There are two types of home solar power systems that can be created to provide energy to the home. They can be categorized as passive and direct applications of solar energy. The passive systems are generally to do with utilizing the thermal properties of the Sun. So water or a room can be passively heated by the Sun. The water can be plumbed into the home to be used for everyday needs. By understanding how hot air moves, a heated room can direct heat energy to other parts of the home to provide warmth. However is going to focus on the direct home solar power systems that create electricity for use in the home.
Electricity is created by utilizing sun light energy. The technology that does this is known as the photovoltaic (PV) cell. A cell is made from a silicon compound that throws an electron loose of the atom whenever sunlight of a certain frequency strikes the cell. When many cells are linked together in series, this forms an electric current.
When many PV cells are connected together they are called a solar module. When numerous solar modules are connected together they are referred to as a solar panel.
Solar panels are the devices that you may have seen on the roofs of houses in your neighborhood. They can be placed elsewhere, but the roof is often the most sensible place as it is likely to get exposed to direct sunlight and the panels can't be damaged or vandalized as easily or take up room in the yard.
The solar panel creates direct current electricity (DC). By passing it through a power inverter it can be transformed to alternating current (AC). AC is used in most homes to power everyday appliances.
An electrical service panel or breaker box then distributes the AC to various electrical points in the house or to the lighting system. A utility meter manages your electricity usage if you are connected to the grid.
An example of how this works is during midday. In theory this is the best time for your solar panels to create electricity. As you may be out or at work this will also be the time when you use little or no electricity. So the utility meter might go backwards indicating that you are generating electricity for the utility company.
There are two types of home solar power system - on or off the grid. On the grid is sometimes referred to as a net metering system. This refers to laws enacted in some states that require utility companies to pay a certain amount for the electricity that a home owner generates with their solar power system. Before these laws, the utility company would buy at a discounted rate making the installation of a solar panel less economically viable for the homeowner.
An off grid system means that you are not connected to the utility company. All your electricity needs must be found by your home solar power system. This is more responsibility and work for you as you need a contingency or alternate power system if the solar system fails or cannot cope.
Typical back up systems are a fuel driven power generator or some type of renewable system, like a wind or water power system. An off grid solar system also has to store DC in batteries so that it can be used at night when there is no Sun. This is an extra responsibility.
Most people go for an on grid system with net metering as this is less responsibility and can stack up economically. With more experience they may go more off grid. Of course this is more responsibility and work but the potential to save money is greater.
Electricity is created by utilizing sun light energy. The technology that does this is known as the photovoltaic (PV) cell. A cell is made from a silicon compound that throws an electron loose of the atom whenever sunlight of a certain frequency strikes the cell. When many cells are linked together in series, this forms an electric current.
When many PV cells are connected together they are called a solar module. When numerous solar modules are connected together they are referred to as a solar panel.
Solar panels are the devices that you may have seen on the roofs of houses in your neighborhood. They can be placed elsewhere, but the roof is often the most sensible place as it is likely to get exposed to direct sunlight and the panels can't be damaged or vandalized as easily or take up room in the yard.
The solar panel creates direct current electricity (DC). By passing it through a power inverter it can be transformed to alternating current (AC). AC is used in most homes to power everyday appliances.
An electrical service panel or breaker box then distributes the AC to various electrical points in the house or to the lighting system. A utility meter manages your electricity usage if you are connected to the grid.
An example of how this works is during midday. In theory this is the best time for your solar panels to create electricity. As you may be out or at work this will also be the time when you use little or no electricity. So the utility meter might go backwards indicating that you are generating electricity for the utility company.
There are two types of home solar power system - on or off the grid. On the grid is sometimes referred to as a net metering system. This refers to laws enacted in some states that require utility companies to pay a certain amount for the electricity that a home owner generates with their solar power system. Before these laws, the utility company would buy at a discounted rate making the installation of a solar panel less economically viable for the homeowner.
An off grid system means that you are not connected to the utility company. All your electricity needs must be found by your home solar power system. This is more responsibility and work for you as you need a contingency or alternate power system if the solar system fails or cannot cope.
Typical back up systems are a fuel driven power generator or some type of renewable system, like a wind or water power system. An off grid solar system also has to store DC in batteries so that it can be used at night when there is no Sun. This is an extra responsibility.
Most people go for an on grid system with net metering as this is less responsibility and can stack up economically. With more experience they may go more off grid. Of course this is more responsibility and work but the potential to save money is greater.
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Get more on how do solar panels work and what a solar power inverter does in a home solar power system at solarpowerappliances.com.
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