When you really break them down a solar panel is nothing more than a big sheet of glass over a metal frame with a patch of wiring that runs to your home s main electrical panel.
How do solar panels qork.
It s an idea that has been around for well over a century.
Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units.
Solar panels are made out of photovoltaic cells which is why generating electricity with solar panels is also called solar pv that convert the sun s energy into electricity.
Modules are designed to supply electricity at a certain voltage such as a common 12 volts system.
Most solar cells are made out of silicon.
Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity.
A number of solar cells electrically connected to each other and mounted in a support structure or frame is called a photovoltaic module.
How do solar panels work.
The current produced is directly dependent on how much light strikes the module.
Solar photovoltaic pv panels are based on a high tech but remarkably simple technology that converts sunlight directly to electricity.
Solar panels work by letting photons released by the sun knock electrons free from atoms and thus generate a flow of electricity.
Here are the main steps for how solar panels work for your home.
Old school solar technology uses large crystals made out of silicon which produces an electrical current when struck by light.
In 1839 french scientist edmond becquerel discovered that certain materials would give off sparks of electricity when struck with sunlight.
Solar energy works when the photons of an atom knock the electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity.
Photovoltaic cells are sandwiched between layers of semi conducting materials such as silicone.
Solar panels are made up of these small things called pv cells and many pv cells linked together make a solar panel.
Electricity flows through your home.
The solar cells that you see on calculators and satellites are also called photovoltaic pv cells which as the name implies photo meaning light and voltaic meaning electricity convert sunlight directly into electricity.
Photovoltaic cells absorb the sun s energy and convert it to dc electricity the solar inverter converts dc electricity from your solar modules to ac electricity which is used by most home.