Panel Multi

Panel Multi

« Previous12345Next »

How Solar Panels Work?

What exactly is a solar panel? A solar panel consists of a series of individual solar cells connected together to make up one large solar panel. The number of cells in a panel, and the number of panels in a complete installation, is determined by the electricity output required.

Solar panels vary in size from the finger-nail sized panels we see on calculators, cell phone chargers and other small electronic devices, to medium sized panels installed on rooftops of houses and industrial buildings right through to installations covering several acres, providing solar generated electricity to communities.

Each of the solar cells is typically made from wafers of silicon which are able to convert the ultraviolet part of the sunlight into electricity. Most solar panels have a toughened glass covering over the cells to protect them. When sunlight falls on the silicon wafers in the solar cells, the chemical reaction caused by the solar energy generates electricity. This electricity then passes through the wiring in the panel to a regulator and then either into storage batteries or to an inverter where the DC electricity that has been generated is converted to AC electricity.

If you have a domestic solar panel on your house, this AC  power can then be used to operate your household appliances, pumps and others electric devices you may have in your home.

There are different types of solar panel, depending on what they are to be used for.

Amorphous Solar Panels are most suitable for use as portable solar panels as they can provide greater resistance to being slightly shaded; they are usually tougher and can even be made flexible. This means that they can be used in any situation where a portable solar panel is preferred. For example, they are widely used by people travelling in RVs, motor homes, 4WDs and boats  and for other similar applications.

Mono-Crystalline Solar Panels are panels made from single crystal silicon and generally prove to be more efficient than amorphous panels. They are very reliable and provide good efficiency but are more expensive. These are the solar panels that are usually used for large scale solar applications.

Multi-Crystalline solar panels are made from silicon wafers cut from multi-crystal silicon. These panels are usually smaller and cheaper than Mono-Crystalline panels but are slightly less efficient. These are the solar panels used for small to medium scale solar applications. Hence they will be what are installed on the roof of your home if you decide to seek the advantages of using solar energy to generate at least some of the electricity for your home.

The advantages of solar energy are:

- for the consumer, reduced cost for electricity;

- for the world, the use of a renewable, sustainable energy source without any degradation of the environment.

About the Author

Get a FREE Report On How Solar Panels Work And How To Build Your Own. Get It FREE HERE

Low Cost Multi-Touch LCD Panel using Arduino Mega