2. Home Made Power Plant
Our second pick, Home Made Power Plant, follows the same basic guidelines as Earth4Energy – and again, we were impressed with the reduction in energy costs and affordability of materials required.

3. Home Made Energy
Home Made Energy is our third and final pick, and it too focuses on creating renewable energy for home use through the installment of either wind, solar or both systems.

They report up to an 80% reduction in energy costs and the home made energy system has loads of case studies from people who have had great success using it.

Good Luck!

Popularity: 3%

Three-phase systems differ from single-phase systems in that they use a set of three voltages instead of one. Three-phase systems are used for the generation and transmission of bulk electric power. To get single-phase ac from a three-phase system, we simply tap off one of its phases. Three-phase systems may be balanced or unbalanced. If a system is balanced, it can be analyzed by considering just one of its phases. Since most systems operate close to balance, many practical problems can be dealt with by assuming balance. Three-phase systems posses economic and operating advantages over single-phase systems.

Popularity: 16%

Magnetic levitation, maglev, or magnetic suspension is a method by which an object is suspended above another object with no support other than magnetic fields. The electromagnetic force is used to counteract the effects of the gravitational force.

Magnetic levitation transport, or maglev, is a form of transportation that suspends, guides and propels vehicles via electromagnetic force. This method can be faster than wheeled mass transit systems, potentially reaching velocities comparable to turboprop and jet aircraft .

There are two primary types of maglev technology:

Electromagnetic suspension (EMS) uses the attractive magnetic force of a magnet beneath a rail to lift the train up.

Electrodynamic suspension (EDS) uses a repulsive force between two magnetic fields to push the train away from the rail.

Popularity: 4%

If one line of a three-phase line is accidentally opened while the three-phase motor is running the machine will continue to run as single-phase motor.

The current drawn from the remaining two lines will almost double, and the motor will begin to overheat.

The torque-speed curve is seriously affected when a three-phase motor operates on single phase.

The pull-out torque (maximum torque) decreases to about 40% of its original value, and the motor develops no starting torque at all.

Popularity: 4%

In this motor, the capacitor in series with the auxiliary winding is not switched out after starting.

It remains in the circuit; therefore the centrifugal switch is not needed.

Since the capacitor and the auxiliary winding are in the circuit continuously, they should be properly designed.

The value of the capacitor is chosen such that the phase angle difference between the currents in the main and auxiliary windings are exactly 90o.

Such a motor will have a perfectly uniform rotating magnetic field at some specific load.

Popularity: 5%

Single-phase induction motors are the most familiar of all electric motors because they are used in home appliances, businesses, and small industries. Single-phase induction motors have usually two poles or four poles and rated at 2 hp or less.

In a single-phase motor we have only a single field winding excited with alternating current; therefore, it does not have a revolving field like three-phase motors. Thus, it does not self-starting. Several methods have been devised to initiate rotation of the squirrel-cage rotor and the particular method employed to start the motor will designate the specific type.

Popularity: 4%

The terminal voltage Vt of the source connected to the armature is suddenly reversed keeping the field current unchanged.

The net voltage acting on the armature circuit becomes (Ea + Vt) and it will produce enormous reverse current, perhaps 50 times greater than the full-load armature current.

We must limit the reverse current by introducing a resistor in series with the reversing circuit.

When the machine reaches zero speed we must immediately open the armature circuit, otherwise it will begin to run in reverse direction.

Popularity: 3%

Regenerative braking is similar to dynamic braking but the energy is pumped back to the mains.

For this purpose the induced voltage of the machine during braking must be greater than the mains voltage.

Therefore this method can be used only in cases the speed of the machine is greater than the rated speed while braking or there should be a possibility to adjust the mains voltage to a value less than the induced voltage.

Popularity: 3%

The supply to the armature of the motor is disconnected keeping the field excitation unchanged and the armature terminals are immediately connected to an external resistor.

The motor will now act as a generator and the induced voltage E will circulate an armature current in the opposite direction.

This reverse current produces reverse torque and the machine will come to stop quickly.

In practice, the value of the external resistor is chosen such that the initial braking current is about twice the rated motor current.

As the motor slows down, the induced voltage reduces. Hence the armature current and braking toque become smaller and smaller.

Some times mechanical braking is combined with dynamic braking to stop the machine quickly.

Popularity: 3%

Full voltage to stationary shunt motor produces very high starting current in the
armature (because the counter emf is zero) and the machine will be burnt.

All dc motors must, therefore, be provided with a starting arrangement to limit the starting current to reasonable value, usually between 1.5 and twice full-load current.

One method is to place a rheostat in series with the armature and reduce resistance as the motor accelerates. In modern practice, a starting resistor is made up of a series of pieces, each of which is removed from the motor circuit in succession as the motor speeds up, in order to limit the current in the motor to a safe value while never reducing it too low a value for rapid acceleration.

Popularity: 3%