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Everything you need for solar power in your home
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Solar Power Information

OMNI SOLAR ENERGY LAB - SOLAR POWER CONTROLLER

Photovoltaic (pv) Electric Systems

Photovoltaic (PV) Electric Systems

Photovoltaic systems use solar cells to capture the sun rays and convert that energy into electricity. Such systems allow homeowners to generate electricity in a clean, reliable, and quiet way that can offset the cost of future electricity costs and decrease their dependence on the energy grid.

Photovoltaic cells are generally made from modified silicon, or other semi conductive materials, that absorb and convert sunlight into electricity. Photovoltaic cells are long lasting (the first PV system ever installed in the USA - in 1954 - is still operating today). Most manufacturers warranty their products power output for a minimum of 20 years. But most solar professionals agree that a system should last at least 25 - 30 years.

Types of Solar Cells

There are three basic types of PV modules: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. All modules work well though monocrystalline cells often yield the greatest efficiencies. Thin-film technology typically costs less and its efficiency is ever improving as demand for solar panels grow. A growing variety of manufacturers and models are available in the marketplace today. A solar pro can walk you through the advantages and disadvantages of each system so that you find a design that performs optimally over its multi-decade long lifespan for your application.

About the author: Find more solar panel and solar power information at Cooler Planet.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/remodeling-articles/photovoltaic-pv-electric-systems-311925.html

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    Where can I find Solar Power Information?
    I'm looking for ways to save some money on my electrical and gas bill at home. I've heard that solar power is a great way to do that, but it looks pretty expensive to have it installed. I'm thinking that I may have to spend some time installing it myself. Where can I find Solar Power Information to install my own solar power equipment?

    • ANSWER:
      Solar power is a great way to save money on power bills. For instance, I had a solar water heater installed for my pool. It uses the sun's energy to keep my pool heated throughout the day, even during the winter. It's really nice having a warm pool to jump into, even during the winter when it's cooler.

      But anyways, I installed the solar water heater myself. It's fairly easy, and the trick is to find a good deal on the equipment. However, once you have the right equipment, you'll need to find the right solar power information. Awhile back I found some good books that will help you with your solar projects. It's been extremely helpful for me, so I hope it works out for you too, especially if you're looking to try and save some money from your power bill. Check out the sources section below.

  2. QUESTION:
    What is a good site for information about solar power for businesses?
    I'm looking for information for a project i'm doing. it involves using solar energy to power part of a shopping mall.

    • ANSWER:
      Here are some diagrams that you may find useful:
      http://www.aurorapower.net/alternative-energy/solar-electric.aspx

      There is also a lot of information in the products;
      http://www.aurorapower.net/products/list/1.aspx

      Cheers

  3. QUESTION:
    What's a good source of information about solar power?
    What's a good source of information about solar power? I don't want just basic information about how solar power works. I want to see serious analysis about the possibility of large scale solar power projects. I'd like to know how much power per acre of land can be generated, how much it would cost to build, and stuff like that.

    • ANSWER:
      There is a large scale solar project happening at Nellis Air Force base in Nevada that provides a good deal of information. The megawatts per acre (.11 per acre) can be calculated based on the information they give. But of course, that is also based on the Nevada sunlight hours and will be different depending on where you are.

      A PR piece on the project can be found here:

      http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-23-2007/0004571089&EDATE=

  4. QUESTION:
    Looking for information on solar power for rural properties cost, how to install etc. Any ideas on websites?
    Have tried a few websites, but keep coming up with very little additional info as they are all pushing their own barrow. Chasing down info on available government rebates is also interesting as there is conflicting information on websites. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Books, websites, magazines etc.

    • ANSWER:
      Sure, there are a couple of great sources for this that I have used. For solar try http://www.builditsolar.com They have oodles of prints/plans/info and most plans are free to download.

      Another really cool source is http://www.otherpower.com This is mostly about wind power but you will find info on the controllers and such that are needed for solar panels too. Very unique solutions from this site!

      Also, you should subscribe to Mother Earth and Home Power. You can get both magazines online but I prefer to read mine on paper. You can also get all the back issues of Mother Earth on CD-ROM. These are a must have if you are building from scratch. The newer issues do have tests of commercial units.

      Unless you have a fortune to spend you will need to see if your state has rebates on solar panels. Check with your local power company to see what's up in your area.

      Enjoy your free power!


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