Solar Electric Power For Homes | Home Improvement

By AdrianFletcher
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Using the Sun's energy to power your home can be split into two categories. There are passive and direct solar power systems. Passive systems generally take advantage of the Sun's thermal properties to generate heat. Thus solar water systems use the Sun's heat to make hot water to be used in the home. Creating rooms in the home or Sun traps that absorb thermal rays can also act as a form of heating for the home. However this article is more concerned with the direct use of solar power to create electricity in the home.

The photovoltaic (PV) cell is the technology that creates electricity from sun light. It is made from a silicon compound that reacts to a certain frequency of sun light. This reaction causes an electron to be thrown from the atom. This loose electron flows from a negative to positive charge resulting in an electric current being produced.

A number of PV cells in a serial configuration is known as a solar module. When numerous solar modules are linked together in either a parallel or serial configuration they are known as a solar panel.

You have probably seen solar panels dotted on roofs in your suburb. This is generally the most practical place to install them but they can go anywhere that their is plenty of sunlight.

The solar panels create direct current (DC) electricity. This is often pushed through a power inverter. The inverter converts DC to alternating current (AC). AC is used in the home to power most appliances.

AC is distributed to the numerous power points in the home via an electrical service panel or breaker box. If you are connected to the grid a utility meter will record your electricity usage.

For example, a solar panel works best when the sun is at it peak or midday. Most electricity will be generated at this time and the utility meter may well go backwards. This indicates that you are generating more electricity than you are actually using and effectively creating electricity for your power company.

A home solar power system can be either on or off the grid. On the grid is sometimes referred to as a net metering system or grid tied.Various states have laws that require utility companies to offer net metering programs to people using solar panels. This effectively means that they are fairly compensated for the electricity that they create rather than having to sell it at a wholesale rate.

A true off grid system means you are not connected to a reliable power supply so you have the responsibility of creating your own energy. The primary source can be solar panels but there should always be a back up system in case you use more energy than you expected or the Sun doesn't shine as much.

Gasoline powered generators are often used as a back up system as they are fairly reliable, however some people that have the space may opt for another form of renewable resource, like a water or wind driven power system. Another responsibility of an off grid system is keeping a battery bank to store DC from the solar panels for use at night times.

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.

About the Author

Learn more about how do solar panels work and how solar power inverters work in a home solar power system at solarpowerappliances.com.

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