Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ category

Building Home Solar Panels

May 9th, 2021

Solar energy produces electricity by converting sunlight into energy using photovoltaic cells. Since 2002, solar energy has been increasingly used at a rate of 48% each year making it one of the fastest growing energy sources to date. With the ever-increasing knowledge and study of this source of energy the materials used to produce solar cell arrays has also become easier to come by for home energy use. Solar heating, solar electric, and solar hot water are the most common ways this power source is being utilized today. Many home owners are interested in having a green home since an energy efficient home is not only environmentally friendly but the potential savings are substantial.

Building home solar panels is actually not as difficult as one would think, provided you have the materials needed. One such material that is probably the biggest stumbling block when it comes to building your own solar panels is the solar cells themselves. Its not the sources of the panels you need to worry about, it’s the pricing and the quality that you must be sure of before deciding to buy. The best source for finding solar cells is eBay but you must be aware of who you are buying from. New cells are available but you will pay dearly to get them.

Therefore, the best option for getting your hands on suitable solar cells is to buy a set of broken or chipped cells that come bundled together. Buying broken cells may not sound like much fun but as long as you thoroughly research the seller as best you can you should be able to get a good idea of the quality you can expect when buying solar cells. The most commonly used cells are 3×6 mono-crystalline; make sure the panels you buy are tabbed cells. The cells will more then likely come to you covered in wax, they are dipped in wax in an effort to better secure them for shipment since the cells themselves are very fragile and thin.

Once you have the solar cells the next step is to create a shallow box to house them. Typically, a solar cell is comprised of 36 cells, which come out to needing roughly a 46″ x 24″ box structure to be built. Using simple materials like plywood and 1″ slats will more then suffice for this. Your overall design for the structure of the box is entirely up to you, basically the function of this piece is to just hold the cells in place and allow them to soak up the sun’s energy so don’t get to worried over the minor details.

Once you have your shallow box built its time to begin soldering the cells together. This is done with a string of ribbon wire usually. Simply attach two 10″ sections of ribbon wire to each cell with the excess wire hanging off the bottom of the cell. Once you have all the cells soldered with at least an extra 5 inches of ribbon wire hanging off them, you simply turn the cells over and connect the ribbon wire to the tabs on the back of each cell accordingly down the line until you have a string of 6. Make six of these cell strings to complete the basic structure of your panel.

Now that you have 6 cell strings, next step is to attach them to a panel that will fit into the shallow box you made earlier, best is to use a white panel to attach three of them to and make two half panels. Run a copper braided wire across the bottom of each panel and attach each string. Include an at least 3.3 amp blocking diode in series to prevent the panel from discharging your batteries overnight. Using a good silicone to secure the wires and cells is a good tip, make sure you allow it to thoroughly set in before you complete the project by covering and sealing the enclosure with plexiglass. Place your panel in direct sunlight and let it begin charging a few 12-volt batteries. Building your own solar panels is not only much cheaper but a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

The Importance of a Business Accountant

February 9th, 2021

Business Accountant

Business accountants are a critical component to any small business. But it is just as critical to find a great business account because just having one isn’t enough. An accountant is no longer just a number cruncher. They are financial advisers and planners as well and they can point you in the right direction to properly manage and maximize your company’s money. They document exactly where the company’s money goes and they are up to date on current tax laws and can help a business save money where it might be losing money without an accountant. Because accountants are in charge of company finances it is critically important that you find an accountant with integrity, that is honest, and that can be trusted.

Certified Public Accountants

To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) an accountant must pass certain qualifications. CPA’s require a certain level of schooling as well as experience. They also need to pass rigorous testing to prove their competence. In addition they must continue their education so that they are informed on all the newest tax laws. Because of these things a CPA is a much more knowledgeable and informed accountant. When starting out small businesses generally need a CPA to make sure that they aren’t losing money where they shouldn’t be and to keep their finances in very good order. There are many laws that a CPA will know about that a general accountant just won’t know because they haven’t had the schooling. CPA’s are more expensive, but if you hire one that is trustworthy your accountant will tell you when you are paying them too much for services that could be handled by a general accountant.

What Does an Accountant Handle?

Accountants do a variety of tasks for small businesses. They should be involved in the start up process of any new business. They can help with planning, negotiating leases, and setting up book-keeping systems. As soon as a business is up and running an accountant prepares tax returns, annual information returns, quarterly reviews, and can offer financial advice. An accountant will set up efficient and organized book-keeping systems to make sure that any information needed can be found easily. An accountant can take care of business taxes as well as helping with personal tax planning. A lot of the time personal taxes are intertwined with business taxes and having an accountant will help to manage money more effectively. Accountants also provide a business an opportunity to network and receive referrals that it would not otherwise receive. Accounts have many different customers and they can let those clients know when beneficial opportunities arise. They may bring in new customers to a business they work for, or they might be able to facilitate new business partnerships that a business wouldn’t get without them.

Accountants are highly valuable in the business world. If you are a small business you need a business accountant or a small business consultant to make sure that you aren’t wasting money when you could be saving it. A business accountant knows tax laws and can make sure that you pay what is necessary and don’t pay what you shouldn’t be paying. The value of having a small business accountant can not be overstated. They are critical to financial planning for a small business and handling business taxes, which are governed by complicated rules. A business accountant can make or break a business, especially if it’s just sta

Small Business Accounting: How to Choose an Accountant

January 9th, 2021

A small business is an enterprise that is usually small in scale in terms of number of employees and/or sales revenues. A large majority of the businesses in the United State are small business. These businesses are usually registered as sole proprietor, meaning one individual owns it, or partnership, meaning 2 or more people owns the business.

One of the problems facing a small business is in terms of accounting. With the limitation in funds, some accounting is done by the business owner. The entrepreneur is tasked to run the business and at the same time handles the day-to-day accounting requirements of the company. Because of this, the company is often penalized by the government for late payment of taxes, late submission of tax documents and at times, non-submission of tax forms. Also, the business can also be penalized for erroneous computations of tax dues. The business owner has his/her hands full with running the business that handling the accounting requirements can be turned over to another person.

A business owner can hire an in-house accountant or he/she can outsource the small business accounting work to a CPA firm like Desert Rose Tax & Accounting. An outsourced accountant can sometimes be more beneficial than hiring an employee because it is less expensive to outsource than to hire. Also, the outsourced accountant doesn’t need a designated space while an in-house needs his/her own space in the office.

In choosing an accountant to handle small business accounting for the company, some tips can be useful. Before opening a business, the business owner must have a ready accountant. Since a CPA requires a license before he/she can practice the profession, one has to make sure that he/she has a license. The accountant must have experience in the kind of industry the business is in.

Also in a small business accounting setup, before hiring an outside CPA make sure that one knows how much the accountant charges. Fees charged by CPA firms can vary widely. It is good practice to compare the accountant fees with industry standards. The accountant must be able to fill the needs of the company. Before hiring an accountant, one has to interview at least 3 or more prospective accountants so one can compare which among the three will best serve the company’s purpose.

In handling the accounting needs of the company, the business owner must ask the prospective accountant about other possible services he/she can offer to the company like sales tax and payroll tax reporting services. Some Certified Public Accountants offer business advice to help the enterprise grow.

Also, the accountant best fitted to handle the small business accounting is the CPA whose accounting firm is also small. Accountants who own small firms understand how small businesses are run. They also have the time and resources to share with the business owner. It’s one thing to have a fancy degree in business and another to have practical experience running a small business. In the event that the business owner sells the business, the accountant must be good enough to discuss with the owner how to go about with the sale so that tax liabilities are minimized.

Prior to signing up an accountant for the small business accounting, the business owner must ask the accountant for client references so that the owner can investigate. One must also make sure that the accountant establishes a business relationship with the owner, meaning the accountant has time to visit the company every now and then rather than just seeing him/her only when it’s tax filing season.