Making Electricity With Solar Panels

At the heart of a home solar power system is, of course, the solar panel itself. There are various types of solar panels and I’ll describe them all in more detail later on.

Solar panels generate electricity from the sun. The more powerful the sun’s energy, the more electricity is generated. Solar panels continue to generate small amounts of electricity even when in the shade.

Most solar panels are designed to produce around 14-16 volts when put under load. This allows a solar panel to charge up a 12 volt battery.

Incidentally, if you connect a voltmeter up to a solar panel when it is not under load, you may well see voltage readings of up to 22 volts. This is normal in an ‘open circuit’ on a solar panel – as soon as you connect the solar panel into a circuit, this voltage level will drop to around 14-16 volts.

Solar panels can be linked together in an ‘array’ to create more power, or to run the system at a higher voltage. Connecting the panels ‘ in series’ allows a solar array to run at a higher voltage c typically 24v or 48v – whilst connecting the panels ‘in parallel’ allows a solar array to produce more power at a lower voltage.

In a solar array where the panels are connected in series, you add the voltages of each panel together and add the power (in watts) of each panel together to calculate the maximum amount of power and voltage the solar array will generate.

In a solar array where the panels are connected in parallel, you take the average of all the solar panels (i.e. if all the panels are 12 volt panels, the average voltage is 12v) and you add the power (in watts) of each panel to calculate the maximum amount of power the solar array will generate. Learn how to build your own DIY solar panel today!

Useful information home solar power system:
http://www.prlog.org/10242729-how-to-build-home-solar-power-systems-to-save-electricity-in-your-home.html

Useful information solar panels:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Analysis-on-Wind-Turbines-and-Solar-Panels&id=3832290

Useful information generate electricity:
http://www.greenearth4energy.com/magnetic_power_generator.html


Learn how to DIY solar panels:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-It-Yourself---Building-Your-Own-DIY-Solar-Panel&id=4088790