The ever-so-popular solar panel systems have made our lives significantly more sustainable. And even though there are so many systems being used today, the fact is that an average person actually knows very little about them.
The fact is that you can just hook a solar panel to your roof and directly connect it to the appliance you wish for it to power. Instead, you will need to implement an entire solar panel system that will collect the renewable solar energy, store it and allow you to use it when you need it. That said, here are some of the essentials you need to make a solar panel system.
Solar cells
Solar cells are the base of every solar panel system. They are the things solar panels are made of. Single solar cells are being closely connected among themselves to form the thing we know as a solar panel. These cells, when exposed to sunlight use that light to create energy. This energy is transformed into electrical energy within the system. With the use of modern technology, you can now control the ampere, volt and power output ratings your solar panel system is able to produce. This is achieved by different connections among the solar cells themselves.
Controller
The controller is another important element of a solar panel system. Your system’s power output will heavily depend on the amount of light it’s exposed to during the day. Moreover, since the sun is moving across the sky throughout the day, the panels will output different power levels. That’s why you need a battery and a charge controller in your system. The battery will ensure that all the energy received gets stored. However, before the energy reaches the battery, it needs to go through a charge controller first. This little device controls the energy charge that’s going into the battery to ensure that the battery is being charged safely.
Inverter
The current that’s being provided by solar cells and batteries is direct. This type of current is also known as DC and it travels in a singular direction. But almost all electrical devices require alternating current or AC to operate. That’s why you need to find a way to transform the DC into AC. That’s where a trusty solar inverter comes into play. The direct current from the battery, when it enters the inverter, gets converted into the alternating current necessary to power your household and appliances. When choosing the right inverter, make sure you go for a high-quality one to ensure that your entire grid will function properly and provide you with the right type of energy.
Batteries
As mentioned, batteries are a crucial part of a solar panel system used for storing up all the gathered energy. The power collected by solar cells will travel to the charge controller. From there, it will continue on to the batteries where it will be stored for later use. These batteries are most commonly made of lithium-ion as this material is quite light in weight. Not only that, but electrical current can easily pass through it. Also, this type of batteries is easily rechargeable due to the fact that the chemical reactions that are responsible for absorbing and discharging power are entirely reversible.
The grid connection
Finally, some solar panel systems may be directly connected to a power grid that’s nearby. This way, you’ll be feeding your solar power directly to the grid, while your home will draw energy from the grid it’s connected to. This way, you won’t only be using energy but you’ll be feeding it back to the grid as well. That’s why you will usually be charged only for the difference between the amount of energy you’ve fed to the grid and the energy you’ve used up. However, if you manage to feed more energy than your household uses, you will get reimbursed. Some people find this quite appealing. Not only due to the fact that you actually get money for the energy you’ve managed to collect but also because in an instance that you connect your system to the grid, you won’t need to invest in batteries and the controller.
Solar panel systems are more complicated than an average person is aware. But they’re not so complicated that you won’t be able to understand how they work if you just do some basic research. Of course, it’s always wiser to ask professionals to install this system to ensure that everything is connected properly and avoid any potential unpleasantries.
