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Solar Panels

Learn About Solar Panels for a Better World

Solar panels are the components of a solar power system that convert sunlight into electricity. In solar powered homes, these are the items usually mounted on the roofs of houses.  

Solar cells

Solar cells are what make up a solar panel. These cells are interconnect in groups to make up a solar panel and are packed into an assembly, which is known as the photovoltaic module. When sunlight hits one of these cells, electricity becomes generated because of the photovoltaic effect discovered in 1839. However, it was not put to use until R. Ohl invented the solar cell in 1946, which made use of this effect.

Many companies are using silicon to produce solar cells. It is a great conductor to produce electricity from this method of energy collection. Other materials such as copper indium diselendie, gallium arsenide, and cadmium telluride also work well. Thin film amorphous technologies and Silicon companies are the ones creating these materials used in solar cells.

Silicon cells have a 93% hold onto the market, with thin film cells coming in second at 7%.  

Solar cells must be efficient for them to work when space is a premium. This will also determine the period of payback, which is about 10 years with the best panels being sold today. Silicon cells of monocrystalline and polycrystalline have 8% to 18% efficiency, with amorphous cells at 4% to 8%. REC Solar Panels and Mitsubishi Solar Panels make high effiency panels.

What a Solar Panel Is

Just as any other electrical device would have a voltage rating, so to do solar panels. Groups of solar cells are interconnected to each other to make up a powerful and practical output of current, power, and voltage. There are a few connection options you can implement to accomplish this task or make it run more efficiently. The cells that are grouped together into photovoltaic modules are what we call solar panels.

In actual systems, to achieve large power output, solar panels are interconnected into arrays.

Connecting 30 to 32 cells in series produces a panel with 15 to 16 volts, ideal for charging batteries because you don’t need a charge regulator. This type of panels is good for small systems where low power is needed, like charging batteries and electrifying fences. For bigger systems where there is a lot of sun, panels with 33 to 34 cells in series producing 16.5 to 17 volts are used. There are also panels with 35 to 36 cells in series having 17.5 to 21 volts. This type of cell works well in places with hot climates where high temperatures cause power loss.

You can basically lump solar panels into two main categories. They are concentrating and non- concentrating. Concentrating is mainly used to absorb direct sunlight and works great in that aspect. Non-concentrating works well with absorbing reflected sunlight but can accomplish both tasks.

Commercial solar panels are available for purchase that can be in 5 watts to about 230 watts. Most of the home solar systems out there will actually prefer a higher wattage solar panel. You can even find cheap solar panel manufactures online that have wattages of 40 to 230 watts. The prices will vary of course depending on the wattage and materials that it has. You can find a 72$ 60 watt solar panel, and a $666 224 watt unit for sale. The prices of the solar panels will be evaluated by dollar per watt.

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