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Types of Solar Panel

Solar panels for leisure use (take leisure use to mean use on yachts, boats, camper vans, caravans etc) there are 3 main types of solar panel available : 

• Rigid framed glass fronted solar panels
• Semi-flexible solar panels
• Flexible solar panels 

Here at Ecofreak we love the summer, however as the British weather is never predictable, when we do get some good weather make the most of it! 

Here are our top ten favourite eco products to help you enjoy your summer, whether your out and about camping, going to a festival or just larging it up with your mates in the garden.

1. Solar Powered Charger

Just because you are in the middle of a field doesn't mean you can't charge your mobile phone or iPod! Get a solar phone charger  such as the Solio solar charger  and you use the free and abundant power of the sun to charge your mobile electronic appliances.

Solio solar charger...

If you are looking for a robust solar panel for your yacht, boat or caravan we can now supply a full range of the  excellent Spectra and Sunware semi-flexible panels.

Solar Battery Maintenance

Use a solar panel to charge your battery and be greeted by fully charged batteries every time you return to your yacht, boat or caravan!

The solar panel will keep your battery in a fully charged state which not only extends battery life, therefore reducing replacement costs but will also make your life easier!

What Size Solar Panel? 

As a rule of thumb, to replace natural battery drain through the winter months in the UK we work on...

Last week I went on a 3 day grid tied solar photovoltaic  (solar PV) installation training course up in Chesterfield. I know my off grid solar PV  as I design and supply systems for battery charging  regularly, but getting the low down on grid tied installations was an interesting and worthwhile process.

Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) 

For my customers to benefit from the new Feed in Tariffs  (introduced April 2010) all equipment installed and I, as the installer, have to be MCS accredited.

It is a prerequisite of becoming a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited installer that I can prove I am...

I love the month of May. Spring has well and truly sprung, the April showers finally fade into the distance and the promise of summer is just around the corner.

The thing about this time of the year is that everything is so vibrant and full of life. The green colour of the leaves on trees and hedgerows is incredible. It's a lighter, brighter green than any other time of the year and it is incredibly beautiful. I am lucky enough to live and work in the countryside and watching the seasons come and go is a privelage that shouldn't be taken for granted.

And now the sun is shining as well - what more could we ask for?! The warmth from...

A lightweight, solar-powered plane created by UK firm QinetiQ has exceeded the official world record time for the longest duration unmanned flight with a 54 hour flight achieved during trials at the US military’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

The Zephyr High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is an ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre aircraft with a wingspan of up to 18 metres but weighing just 30 kg. Hand launched, by day it flies on solar power generated by amorphous silicon arrays no thicker than sheets of paper that cover the aircraft's wings. By night it is powered by rechargeable...

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