| Solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity. | | | | Once the solar array (the collection of solar panels |
| The science behind this conversion is known as | | | | wired together in your solar power system) starts |
| photovoltaic technology. Photovoltaic Cells or solar cells | | | | producing electricity you can use the electrical power, |
| as they are more commonly referred to are the major | | | | store it for later use or sell it back to your local utility if |
| components of any residential solar power system. | | | | your system is connected to the grid. Selling back to |
| Photovoltaic (PV) produces electricity directly from the | | | | the utility is referred to net-metering. |
| electrons that are freed when sunlight hits the surface | | | | As more and more homes convert to solar power we |
| of the PV cell and interacts with the semiconductor | | | | can expect to see major improvements in the |
| material in the PV cell. These cells are wired together | | | | efficiency of solar cells just as we experienced |
| to form a PV module, which is the smallest PV | | | | improvements in gas mileage in cars with carburetors, |
| component sold commercially. The PV modules range | | | | fuel injection, etc. |
| in power from 10 watts to 300 watts. | | | | In order to store the unused electricity for later use, |
| The raw material for the solar panel is silica (sand). | | | | you will need to incorporate batteries into the solar |
| The manufacturing process removes all of the | | | | power system. These batteries serve the same |
| impurities and defects, and results in a solar-grade silica | | | | purpose as the batteries in a car. Every time you start |
| feed stock. From there the silica is coated with Boron | | | | your car, the ignition is utilizing the stored electrical |
| or Phosphorus to tweak the frequencies of light silica | | | | power in the battery to turn over the starter motor. |
| responds to. | | | | Have you ever tried to start your car and nothing |
| When sunlight hits the solar cell with enough energy | | | | happens? If the starter is working properly, you know |
| the photons in the light knock electrons free in the | | | | that the battery is dead and there is no electrical |
| silicon crystalline structure forcing them through an | | | | current available to power the starter which in turn |
| external circuit or Direct DC Load and then returning | | | | starts the motor. |
| them to the other side of the Solar Panel to start the | | | | Solar batteries store the excess PV electricity until it is |
| process all over again (thus the renewal source). | | | | needed at a later time to run your appliance or the |
| The flow of freed electrons results in a voltage output | | | | lights, etc. Once the batteries are fully charged you |
| of approximately 0.5v per single crystalline solar cell. | | | | need to turn off any incoming power or they will be |
| The Amperage output is directly proportional to the | | | | damaged. The solar batteries are DC just as the |
| cells surface area about 7amps for a 6 inch square | | | | battery in your car. This means the batteries will be |
| solar cell. Typically you will see 30 to 36 cells wired in | | | | installed in your solar system between the Photovoltaic |
| series or in parallel with other solar modules to from a | | | | Cells and the inverter. |
| complete solar array to charge your battery bank, | | | | Note: You will be better off purchasing the best deep |
| within your solar power system. | | | | cycle batteries you can afford. Industrial deep cycle |
| The PV module produces direct current (DC) but your | | | | batteries can cost $200 each, but have a life |
| home uses alternating current (AC). Therefore, solar | | | | expectancy of 5-8 years. Your car battery will only |
| panels require that we include a converter in the | | | | last 1 year in deep cycle applications. |
| system to convert the DC current to AC current. This | | | | It is worth noting that even though lead acid batteries |
| is accomplished with an inverter, a special piece of | | | | are not environmentally friendly; the alternative of |
| equipment that converts or changes DC electricity to | | | | relying on fossil fuels is a poorer choice. |
| AC. | | | | |