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    Solar Power: How to Construct (and Use) the 45W Harbor Freight Solar Kit
    Solar Power: How to Construct (and Use) the 45W Harbor Freight Solar Kit
    Solar Power: How to Construct (and Use) the 45W Harbor Freight Solar Kit
    Ebook185 pages1 hour

    Solar Power: How to Construct (and Use) the 45W Harbor Freight Solar Kit

    By Robert C. Brenner

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    About this ebook

    Thinking of going solar? Read this book first. This complete guide to solar power shows you how to construct a 45 watt Harbor Freight solar kit and then use it to produce electrical power for operating a wide range of devices. Explains how each component-- solar panel, charge controller, battery, and inverter—works and how DC and AC are generated. The book also describes over 56 devices you can power with this system. Answers questions you’ve always had regarding solar power. What are typical applications for this solar power generator? Is there a sequence for connecting the components? How can I expand the system to power even more electrical devices and appliances? How can I measure system production?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRobert C. Brenner
    Release dateMar 25, 2017
    ISBN9781930199453
    Solar Power: How to Construct (and Use) the 45W Harbor Freight Solar Kit
    Author

    Robert C. Brenner

    Robert Brenner is an engineer, consultant, college professor, historical genealogist, and professional speaker with extensive experience in research and information publishing. A retired naval officer with distinguished service in both nuclear submarines and microelectronic research and development, he holds a bachelor's degree (BSEE) and two master's degrees (MSEE, MSSM). He was recognized a Very High Speed Integrated Circuit (VHSIC) microelectronics pioneer by the DOD and served four years in R&D at TRW after a 23-year Navy career.He is the author of 56 books including Going Solar: a Homeowner’s Experience, Power Up! The Smart Guide to Home Solar Power: How to Make a Wise Solar Investment, How to Construct (and Use) the 45W Harbor Freight Solar Kit, Supernatural & Strange Happenings in the Bible, and Supernatural & Strange Happenings in the Family. In addition, he has written over 275 articles including over 50 articles for Survival Life.com and Survivorpedia.He taught computer technology and engineering subjects at the community college, university, and graduate school levels and has been a guest speaker at over 50 national conferences and symposiums. He is an avid supporter of solar technology and learns by doing. A futurist, he enjoys the challenge of research and is currently sharing his findings through his writing and public presentations. Professor Brenner can be reached at brennerbooks@san.rr.com.

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      Book preview

      Solar Power - Robert C. Brenner

      How DC differs from AC

      Amps, Volts, and Watts in a Solar Power System

      How Solar Power Works

      The Rain Barrel Analogy

      The Sun’s Path and Earth Rotation

      Tilt—the Reason for the Seasons

      The Cosine Effect

      Effects of Shade, Clouds, Fog, Rain, and Snow

      Shadows on a Sunny Day

      Measuring Solar System Production

      Understanding Light and Lumens

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      OTHER APPLICATION NOTES

      USEFUL LINKS

      INTRODUCTION

      This Application Note was not written to replace the manual that came with your Harbor Freight 45 Watt Solar Kit. It was written to complement their manual and provide more information so you can make the best use of this amazing product.

      The 45W Solar Kit is a starting point for anyone interested in learning and experiencing solar powered generation of electricity. The kit was designed by Thunderbolt Magnum, the distribution arm of Harbor Freight Tools. It provides an entry to solar power with flexibility and growth potential. The kit contains two of the four components needed to generate electrical power as shown in Figure 1.

      Fig. 1 – The Solar Power System

      To generate DC power, you simply add a battery. To generate AC like you have in your home, connect an inverter to the battery. Starting with the basic kit you can easily generate DC power while giving you the ability to expand and create AC power to use even more electrical devices. It’s an excellent starter kit with plenty of growth potential.

      This is also an ideal experimenter’s kit for electronic and electrical enthusiasts because it is so versatile and expandable. This product reminds me of the early Radio Shack hobby kits from years ago. You could build dozens of working models to learn and experiment with technology using dry call batteries for power. You can again today using solar as your power source. This makes the Harbor Freight 45W Solar Kit ideal for classroom training.

      (Back to Contents)

      Let’s Get Started

      According to their website there are over 700 Harbor Freight stores located around the United States. They also do business by mail order and online operating out of their headquarters in Calabasas, California, so access to their product is easy and convenient.

      Who is Harbor Freight Tools?

      Since 1977, Harbor Freight Tools has been a family-owned business. Their strategy is to buy products direct from factories bypassing sales and advertising to let the company sell over 7,000 tools and accessories at significantly lower prices. The headquarters of Harbor Freight is in Calabasas, California. Each product they consider is extensively tested with a focus on performance and quality. The CEO and President, Erik Smidt continues to position the company as family owned. According to their website, they are physically located at 26541 Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA 91302

      They’ve taken hits from jealous competitors but over 30,000 million satisfied customers put Harbor Freight first in the minds of the buying public.

      Their website, http://www.harborfreighttools.com was created in July 1997 as Harbor Freight Tools. Now it’s http://www.harborfreight.com. Their phone number is +1 818 836 5230. Their tech support can be reached at Mailto:ProductSupport@harborfreight.com.

      Who is Thunderbolt Magnum?

      On February 26, 2014, Harbor Freight Tools filed for a registered a trademark—Thunderbolt Magnum—covering batteries and battery chargers for applications other than vehicles, industrial, and aircraft. A Notice of Allowance was issued July 5, 2016.

      This authorizes Harbor Freight Tools to procure and sell batteries and charge controllers under the name Thunderbolt Magnum. Given the extensive testing program used for these devices, Thunderbolt Magnum has carved out a significant segment of the solar battery-charge controller market.

      This is a fascinating upgrade for a company that is moving forward in the marketplace. And I am one of their customers.

      To evaluate their 45W Solar Kit, I visited my nearest store and purchased one. Depending on sales and when you make your purchase, you’ll see these kits advertised between $118 and well over $200. By the time this book was completed, I had purchased four of these kits.

      Fig. 2 – There are over 700 Harbor Freight stores.

      Fig. 3 – Purchase made. Bringing kit home.

      Fig. 4 – Set it on a flat surface for assembly.

      The contents of the 45W Solar Panel kit includes three 15 watt amorphous silicon solar panels (more on these later), a lightweight PVC mounting frame, a 12 volt charge controller, two DC lights and connecting wire. To get DC and AC power using this kit, you’ll need a 12V battery and a DC-to-AC inverter. Harbor Freight sells a compatible 12V AGM Sealed Deep Cycle battery for about $65 and several inverters.

      Fig. 5 – A photo on the side of the box shows what’s included in the kit.

      Fig. 6 – Included with the three solar panels and frame.

      Fig. 7 – The text on the outside of the box describes what’s in this kit.

      (Back to Contents)

      The Advertised Capability of the 45W Solar Panel Kit

      Harbor Freight markets this product as an easy-to-install kit basic kit for generating clean, efficient solar power. They say the panels produce non-polluting clean, quiet energy and can operate in bright and cloudy weather conditions. They’re right.

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