- Solar arrays, are made up of any number of connected solar panels. Solar panels are made up of groups of individual PV cells, further made up of silicon semi-conductors. Individual cells are connected together with wires, with each cell being able to generate up to about two watts of electricity. By connecting multiple panels together, arrays are able to produce significant amounts of electricity.
- As light strikes the PV cell, photons excite the electrons in silicon. The excitation causes the electrons to escape their atoms bonds, producing electricity, in the form of low voltage direct current (DC).
- The electricity is either used immediately, or stored in batteries. A group of batteries connected together, called battery banks, store electric to power applications when there is insufficient sunlight.
- As solar power in produced in low voltage DC form, it must be converted to a higher voltage alternating current, know as AC, for use in most household and industrial applications. This is accomplished by passing the current though an "inverter."
previous post
next post