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