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Solar How To Basics: What It Takes To Produce Electricity

By: Sean Burton

Environmental concerns coupled with the high-cost of energy consumption have prompted many homeowners to search for alternative ways to power their homes. Solar how to is becoming increasingly popular because solar power not only works in harmony with the environment but it is usually cost-effective as well.

Solar how to power is effective for most items except large appliances that use a heat element as a power component. Such items include water heaters, clothes dryers, electric stoves, or a total electric home heating system. Natural gas or propane is more cost effective for those items.

There is a difference in using solar how to power to produce heat and using it to produce electricity. When producing heat, solar thermal technology is utilized. Photovoltaic principles are applied to produce electricity.

* Solar thermal electric: electricity is derived from solar energy via forced sunlight used to heat a working fluid, which drives a turbo-generator.

* Photovoltaic (PV) system: requires a set of components that work together to convert sunlight into electricity this type of system utilizes the photovoltaic process.

Details of solar how to tips and information necessarily include information about the solar panels. Solar panels are made from silicon, which is a natural element. The panel becomes electrically charged when exposed to sunlight. Silicon is an excellent semiconductor material, which is a naturally occurring chemical element; silicon(Si). Silicon is a dark gray semi-metallic element.

The amount of the charge is dependent on various factors, including panel positioning. In the northern hemisphere solar panels are directed at solar south and in the southern hemisphere they are angled at solar north.

As the sunlight hits the panel the electrical charge is consolidated in the PV panel and then directed to output terminals to produce low voltage direct current. This is usually between six and 24 volts.

* Photovoltaic (PV): panel collection of modules that are connected and used to produce voltage and current.

* Direct current (DC): type of electric current produced initially by solar panels in which the electrons flow in one direction only. This is the opposite of alternating current (AC) which is required for household appliances.

For calculation purposes, a 12 volt nominal output is used but the actual operating voltage can be much higher. Because the radiation and intensity of the sunlight changes with the time of day, seasons of the year, as well as weather conditions, the output will vary.

When planning a system, the calculations must be based on the amount of solar radiation energy expressed in hours of full sunlight. This is referred to as Peak Sun Hours. The average amount of sun available per day throughout the year is used in the calculation process.

According to the United States Department of Energy, it has been estimated that the total amount of solar energy that hits the surface of the earth in a single hour is more than the entire human population requires in a year. Studies have revealed that approximately 100 square miles of solar how to panels placed in the southwestern United States could power the entire nation.

The power of any solar how to system depends on the geographical location. There are four primary components needed for producing solar power electricity:

* solar panels

* battery

* charge controller/regulator

* and an inverter

The system begins with the sunlight hitting the panel which charges the battery. The purpose of the charge controller is to regulate or insure the proper charging of the battery. The battery provides a DC voltage to the inverter. The inverter converts that to a normal AC voltage.

The output of solar panels is usually expressed in watts, which is determined by multiplying the rated voltage by the rated amperage.
amp (A) or amperes, Unit of electric current. A single is produced by an electric force of 1 volt across a resistance of 1 ohm.

* Ohm: measures the resistance to the flow of an electric current, expressed in units.

* Volt (V): used to measure the force of the electrons in an electric circuit.

* Watt (W): unit of electric power; one ampere of current flowing at a potential of one volt produces one watt of power.

Solar how to power can be used virtually anywhere. For homeowners living in remote or isolated locations solar power may be the most practical solution for their energy needs. The many benefits of using solar power for electricity continue to grow.

It is not surprising that both residential and commercial customers are finding that solar power is not only cost-effective but also addresses the growing environmental concerns. This makes solar how to power an attractive choice for almost anyone.

Article Source: http://www.bluearticles.com


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