Cordless Power Drill – Essential Home DIY Power Tool




A cordless power drill is an electric drill, which utilizes rechargeable batteries for all drilling jobs. These drills have similar features of AC mains-power drills. They are available in the hammer drill pattern and most of them have a clutch. There are also right angle drills, which permit a worker to drive screws in a narrow space.

The most popular types of batteries used in power drills are nickel-cadmium (Ni-cad) batteries and lithium-ion batteries, with each holding half the market share. While Ni-cad batteries have been in use for quite some time and are less expensive, they have more disadvantages compared to lithium-ion batteries.

The disadvantages of Ni-cad batteries are limited life, self-discharging, and ecological problems on disposal. On the other hand, lithium-ion batteries are getting more popular these days in view of their short charging time, longer life and low weight.

Lithium-ion batteries weigh just half that of nickel-cadmium batteries For example, if someone holds a 18volt lithium- ion battery powered cordless drill and a 18 volt Ni-cad battery powered cordless drill one in each hand, he will immediately observe a major difference in weight, with Li-ion battery powered cordless drill being much lighter.

The power output remains constant until the battery gets drained out; it is this feature that nickel-cadmium batteries lack. For example, instead of charging a tool for 15 minutes of use, 15 minutes of charge can run the tool for an hour. This makes the tool more adaptable.

Lithium-ion batteries also retain a charge for considerably longer time than the nickel-cadmium batteries, the charge lasting as much as one year. When comparing two cordless power drills, one should compare drills with similar power.

While a 12volt Ni-cad battery has the same power as a 12 volt Li-ion battery. However, one cannot expect the same torque seen in an 18volt Ni-cad battery powered cordless drill as in a new 12 volt Li-ion cordless driver.

Cordless power drills are known these days as “drill drivers” instead cordless drills. The clutch equipped in cordless drill driver regulates the amount of torque exerted.



When the preset resistance has been attained, it separates the drill’s drive shaft producing a clicking sound. The correct setting of the clutch is important as it helps in driving the screw correctly into the layers without damaging them, besides not stripping the screws. While comparing different cordless power drills, it is also essential to verify the number of clutch settings each drill driver has.

When comparing different cordless power drills or drill drivers, one will observe that most of them have key-less chucks. They are firmly tightened manually so that no chuck is loose. Key-less chucks are normally 3/8 inch or ½ inch.

There are also small cordless drills having key-less chucks that take only quick connect bits. The most essential aspect one should consider when buying a cordless power drill is how one feels holding the power drill driver in the hand. Is it very heavy to hold? Is it too heavy to work overhead?

Whether can one hold it straight without tipping up or down? In other words, the type of battery used in a cordless power drill determines its quality, versatility and durability.

Broken Photovoltaic (PV) Cells – What Are They Good For?




Broken solar cells can be reused for setting up a test-solar panel for your homemade solar solution. For generating personal solar-power, broken Photovoltaic (PV) cells are very much useful, cheap and efficient. In fact they are parts coming out after remaining as burnt copper for a long time and capable of creating and storing more electricity in a limited space.

For a new homemade solar panel, cracked or busted solar cells will work great. However it will be a bit complicated to try working with damaged solar cells when initially setting up a solar panel at home. On such occasions, try working with unbroken PV cells.

Damages on the solar cells may sometimes be more than a chipped corner. Some of them may be the ones broken into two or multiple pieces. Hence they are not recommended for Do It Yourself (DIY) attempts.

The fact remains that the cracked solar cells are as effective as new ones or the secondary for setting up any project. They can be bought at a very low cost from secondary market. During energy generation process, the defective cells are repaired or replaced offline by inserting the typical strings immediately.

It is also possible to replace the defective cells or resolve them for reuse in the energy producing process. Solar cells are high in resolution within a short duration. If there is enough patience and time, you can observe the efficiency of damaged solar-cells that still work great and are economical.

Before going to buy such cracked or chipped cells for reuse, you should be able to check them out and buy only the worthy ones.

It is high time to create awareness on solar panels particularly in the third world countries, where the sources of energy and financial resources are too bad. The developed countries should be highly responsible for increased environment pollution, thus they should realize the importance of solar energy.

Viability of using Photovoltaic technology for working on complex devises with the help of the Sun rays in the sky during the day time has to be explored. It is useful to move around and find out some sources using the broken cells or replacing the old solar cells with new ones.



If you are getting old parts for recycling, make use of slightly damaged cells in your endeavor. If the solar panel you build needs to be problem free, you should start with material gathering, including the solar cells. If it is not possible to gather the broken solar panels from your home town or local vendors, web sources will be useful to contact.

Assembling a solar panel for your own use will be a great leap forward in reducing the energy cost. By doing so, you can save a lot of money on electricity bills every year. By using solar energy, you are going green and the environment is saved from pollution.

Therefore it is ideal to assemble a solar panel for your own electricity usage. Such efforts may initially be time consuming and expensive, but with by prolong usage, you can save money by getting free electricity that would last for years to come.

Solar Panel Efficiency – Getting The Most Power Out




Solar panels can generate enough power to meet the demands of various electric appliances under optimal conditions in a typical American home. Not only this, it can also warm your homes in winter and cool in the summers.

The efficiency of the solar panels depends mostly on the location and availability of the sunlight. Solar panels can be placed at any place of your house provided it is properly exposed to sun. Most suitable position for the southern climate is the north facing side and for the northern climates it is the south facing side.

The places where the sunlight is for less than six hours in a year, the energy generation will not be sufficient. It also a fact that sunlight is more at many places as compared to others, in such case number of solar panels have to be increased.

Not enough sunlight? Even if the sunlight is not sufficient to generate enough power, it is still recommended that you must take the benefit of the solar power. Most of the homes who have installed solar panels still use power from the main grid.

This ensures that the energy bills are in control as the consumption from the main grid gets reduced. They can use the solar energy generated to run the appliances even if the solar energy partly meets their demands.

How much will Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels cost?

Having a hybrid option to use both solar power and power from the grid, the installation cost should be more, using only solar power should cost about $12 to $15 per watt. This means that you will have to spend $12K to $15 K per kilowatt hour of the energy which you want to produce.

Even if you compare it with the power supplied by the utility company solar energy still is very cost effective. There could be places where the utility companies do not supply power; you will have to totally depend upon the solar panels to get the electricity. You can recover the cost of installation in few years by saving the rising bills of the utility companies.



Solar panels are not only cost effective but fascinating too; you become savior of the environment. Another good option is to combine solar power with wind turbines which should generate enough power to meet your energy demands.

Furthermore, you can also reduce the electric consumption by using appliances which are Energy Star appliances, efficient light bulbs, efficient cooling and heating systems and other appliances which consume less power. You can also use separate dedicated systems like solar and geothermal water heating systems for the pool and or for bath which can be done by using portable solar panels for the areas where you do not need power all the time.

If you simply discipline your energy needs, you can produce enough power from solar panels and save on the rising energy bills. Using lights, unplugging the plugs, using natural renewable energy sources like solar and wind can go long way in consuming less energy and also contribute to the environment.