ECO-WORTHY 120w Portable Solar Panel Kit

On the budget end of portable solar panel options the Eco-Worthy products feature a slightly less efficient panel technology that is polycrystalline.

While the power ratings are similar to monocrystalline panels you’ll see a slight drop in efficiency which can exceed 20% in some circumstances. Most noticeably during low light and partial shade conditions.

If you intend to use your panels infrequently or having max power isn’t critical for you the Eco-Worthy may well give you freedom from your generator while also putting some money back in your pocket.

At 120 watts the system can handle moderate power consumption such as moderate LED lighting use as well as moderate use of 12v pumps, fans and accessories like tvs and radios.

As the most budget friendly option for portable solar you can expect some sacrifices in other areas.

The wiring provided is quite a bit smaller than comparable models at 16 awg. The issue here is that under full power smaller wire tends to heat up and this results in even more inefficiency.

You’ll also be sacrificing wire length and connection options. The included cable is just 9’ which severely limits your freedom to park where you like and still access the sun. Think SHADE!

The only offered connection type is classic clamps. Adding to the sacrifices the clamps are nickel plates which is a slight difference, but results again in less efficiency over copper.

The included 15 amp NON-LCD PWM charge controller does not have a display to give you any information about the charging current, battery voltage or projected amps/hour as you’ll find on other models. This information may not be useful for some folks and so may not represent much of a loss in features.

No carrying or storage case is provided so you’ll need to take special care when storing the panels so as not to damage the exposed glass.

While the panel (like AUKEY SOLAR CHARGER ) gives up many bells and whistles, it will surely help reduce or eliminate generator use for budget sensitive folks. The overall cost savings was hard to justify for our family since we heavily rely on our solar to give us max power all day long as well as many other features.

That’s why we opted for the Go Power! 120 watt array. So far we’re very happy with the power output and all other features offered.

SPECS

Panel type: Polycrystalline
Watts: 120
Max amps: 6.6
Controller: 15 amps PWM No Display
Travel case: No
Cost per watt: $1.95
Voltage: 12 volts
Connectors: Nickel plated clamps only
Cable Length: 9’, 16 AWG
Weight: 28 lbs
Dimensions: 34″ x 40.5″ x 1.4″

Stealth Cam G42 No-Glo Trail Game Camera STC-G42NG

Trail cameras used to be very expensive pieces of equipment, and almost impossible to get your hands on.

Nothing could be further from the truth today.

Now, thanks in large part to major advances in the videography technology available at ridiculously low prices, anyone and everyone has the opportunity to get their hands on a quality trail camera for next to nothing – which is why we are all able to take advantage of everything that the Stealth Cam G42 No-Glo Trail Game Camera STC-G42NG brings to the table.

First Impressions

At first blush, the Stealth Cam G42 No-Glo Trail Game Camera STC-G42NG stands out from the rest of the pack with just how compact and rugged it looks – even before you get your hands on it.

One of the smallest Trail cameras (for example: MOULTRIE M-888 ) that you’re going to come across today, but certainly one of the most capable, this is everything that most outdoorsmen have been searching for and then some.

Filled with advanced technology, the ability to record in HD resolution, night vision capabilities, multi zone and motion detection sensors built right in, and with GPS stamping on every single image or video taken, there’s almost no reason to go with any other trail camera than this one.​

Overall Design
As mentioned above, this particular camera is very compact and well designed.

​About the same size as a paperback book (and just a little bit thicker), you’re going to be able to mount this camera to pretty much anything and everything imaginable to give you the rare opportunity to record all the nature and wildlife that your camera has the opportunity to pick up in its lens.

​The user interface is intuitive (we’ll touch on that in just a moment), but the rugged durability of this camera really cannot be overstated. This thing feels indestructible!

Ease of Use

The Stealth Cam G42 No-Glo Trail Game Camera STC-G42NG has definitely been designed to be used by those that aren’t exactly tech savvy, and that isn’t a bad thing!

​All of the controls on this particular solution have been simplified dramatically, while still giving the user infinite options to customize so that they’ll be able to record nature exactly as they intend to.

On top of that, the controls of this device can be manipulated even while wearing gloves, something that a lot of early morning or dusk outdoorsmen are going to appreciate.

​It’s also nice to know that you’ll be able to use this camera in the winter time without losing a digit or two to frostbite!

Picture Quality
The picture quality on this camera is absolutely stunning, with multiple resolution settings available that range from two megapixels all the way up to 10 megapixels for still images and full high definition for short blast video clips.

The lower the resolution setting, the more photos and videos that you’ll be able to take, as higher definition options are going to eat up storage faster than normal. At the same time, you are always going to have the opportunity to record quick frame by frame images or clips of video (with audio) that range in duration from between five and 180 seconds.

You aren’t going to have any trouble whatsoever sharing all of the videos and images that you capture with this camera on social media. The quality is top notch, and people are going to really be impressed with the images and video that you’re able to capture.

Special Features

Of all the many special features that the Stealth Cam G42 No-Glo Trail Game Camera STC-G42NG brings to the table, one of them stands head and shoulders above the rest of the pack.

​We’re talking of course about the matrix Advanced Blur Reduction Technology built right into this amazing trail camera. This technology is going to result in the crisp best and most impressive lowlight pictures and videos taken. It’s also going to give you the opportunity to capture media even when there is no moon or stars to provide any lighting whatsoever.

Final Verdict

It really doesn’t get all that much better than the Stealth Cam G42 No-Glo Trail Game Camera STC-G42NG when it comes to Trail cameras.

If you are serious about getting your hands on a quality piece of technology for next to nothing (you just can’t beat that price tag), this is something that you want to seriously consider.​

Create Pay Stubs - Employee's Need More Than Just a Check

If one owns a small company outfit which he or she's managing with a few of persons, there is always the temptation for one to write his or her employee's paycheck straight from the account of the specific company outfit and let it be at that. It's a different ball game now since the workers of this current age would constantly ask their employer to make online-pay-stub.com of any sort. The main reason behind their asking this online-pay-stub.com is to enable them to keep a proper record of the income that they create on a weekly basis and to also ensure that their company is paying them as it ought to be with regards to services rendered. Additionally, it serves to make one conscious of how much he is paying out regarding taxes.

Which are the things which need to be reflected on online-pay-stub.com?

It all depends on the laws regulating a particular geographic location. however, it's pertinent that some crucial information ought to be contained at online-pay-stub.com. Some of the information required includes a number of hours that the company's employees put in on a particular period of payment and then these hours are divided between routine and over a period of work. The pay rate for a specific job type is also required information. Then space is created out someplace on it where the employer will put in the total gross amount for each employee for that pay period.

Other useful info to include in the form would be that the deductions that were made by the employee's money. These deductions may cover the ones created before and following the taxes, as well as the taxes. Spaces are also created for filling in the income taxation at federal, state and the regional levels. Spaces for healthcare and social security deductions must also be made on the online-pay-stub.com.

How would one get a template to aid in creating online-pay-stub.com?

If one really wants to create online-pay-stub.com for his or her workers, several choices and resources abound which the person can utilize to that result. The progress in technology has truly made it possible for you to find a solution to a number of problems from searching the internet. There are numerous sites online offering diverse templates for creating online-pay-stub.com, each template differs from the other with the aim of taking care of employer's needs.

Some of the vital steps taken include the company registering for a free account with this specific website that will provide a template for producing online-pay-stub.com. The employer will probably be prompted to enter the specific year that he wants to calculate the payment and type in the specific state where her or his company is located. All things considered, the employer will then have the ability to calculate each employer's deductions by going into the person's gross pay, his allowance and any other sum that should be deducted and then clicking on "calculate", and the answer is given there and then.

Small Solar Electric Systems

A small solar electric or photovoltaic system  can be a reliable and pollution-free producer of electricity for your home or office.
A small solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) system can be a reliable and pollution-free producer of electricity for your home or office. Small PV systems also provide a cost-effective power supply in locations where it is expensive or impossible to send electricity through conventional power lines.

Because PV technologies use both direct and scattered sunlight to create electricity, the solar resource across the United States is ample for home solar electric systems. However, the amount of power generated by a solar system at a particular site depends on how much of the sun's energy reaches it. Thus, PV systems, like all solar technologies, function most efficiently in the southwestern United States, which receives the greatest amount of solar energy.

Because of their modularity, PV systems can be designed to meet any electrical requirement, no matter how large or how small. You can connect them to an electric distribution system (grid-connected), or they can stand alone (off-grid). You can also use PV technology to provide outdoor lighting.

See our other pages for more information on planning a home solar electric system and installing and maintaining a home solar electric system.
Types of Solar Cells

Solar cells—the basic building blocks of a PV system -- consist of semiconductor materials. When sunlight is absorbed by these materials, the solar energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms. This phenomenon is called the "photoelectric effect." These free electrons then travel into a circuit built into the solar cell to form electrical current. Our Solar Power Basics animation shows a simulation of the photoelectric effect. Only sunlight of certain wavelengths will work efficiently to create electricity. PV systems can still produce electricity on cloudy days, but not as much as on a sunny day.

The performance of a solar (or PV) cell is measured in terms of its efficiency at converting sunlight into electricity. There are a variety of solar cell materials available, which vary in conversion efficiency.

Semiconductor Materials

Silicon remains the most popular material for solar cells, including these types:

Monocrystalline ( for example: GOAL ZERO NOMAD 7 PLUS ) or single crystal silicon

Multicrystalline silicon
Polycrystalline silicon
Amorphous silicon.

The absorption coefficient of a material indicates how far light with a specific wavelength (or energy) can penetrate the material before being absorbed. A small absorption coefficient means that light is not readily absorbed by the material. Again, the absorption coefficient of a solar cell depends on two factors: the material making up the cell, and the wavelength or energy of the light being absorbed.

The bandgap of a semiconductor material is an amount of energy. Specifically, the bandgap is the minimum energy needed to move an electron from its bound state within an atom to a free state. This free state is where the electron can be involved in conduction. The lower energy level of a semiconductor is called the "valence band." The higher energy level where an electron is free to roam is called the "conduction band." The bandgap (often symbolized by Eg) is the energy difference between the conduction band and valence band.

Solar cell material has an abrupt edge in its absorption coefficient; because light with energy below the material's bandgap cannot free an electron, it isn't absorbed.
Thin Film

Thin film solar cells use layers of semiconductor materials only a few micrometers thick. Thin film technology has made it possible for solar cells to now double as these materials:

Rooftop or solar shingles
Roof tiles
Building facades
Glazing for skylights or atria.

Thin-film rooftop or solar shingles, made with various non-crystalline materials, are just now starting to enter the residential market. The following are benefits of these solar shingles:
Attractive integration into homes
Dual purpose -- serves as both roofing material and pollution-free electricity producer
Durability.

Current issues with commercially available solar shingles include their lower efficiencies and greater expense compared with the standard home solar electric system.

Topeka contractor temporarily banned from doing business in Kansas

A Topeka contractor has been temporarily banned from doing business in Kansas, according to information released Wednesday by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office.

Shawnee County District Judge Larry D. Hendricks issued a restraining order earlier this month against John Shively, doing business as J&R Remodeling and J&S Construction, temporarily banning him from doing business in Kansas as a roofing contractor.

Schmidt said Shively violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act and Kansas Roofing Registration Act in that he allegedly “contracted and received payment from a consumer for roofing services that were never performed. The defendant also failed to register as a roofing contractor as required by the Kansas Roofing Registration Act, or KRRA.”

In Wednesday’s statement, Schmidt announced he has entered into consent judgments with seven other roofing contractors, including two in Shawnee County, for KRRA violations. The companies are required to pay civil penalties, restitution in some cases and are required to comply with the KRRA when providing roofing services in the future. The seven roofing contractors fined are:

• Mike Rose Construction LLC, fined in Shawnee County District Court.
• Rooftop Construction LLC, in Shawnee County District Court.
• Griffin Roofing LLC, in Doniphan County District Court.
• FA Construction LLC, in Cherokee County District Court.
• Mike’s General Contracting LLC, in Mitchell County District Court.
• Arturo Acosta, in Meade County District Court.

James Reynolds, doing business as JR Roofing and Repairs, in Greenwood County District Court.

In each case, Schmidt alleged the contractors “engaged in advertising, soliciting or performing roofing contractor services in Kansas without registering with the attorney general’s office as required by the KRRA.”

With the onset of spring and the construction season, Schmidt reminded Kansans to make sure roofing contractors are registered before signing any contract or having any work done on their homes.

“Consumers should request a copy of their roofer’s registration certificate and then should check the attorney general’s consumer protection website at www.InYourCornerKansas.org to confirm that the roofer’s registration is in good standing,” according to the release.

How to Find the Best Investors for Your Small Business

Big ideas can only take your business so far. When a contractor asks for a first installment, or your first big payroll is due, you have to show them the money—fast. At times like these, an entrepreneur must turn to investors to keep his or her company moving forward. Here are some tips on how to find the best investors for your small business.

Your inner circle

Why go hunting for funds when you already have potential business partners saved in your contacts? There are several advantages to turning to your friends and family members for a small business loan or business partnership. The terms involved in these scenarios are often more favorable than those that any lender might offer. Additionally, the approval process tends to be much simpler when your inner circle is involved.

Still, there are drawbacks to working with your friends and family members. Think of the strain a business partnership might have on a relationship that already has its stress points. If your business struggles down the line and you need more time to pay off loans, your actions could lead to the end of a friendship or a slew of uncomfortable moments during the holidays. Sometimes, the money is not worth the potential stress and complications.

Angel investor

First-time solopreneurs sometimes need the help of a seasoned pro to get a company going. That is where an angel investor comes in. In exchange for a 20–25% stake in your business, angels provide the money you need to keep an operation alive or expand your reach into new territories. Besides cold, hard cash, they also bring years of experience to the table.

Viewers of Shark Tank are familiar with how this principle works. You first have to convince a wealthy business professional that your company can expand his or her portfolio. This process involves extended discussions between your team and the angel's representatives. When the terms are fair, both sides win—and you end up with an excellent mentor in the bargain.

Venture capital

While angel investors are often the answer for businesses that are struggling to take the next big step, venture capital firms tend to take an interest in more established brands. These investors usually have minimum revenue requirements and want the ability to influence what your company does next. They also have an exit strategy, which enables them to break ties with your business in less than five years.

Small business owners should have an exit strategy of their own when turning to venture capital firms for help. Anything can happen in a few years that can negatively impact your operation, including economic downturn or a change in industry regulations. Financiers without an emotional investment in your business will have no trouble selling a stake to cut losses.

Alternative financing

One of the newest trends in business financing is the alternative lending industry. Entrepreneurs no longer have to wait for loan approval from a bank or worry if their credit is good enough. Online lenders may approve a small business loan in a matter of hours and do so without a lengthy application process. On the flip side, entrepreneurs need a clear exit strategy.

You cannot take on a bridge loan without knowing exactly when your next revenue infusion is coming. Penalties may be severe. Other alternative funding methods such as crowdsourcing and presale offers may also appeal to small business owners. Overall, it is crucial that you deliver on the promises you make in a timely fashion, because failing to do so could hurt your brand's credibility in the long run.

Every new business needs investors in order to take the next step and hit the ground running. For more small business financial insight, check out the Small Business Financial Services center.

8 Great Tips for Success in Both Life and Business

1. Add Value

No matter what you do and where you go, you can’t go wrong with adding value. Simply put value is anything that people are willing to pay for. In your professional life, the more value you can offer the more money you can make. In your personal life, more value translates to closer relationships and strong personal growth. The best way to add value is to find the intersection between what people are willing to pay for and what service or product you can offer that is aligned with your values, strengths and goals.

2. Follow Your Passion

Reading numerous biographies on great people and from my own personal observations and encounters, I’ve realized that those who achieve greatness professional and personally follow their passion. The reason why great people are few and far in-between is because most people don’t even know what their passion is. For those that do figure out their passion, most of them don’t follow their passion consistently. This is one of the main reasons why people don’t reach their goals.

3. Be Extraordinary

If you do the same thing as everyone else, it’s hard to be successful. It is important to find the edge and then push past it. That is how you become noticed and get what you want. Whether it is money, meaningful relationships and/or a sense of personal accomplishment, the extraordinary person attracts them all.

4. Start Now

There are many factors that go into become a success in both your professional and personal life but the one factor that is required is taking action. Most people miss out on reaching their full potential because they never start. They are always preparing, planning and waiting for the best time to start. If I waited until I was ready, I would not have a coaching practice, a website, a blog, a workshop, etc. The stars rarely align and you will never be completely ready so just start now and adjust along the way.

5. Hunt for Good Mentors

People who “make it” usually credit their success to a mentor or a group of mentors who really helped guide them to get to where they are. Mentors have gone down the road that you want to travel and can guide you to get to your destination faster than if you went at it alone. If you want to be healthy, you would find a mentor who is already healthy. If you want to be rich, then you have to find someone who is already rich. What surprises me is how rarely people engage in mentoring relationships and those who do usually find mentors in only one aspect of their lives. If you want to be successful, be active about finding mentors that will help you achieve what you want. Jeff Goins has a nice short article on finding mentors.

6. Build a Support Group

While mentors serve as a guide with whom you review your past actions and plan your next steps, a support group are your companions that help you with during the actual execution of your plan. This may be in the form of a mastermind group or accountability partner where you keep each other accountable for your goals and to help each other deal with situations that may arise while you are on your journeys. It is extremely helpful to have someone you know that is willing to listen to your frustrations and self doubt and to encourage you and remind you of how far you’ve already come.

7. Personally Know Your Finances

Numbers scare a lot of people. Start talking about assets, liabilities and net worth and people’s eyes just glaze over. If you are one of these people who run away from numbers, please stop running because you are hurting yourself. If you want to be financially independent, you need to know how to keep score. If you have your own business or want to successfully invest, finances tell you how well you are doing and reveal the health of a business. If you don’t understand finances, you have to learn. It’s easy once you get over the limiting belief that you are no good at numbers.

8. Be Resilient

Things rarely work out the way you planned and there will always be distractions and stumbling blocks that you have to deal with when you are on your road to success. The key point to remember is to persist and to develop the courage to move on even when everyone around you is telling you it is ok to give up. This does not mean stubbornly holding on to your original plan but rather continuing to pursue your goal as long as the reasons for doing so is still valid (Make sure you know the “Why” of what you want). When everything seems to be going wrong, keep in mind that “the road to success is paved with a thousand failures” so each failure actually brings you closer to where you want to be.