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To: mamelukesabre
lead acid is too inefficent and photovoltaics make too little electricity.

The concept will never go anywhere until batteries are a thousand times more efficient and photovoltaics put out a thousand times more juice. And no, I’m not exaggerating the numbers.

Yes, you are exaggerating the numbers. A flooded lead acid battery (one with "caps" that you can add water to) charge at about 90% efficiency, absorbed glass mat (AGM) charge at about 95% efficiency. I'd like to see you calculate how a ~90% efficient device can become 1000 times more efficient.

Consumer photovoltaic panels are in the neighborhood of 15% efficient in converting sunlight into electricity. The average solar insolation (total energy reaching the earth's surface) is about 1000w/m^2. My 10' x 10' array can produce ~1kw for ~5 hours per day. Not alot but it is something. If everyone had their roof covered in them, there might not be a reason to import oil from 6th century cavemen that would love nothing more than to slice your head from your neck or from turd world dictators that speak spanish.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a proponent of "renewable" energy at all, I'm more of a slash-and-burn oil burner that enjoys going fast, cold air in the summer and hot air in the winter but spreading falsehoods about solar's capabilities is bull. Think about it this way, the more people that spend their money on those power sources, the more of the other there is for us.

Cheers

30 posted on 02/22/2011 9:29:48 PM PST by theymakemesick ( islam - inspired by Satan www.prophetofdoom.net)
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To: theymakemesick

check your numbers again. this time in 20 below temps with batteries that are half way through their life cycle.


61 posted on 02/23/2011 7:24:39 AM PST by mamelukesabre (Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (If you want peace prepare for war))
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To: theymakemesick
My 10' x 10' array can produce ~1kw for ~5 hours per day. Not alot but it is something. If everyone had their roof covered in them, there might not be a reason to import oil

Since we use almost no oil to generate electricity, how would this help curb our oil imports?

67 posted on 02/23/2011 8:00:11 AM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer (biblein90days.org))
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