Solar Panels

Types of solar panel cell technology. Most PV modules can be classified as monocrystalline, polycrystalline or amorphous. This is based on the silicon structure that comprises the cell. It's not quite as complicated as it sounds. Basically a 100 watt monocrystalline solar panel should have the same output as a 100 watt polycrystalline panel and a 100 watt amorphous panel. The main difference is the amount of space which the panel occupies. Because the monocrystalline structure is more efficient than amorphous in turning sunlight into electricity, the amorphous panel of the same wattage will be physically larger. By the way, when talking about efficiency of solar panels, keep in mind that solar panel efficiency is still only about 13-18% efficient in turning sunlight into electricity. Often amorphous panels are less expensive than the crystalline panels. If space is not an issue, than an amorphous panel could be a great option. Additionally, amorphous panels perform better than crystalline panels in very hot temperatures and are also slightly more tolerant of partial shading.

Heat & Cooling vs Electricty. Please keep in mind that PV panels produce electricity, and should not be used to produce electricity for heating or cooling sources. If heating is your main issue, be sure to check out our Solar Air Heating and Solar Water Heating. Solar air heating and solar water heating are examples of solar thermal technologies which produce heat, but not electricity. And while solar electric panels are not an economically feasible choice to power your air conditioning, a solar panel can power an easy-to-install Natural Light SOLAR ATTIC FAN W/ 20 Watt Panel that can help reduce the amount of time you use your AC.

Locating your PV panel - very important! A key factor in the effective use of solar electricity is proper placement of the panels. Make sure to locate the panels where they will receive full sunlight between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm. Be sure that the panels will not be shading by shadows from tree branches, chimneys, other structures, etc. Once again - NO SHADE! You will be mounting the solar panels on the roof, the ground or a pole. For more information on the proper placement solar electric panels, please visit our How To for Solar Panel Mounting.

How long will solar panels last? Solar electric panels use the sun's light to generate electricity. They generate electricity during sunny daylight hours and can be used in a system with batteries so that the electricity can be used at other times as well. Also known as Photovoltaic (PV) modules, solar panels are the main component of a solar electric system. (And the main expense!) Along with an inverter, mounting system, batteries and Solar Charge Controllers, solar electric panels can produce electricity to power the energy efficient appliances and lights and appliances in most households. Solar panels themselves generally last over 25 years, and require little maintenance. Many of the first panels produced in the 50s are still in use today. (Read more about the History of Solar) Many of the panels have a 20 year warranty. A common warranty states that the panels will produce at least 80% of their rated power after 20 years.

What else will I need with the PV module? In addition to the mounting hardware, there are additional components that you will need for a safe installation. If you plan on using just one solar module in a battery based system, you will need a charge controller, and overcurrent protection to protect each major component of your system: solar panels, charge controller, batteries, and inverter. If you plan on using more solar modules in your system, you will also need to safely wire the panels together and to the charge controller. An easy and safe way to do this is by using MC (multi contact) connectors found in the Wiring For Solar Panels section. This connector connects to the cables coming from the solar panel and can be cut in half to expose bare wire. Combiner Boxes are used to collect the bare ends of the wire from multiple solar panels, and then from the combiner box you can run just one set of wires to the charge controller. For each series string of panels, you will need an appropriate sized breaker. If after reading all this good stuff you are a little confused, but even more excited about solar than ever, please consider one of our hands-on Classes to take you to the next level of knowledge.