A solar panel is basically a device that enables the collection of and conversion of solar energy into electrical energy or even heat. More and more homeowners are wanting to become indepent of the grid and starting to implement a homemade solar panel. You can as well but proceed with caution. Electricity is dangerous. If you make the decision to support this trend, make sure your read our review about which homemade solar panel do-it-yourself kits are safe and tested.
The Concept of Solar Panels
Solar panels are also known as photovoltaic panels and the atoms that are present in these panels are excited by the action of the sun's energy. There are two panels called protector panels. These atoms reside within two layers of protector panels.
A myriad of external devices make use of the electric current produced by the action of excited atoms from the aforementioned. The history of solar panels dates back by hundreds of years, when their sole purpose was to heat the water for use in homes. A specifically shaped mirror oftentimes is used to concentrate light onto an oil tube. Due to this action, there is a heating up of oil and as these heated oil travels through a vat of water, it instantly results in the boiling of this water. The steam resulting from the boiling process is then used to turn a turbine and generate electricity.
The History of Solar Panels
It was in the year 1839 that the photovoltaic effect was discovered by Antoine – Cesar – Becquerel, a French physicist. His analysis concerning this was made up of electrolyte cells made up of two metal electrodes and their placement in an electrolyte solution.
Becquerel discovered that when this device was exposed to sunlight there was a noticable increase in the amount of energy generated. The first working solar cell was created by Charles Fritts in 1883 when he applied a thin layer of gold to sheets of selenium. Over a period of time many experiment were conducted and discoveries were made when it came to solar cells. Albert Einstein also published his thesis on the photoelectric effect, during this time and also won the Nobel Prize for his research.
It was space satellites that made large scale use of solar electrical energy for the first time. By 1980, the United States of America, produced a solar cell which provided an efficiency of nearly twenty percent, this efficiency was increased to around twenty four percent in the next two decades and currently there are a few companies that are manufacturing solar cells that offer efficiency levels of nearly twenty eight percent
The Working of Solar Panels
Pure silicon forms the basic element of all solar panels as its makes for an ideal platform that aids transmission of electrons. This material is used on the plates that form a solar panel. Solar panels are also created by combining silicon panels with other elements, with negative or positive charges.
Photons bombard the silicon atoms when negative plates of photovoltaic cells are angled towards the sun. After all the free electrons are drawn away from the plates, enough electricity is produced to power small appliances.
Features and Types of Solar Panels
Basically there are three types of solar panels, namely mono-crystalline solar panels, polycrystalline solar panels, and amorphous solar panels. The life expectancy of solar panels depends on the type of solar panels selected by you; generally it’s around twenty years or so.
Because solar panels don't need the ongoing maintenance for their preservation, but if lead acid batteries are used, then they need to be inspected every six months and filled with distilled water if necessary. If you are looking for a solar panel for your needs and do not know what size to go for, then the best way would be to calculate your average consumption of electricity on a daily basis. This should give you a good idea of the type of solar panel you will need. In the long run, solar panels will reduce your electricity bill by a long way, and hence the option of using solar energy must be explored in a positive manner.
~Ralph Somers,
Moderator of Ralph's Green Energy Guide
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