Solar energy is rapidly gaining market share, as more and more governments around the world encourage their citizens into producing their own energy, through tax benefits and subsidies for people using this sustainable source of energy.
The environmental benefits are obvious, and due to evolving technology, solar power can provide energy to your home and actually make money through the Feed-in Tariff.
It is important to have a basic understanding of how the solar panel system works, and how it will affect the supply of electricity to the device and appliances that run in your home. Homes with solar power and homes with traditional fossil fuel generated electricity both use the same 240 volt alternating current. However, the problem is that there are differences in the equipment, and wiring used by both sources of power. When setting up your home for solar power, the wiring systems involved are a fairly specialised and should not be installed by anyone who has not received training. If wiring is not done properly, electrical devices that run from a solar powered home may not function safely. You also need to ensure your solar panel system is installed by an MCS accredited installer otherwise you will not be able to claim the Feed-in Tariff.
You may have to pay for the new systems used to safely power and distribute the electricity generated by your solar panels. But as previously mentioned, the Feed-in Tariff system means any initial expense would pay for itself in just a few years. Even if you have free solar panels installed and do not benefit from the Feed-in Tariff, the amount of money saved on energy bills, would justify any expenditure.
There are many companies who will install a solar system in your home, free of charge. Solar panels are also likely to increase the value of your home, as it will be more energy efficient for any future residents. You will be doing your part in preventing climate change, and saving money in the process. With around 50% of your electricity coming from the sun, you and your family can reduce the cost of your electricity bills, and therefore your carbon footprint, in half.
The amazing environmental friendly source to make use of renewable energy from the sun, are arrays of photovoltaic cells called Solar Panels. The solar revolution of the last two decades has made solar energy an increasingly powerful force in the energy arena. What could be more amazing and cost-effective idea to power your entire home than a free source of energy like the sun?
Solar panels capture solar radiations from the sun and actively covert them into useful electrical energy for our home and business, both. These solar cells act as large semiconductors and utilize a large-area p-n junction diode that converts the energy from sunlight into usable electrical energy. The energy generated from photons striking the surface of the solar panel allows electrons to be knocked out of their orbits and released, and electric fields in the solar cells pull these free electrons in a directional current, from which metal contacts in the solar cell can generate electricity. The more solar cells in a solar panel and the higher the quality of the solar cells, the more total electrical output the solar panel can produce.
The conversion of sunlight to usable electrical energy has been dubbed the Photovoltaic Effect. There are no moving parts in a solar panel, the photovoltaic effect arises from the properties of the p-n junction diode.
To measure the radiations that a given solar panel or surface receives, there is solar insolation or solar panel efficiency. The greater the insolation the more solar energy can be converted to electricity by the solar panel.
Other factors that affect the output of solar panels are weather conditions, shade caused by obstructions to direct sunlight, and the angle and position at which the solar panel is installed.
Solar panels function the best when placed in direct sunlight, away from obstructions that might cast shade, and in areas with high regional solar insolation ratings.
You can do solar controllers and test by yourself:
A solar controller sits between a solar panel and its battery, regulating the flow of electricity between the two. A vital component within any solar-powered system, a regulator can be made at home. With just a few steps, and the help of a voltage regulator circuit, the solar panel's battery output can be monitored.
Firstly,Purchase a controller circuit. Connect it to the solar panel and to a voltage reader. Take one pair of the circuit's positive and negative wires and tie them around the positive and negative nodes of the solar panel, making sure to match the polarities. Repeat this process when connecting the circuit's other pair of wires to the voltage reader.
Secondly,Orient the solar panel towards sunlight. Read the voltage output generated by the sunlight on your reader. Adjust the module on your regulator circuit so that the voltage for its battery output will match the typical voltage level received from the solar panel.
Thirdly,Unwrap the circuit's wires from around the voltage reader. Remove the voltage reader.
Fourthly,Wrap the positive and negative wires of the circuit around the positive and negative nodes of a variable load resistor. Plug the resistor into a battery.
Finally,Tie the battery's wires around the voltage reader. Make sure that a voltage similar to that picked up by your solar panel is flowing to the battery.
