| Most people are familiar with solar panels. If you were | | | | devices. |
| to ask people what solar panels do, they would | | | | This article isn't about charge controllers so we won't |
| probably tell you that solar panels create electricity | | | | discuss them right now. I'll cover that topic in another |
| from the sun to power peoples homes. Well that's true, | | | | article. |
| but there is a bit more too it than that. | | | | That leaves batteries and power inverters. Let's start |
| Solar panels are actually called photovoltaic panels and | | | | with batteries. Batteries that are used for storing |
| are often referred to as PV panels. When exposed to | | | | electricity for solar homes are usually of the flooded, |
| sunlight, they produce electricity. The problem is that | | | | lead acid type. In most instances the batteries are very |
| the electricity they produce is of a type called DC or | | | | large 6 volt batteries that are wired together to be 12, |
| direct current. Our homes need AC or alternating | | | | 24, 36, or 48 volt systems. I'll discuss the different |
| current power. That's the first obstacle that needs to | | | | types of systems in a later article as well. |
| be overcome when attempting to power homes with | | | | In order to be able to store a sufficient amount of |
| solar energy. | | | | electricity to power homes through dark or cloudy |
| The second obstacle is darkness. How do people get | | | | periods, several batteries are wired together to |
| electricity from their solar powered home when it's | | | | increase their storage capacity. This is called a "bank" |
| dark or cloudy outside? What about prolonged periods | | | | of batteries. You put money in the bank to withdraw |
| of cloudy weather? That could make for a long power | | | | at a later time. Battery banks store electricity to be |
| outage. | | | | withdrawn at a later time also. |
| Fortunately there are very good solutions to both | | | | Homes in the US require 120 volts of AC electricity. |
| problems. First, let me take a minute and explain how | | | | This is where the power inverter comes into play. |
| solar home actually operate. It's really pretty simple. | | | | There are inverters for each type of system whether |
| Sunlight shines onto the solar panels. The solar panels | | | | it's 12, 24, 36, or 48 volts. Regardless of the type of |
| produces DC power. The DC power goes into a | | | | system, the inverters work the same. They step the |
| device called a charge controller. This device keeps | | | | power up to 120 volts and convert it from AC to DC. |
| the batteries from being overcharged. The DC power | | | | The electricity from the inverter is then funneled into |
| flows from the charge controller into the batteries | | | | the homes electrical box. There are two ways that |
| where it is stored. From the batteries, the power flows | | | | this can be configured. Homes that are powered by |
| into a device called a power inverter. Power inverters | | | | solar energy alone are called "Off Grid" systems. |
| step the power up to a high enough voltage to be | | | | Homes that are connected to standard power lines |
| used in our homes. They also convert the power from | | | | AND solar panels are called "Grid Tie" systems. |
| DC to AC. 120 Volt alternating current electricity flows | | | | There you have it. This is how solar energy is stored |
| out of the power inverter and into the house. Now it's | | | | and delivered to homes. Stay tuned for more articles |
| ready to be used by televisions, computers, vacuum | | | | on solar and other types of alternative energy. |
| cleaners, lights, and a number of other electrical | | | | |