Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:45:00 Green invention earns notoriety for Kingsland man Tribune & Georgian photo/Ellen Robinson |
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GRADY MAYEAUX, THE inventor of this 7-pound peel and stick solar panel for golf carts, and his son Russell demonstrate placing their Kingsland based company's newest product on a cart with ease. Mayeaux's invention was named Best New Product at the 2009 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla. in January.
Ellen Robinson
A Kingsland man says his latest invention is in high demand around the globe after being named the Best New Product at the 2009 Professional Golfer's Association Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.
Grady Mayeaux's newly unveiled peel-and-stick solar panel proven to power a golf cart to 36 holes, rain or shine. In fact, Yamaha was able to take a golf cart on 50 holes using just the Going Green Solar Panel, said Mayeaux.
In direct sunlight, the peel-and-stick panel produced 80 volts or three amps of electricity, which is more than enough to power both the 36 or 48 volts needed for standard golf carts. Mayeaux said his latest invention is the first solar panel to be proven to produce energy in the shade.
"See here, it's still getting 50 volts," said Mayeaux's son, Russell, as he stood in the shade of towering pine trees and pointed to the power reader. "That's still plenty of power to run even the stronger golf carts that require 48 volts. This panel will power golf carts even on overcast days, and it doesn't even have to be warm outside for it to work. They are selling well even in places like Canada and Iceland."
Although his father is the mastermind behind Earth Care Products' latest invention, Russell has taken over the business now that his father has retired.
The Going Green Solar Panel is made from three layers of amorphous silicon and each layer is tuned to a different level of sunlight frequency. Unlike the glass solar panels, the peel-and-stick panel is durable enough to continue working normally even after being punctured, he said.
"You can't break it. It's very flexible and it's very durable. It stands up to both extreme heat and freezing temperatures," Grady Mayeaux said. "I believe they could last for 10 or more years, but we are only guaranteeing three years because this product hasn't been around to test it for 10 years."
The newest solar panels offered by Earth Care Products, Mayeaux's home-based business, are more affordable at a price of $1,695 than the older glass solar panels that typically cost $2,000. Plus the shipping costs for the much heavier and bigger glass panels make the final cost very pricey, he said.
"Earth Care's new solar panels only weigh about 4 pounds and it take two people only about 15 minutes to install one on a golf cart," Grady Mayeaux said. "You just hook it up, and you're ready to go."
Since the PGA has enthusiastically endorsed Mayeaux's peel-and stick-solar panels, the phone at the Grady Mayeaux's North Grove Street residence has been ringing off the hook. The father and son say calls have been coming in -- from the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Mexico, Holland, Ireland, India, Taiwan, China, the Philippines and from virtually every state in the U.S. -- from retailers requesting to carry the peel-and-stick panels.Locally, W.H. Gross Construction has partnered with Earth Care Products to carry the Going Green Solar Panel in the company's new showroom on North Gross Road. Mayeaux is working with Gross Construction to promote Earth Care Products' solar panels for homes, recreation vehicles, pools and boats.
Source: http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2009/04/10/news/business/1business4.10.txt
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