Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Most of the materials needed to make a solar furnace are readily available at hardware stores. However, don’t expect to heat your home with any solar furnace projects you undertake, no matter how much of the sun's heat your furnace captures. Homemade solar furnaces are only suitable for small-scale projects that require high heat, such as firing clay.
A chandelier can transform a plain room into one with a touch of glamour. Chandeliers give depth and height to a small room, especially if they hang from a high ceiling. A chandelier can offer soft lighting or be no more than delicately folded paper flowers trailing down behind a reading nook. Make your own chandelier using purchased, found or created objects. Its ultimate shape, color and style depends on your preference and the materials you obtain. Drawing out plans help you visualize the project and devise ways to best construct the piece.
Ceilings are often overlooked by homeowners, but they affect the room’s entire appearance. An old, stained and ugly ceiling will create the illusion of a dingy location. Replacing a ceiling is a time-consuming and expensive option, and many homeowners do not have the time or extra money to go that route. Instead, choose a do-it-yourself project to cover the ceiling and improve the look of the room. Before you begin the project, wipe the ceiling clean with a dust mop to remove debris such as cobwebs.
Solar power is free and has zero impact on the environment. Solar power is a valid and reliable alternative power source gaining use around the world. Here's how it works: When the sun shines on photovoltaic absorptive panels, usually mounted on your roof, they generate electric current. The process of installing your own rooftop solar panels requires moderate DIY skills and some basic roofing tools.
Fences add accent to landscaped yards, and provide privacy and security along property lines. Typical landscape and garden fences consist of spaced horizontal rails or vertical pickets. Property line fences consist of solid fencing panels that might include a section of lattice along the top as an architectural upgrade. Materials for a fence are based on the total footage of the fence and the number of gates. Hardware, tools and equipment are similar with most fencing installations. Decide on a design and apply a basic estimating method to make a checklist for your do-it-yourself fence project.
Creating a flexible cholesteric display project is a fantastic way to teach others about cholesterol. This craft is ideal for any science class or fair. You can create a flexible cholesteric display and bend the project to fit in any tight display. For under twenty dollars, you can create an attractive model that is not only fun to look at, but a simple way to teach others about cholesterol.
A summer party isn't complete without a barbecue. Unfortunately, barbecues can be expensive or may cook your food too fast, especially if you consider yourself a gourmet of barbecue. A smoker cooks your food at a lower temperature for a longer period of time, retaining a lot of the rich flavor of the meat by leaving the fat intact. Building your own smoker is a lot cheaper than buying one.
Pilots and those who long to fly must train in simulators before they're allowed to take a plane into the air. Private pilot's licenses can be earned with as little as 2.5 hours of simulator time, while commercial pilots must spend as many as 50 of their 142 hours of training time in a simulator. With a collection of flight control hardware, a computer and video screen, PVC pipe and a bit of imagination, amateur pilots can build a flight simulator at home that helps them prepare for their licensing tests.
A solar charger provides free, renewable, carbon-free power for electronic devices such as your iPad. Building your own solar charger for an iPad is a relatively simple task, although it requires some specific components to ensure it operates properly and provides the necessary power output and safety features. Due to the high power consumption of the iPad during charging, a solar charger requires a large, high-quality panel to ensure it can provide the device with a suitable charging voltage.
Solar energy is an increasingly popular way to cut energy costs, cool off houses and protect the environment due to it's reliability and carbon-free efficiency. Solar absorption cooling harnesses the power of the sun to provide air conditioning and cooling fan power much like traditional energy. Building a solar absorption cooler can be done using basic materials, yet the benefits can be enormous. Solar cooling can lower your energy bills while protecting the Earth's natural resources and environment at the same time.
Playing the guitar can be a time-consuming hobby. Hours that are not spent practicing or playing songs are often spent on projects to better your craft or personalize your playing. There are endless possibilities of projects a guitarist may want to take on. Depending on your skill level and interest in guitars, you can take on projects that will take just a few hours or take a month-long commitment to complete. For some projects, a trip to the hardware store may be necessary. For others, you may need go to a specialty store or order parts from an online retailer.
You made a project with components and circuitry. Yet you don't have any type of box to display the project. For a do-it-yourself person like you, creating an enclosure box the exact size for your project needs won't be difficult. This saves you money instead of paying extra for a box that isn't the right fit for your project. Choose the type of material to create your box, such as metal or plastic. To make a plastic box, design a mold and purchase liquid plastic resin that's the easiest to work with and clean up.
Repairs to electrical fixtures are best done by a qualified electrician, as your home electricity supply can be dangerous. However, you can carry out a project to test electrical fixtures using an electronic multimeter. Multimeters, as the name suggests, test various elements of the electricity in your home, such as voltage and amperes, enabling you to be more precise about any problems if you need to call an electrician. It could also potentially save you money, because the electrician doesn't need to do as much diagnostic work.
Go green and save money on your power bill by making a solar charger for your iPod. This is a relatively simple electronics project and a good circuit for beginners to try. The power from the sun is converted into electricity by the solar panel, which is sent through a voltage regulator. This is necessary because the sun does not give a consistent power output -- the regulator limits and regulates the voltage to 5v, to prevent the battery from being damaged. The power is then sent and stored in the battery, which will take two to four hours to…
Solar energy is commonly a small-scale endeavor. A few panels on a rooftop can fulfill or supplement the energy needs for a home. But each solar power system needs a certain amount of power conditioning -- electronic circuitry to make certain the power output is stable, safe and usable by the load. If three, 10 or 100 rooftops could share the same electronics, the overall efficiency of the power system would improve. That's one of the drivers for utility-scale solar energy projects. If larger is better, then some solar facilities must be pretty darn good.
Solar energy is another way to keep the house battery in an RV charged when you are camping and there is no electricity available. Even on a cloudy day you will still get some charging taking place from solar panels secured to the top of the roof. A good rule of thumb is for the panel to be able to put out no more then 10 percent of the battery amp per hour rating. For more charging power, a second solar panel can be added to the roof and paralleled with the first one.
Molded craft projects can be as simple or complicated as you like and are suitable for both adults and children. Modelling clay is available in a bright rainbow of colors, some of which is air-dried and some that bakes in a domestic oven. Using ready-colored clay in molding projects gives an instant effect, but for a more decorative and personalized touch, choose white or grey clay and paint it in custom colors once dry.
Voltages above 2 to 4 volts rapidly destroy LEDs unless a current-limiting resistor protects them. 12-volt LEDs consist of an LED and a built-in resistor designed to automatically reduce 12 volts to the value required by the LED. Their very long lifespan, cool operating temperature and physical robustness make 12-volt LEDs ideal replacements for traditional incandescent bulbs. Wiring them to a switch is a straightforward procedure within the capabilities of anyone who can use a soldering iron.
The sun emits a number of forms of energy contained in the electromagnetic spectrum. Solar heat engines primarily utilize the sun's infrared emissions, which we perceive as heat. While this makes the solar heat engine less efficient at capturing energy than a comparable solar cell (which captures energy from all across the electromagnetic spectrum, including visible light), these devices are also far simpler and cheaper to build than most types of photovoltaic. DIY demonstration heat engines are simple enough that even a child could make a project of one with basic materials and one commonly available toy.
Solar cells collect solar energy and convert it to electricity through various chemical connections. Most commercial solar cells are made of high-grade silicone that can conduct this electricity. However, if you want to make a simple solar cell at home, copper and salt water are probably more readily available. Heat warms an oxidized solar sheet and the energy flows into salt water. The salt water delivers the energy to a shiny copper sheet, completing a circuit and producing electricity.
Solar energy isn't just for producing electricity. With a little science, you can use the sun to purify water and cook food. Projects like these teach children about the world around them and exercise their creativity. These kinds of projects also make educational and entertaining activities for warm weekends and summer camping trips.
Installing solar panels on your RV will give you the freedom to go to more remote locations and not have to worry about having a stable power connection. Whether you need to operate a television, kitchen appliances or lighting, solar panels can provide you the power you need when you need it. Installations are completely scalable, as long as you have enough room for the panels. Free standing, portable panels are also available to supplement your mounted panels, should you need more power during extended outings.
Keep your 12-volt battery charged by building your own solar charging panel. Automotive and deep cycle marine batteries are ideal candidates for solar charging because they do not require a high voltage or amperage input to charge them properly. Inexpensive to build and requiring very little maintenance, solar battery chargers are ideal for back-country applications, such as RVs, boats and campers. Keeping a battery fully charged will extend the life of the battery.
Distillation uses evaporation to purify water by heating contaminated water to form steam. The evaporated water is pure because it leaves behind inorganic compounds. Distill your own water efficiently without much effort by using natural sunlight to transport water between two containers.
Solar power panels allow you to do powered projects at sites lacking access to the electric power grid. By understanding the power load and using the appropriate number of well-placed panels, you can create useful or simply decorative water projects almost anywhere you have access to a well, pond or stream.
The streets of cities and towns are lighting up with solar energy. Municipalities from Fallujah, Iraq, to Raleigh, North Carolina, are realizing the tremendous benefit gained by lighting streets and public areas with long-lasting, solar-powered LED lights. Solar streetlights are less expensive to install because they are off the grid. No underground wiring or digging trenches is needed. The sun charges a long-life, no-maintenance battery that powers the bright LED light.
Sculpey is a brand of polymer clay available in a variety of colors. Sculpey clay projects are simple to create with the right tools and supplies. Make decorative embellishments for a plain household object such as a terra cotta plant pot with clay molds, acrylic paints and a little creativity. Select clay molds of butterflies, bumblebees and hummingbirds to create a plant pot with a garden-theme scene. If you are not an experienced decorative painter, templates and stencils help you paint like a pro.
In the area of solar energy, rather than pipe manufacturing, PVC is an acronym for photovoltaic cells. A photovoltaic cell is the basic component of a solar panel. They are used to convert the energy in sunlight into electrical current that can be fed into a home or the local electric grid. There are a number of PVC solar projects that can be done for fun, to lower energy costs or improve the environment.
Add a rustic touch to your home or office decor with DIY polished rock bookends. Geology buffs and nature lovers alike will enjoy incorporating polished rock bookends into their decor. Making your own polished rock bookends is an easy DIY project, and you can find all the materials you need either outdoors or at the hardware store. Hand polishing rocks does take some time, but once you're finished, you'll have a pair of unique bookends that will last for years.
Those who would like to reduce their heating costs, and who have some basic mechanical skills and a supply of empty beer cans, might want to try a simple project to use solar energy to help heat their house. The use of lightweight aluminum cans (soda cans will also work) and convection heating principles can wring more heat energy from the sunlight entering your home.
With the rising costs of energy, you may be looking for alternative fuel sources. Solar energy can be a good choice because it is fairly easy and inexpensive to incorporate simple solar devices into your household. You also can install more advanced solar technology, depending on your power needs.
Foam core board is lightweight, inexpensive and can be cut easily with a utility knife. Buy foam core board at office and art supply shops, or recycle sheets of foam core from old signs and posters. Foam core usually comes in 20-by-30-inch sheets that are 3/16 inches thick. A dollhouse, a dried flower display and an inspiration board are among the many easy craft projects you can make with foam core.
Clean energy projects can help the green-conscious DIYer balance having a green lifestyle while still enjoying the many technological gadgets that appear from year to year. Harnessing the power of solar and wind energy can be easy and inexpensive, with two projects that won't task your building skills or require specialized equipment.
Summer brings great pleasures: barbecues, family gatherings, outdoor sports and swimming. Families with swimming pools can enjoy a mini-vacation in their own backyard. In many parts of the country, however, the summer is a rather short season, and while the air temperature in the early spring and the late fall can be mild, pool water can be chilly. Extend your swimming season with a do-it-yourself solar pool heater.
