All About Solar

Basic Information

Solar Panels are solid-state semiconductor devices that convert light into energy resulting in direct-current (DC) electricity.

When converted to Alternating Current (AC) electricity using what is called an inverter, this energy can be used to power anything that normally uses electricity. When a solar panel is connected to a battery, this power is stored in the battery. Multiple panels can be connected together for increased power. Energizer® solar panels are designed to be easily mounted and installed.

Charge Controller: A charge controller is a device that is connected between the solar panel and the battery. A charge controller is designed to monitor the battery and prevents the solar panel from overcharging while assuring a complete charge. Charge controllers are recommended in most installations.
Power Inverter: A solar system requires a power inverter when the Direct Current (DC) power needs to be converted into alternating current (AC) power to operate appliances or supply power to the utility grid.
Battery Cell: Always use Energizer® batteries a well known, reliable brand in power for over 100 years

What are solar panels made of?

Solar panels can be constructed with crystalline silicon or amorphous silicon. Solar Panels constructed using amorphous silicon technology are more durable, efficient, and thinner than their crystalline counterparts. For very important solar projects, such as space probes that have to rely on solar energy, very-high efficiency solar cells are constructed from gallium arsenide. These solar panels are much more efficient than conventional types, but the process and materials involved make them far too expensive for everyday applications.

Where does solar energy come from?

Solar energy originates in the depths of our sun. On the sun there is a continuous stream of thermonuclear explosions as hydrogen atoms are fused into helium atoms. The resultant energy released by these explosions strikes the surface of the earth. Solar panels convert this solar radiation into useful electrical energy that can be used or stored in batteries. Enough solar radiation strikes the earth every day to meet earth's energy needs for an entire year. Solar panels help us harvest this energy and convert it into usable energy to meet the everyday needs of modern life

Solar panel usage

Solar panels are used to power all sorts of electronic equipment from cell phones to computers to GPS devices and even to remote solar-powered sensor arrays in bouys, and even some experimental vehicles and boats. Solar panels can also charge battery banks for power use in remote locations or emergency power at home. Solar panels are used extensively on satellites, where an array of solar cells provide reliable power for the satellite's electrical systems. Solar Power plants, which are large collections of solar panels arranged to generate commercial electricity are becoming more and more frequent these days. Electricity generated from solar panels is free, nearly infinitely abundant, and non-polluting. Many environmentally-minded communities across America have set up solar power stations to help generate private or commercial solar energy.

Advantages of solar panels

While generating electricity from sunlight, solar panels produce virtually no pollution whereas burning fossil fuels releases large quantities of toxic gases into the atmosphere. Once an initial investment in hardware is made, you will have access to free electricity for years to come. While fossil fuels are limited with reserves expected to run dry within the next century, solar power is clean, abundant, and will remain a renewable resource that can meet all of Earth's energy needs for billions of years to come. Portability is also a major advantage of small wattage rated solar panels. They can be used for running or charging numerous electronic and handheld devices when off the grid and when lugging around a generator would be impractical or wasteful.