| Solar power electricity installations are gaining moment | | | | light energy into solar power electricity. Electrical |
| all over the world. Stock of fossil fuels is fast depleting | | | | energy in the form of 12 volts (DC) is produced by the |
| and alternate natural energy solutions, like solar power | | | | solar panel array. |
| electricity is becoming popular. | | | | Charging controller: The charging controller is the |
| Natural energy solutions are environment friendly with | | | | device that controls the amount of charging for the |
| little or no air pollution and no emissions or greenhouse | | | | batteries. Batteries should not be overcharged, neither |
| effects. Solar power electricity production is also free | | | | should they be undercharged. This device, which sits |
| of noise pollution. | | | | between the solar panel array and the battery bank, |
| How is solar power electricity produced? | | | | controls the charging. |
| It is produced by converting light from the sun into | | | | Batteries: These are deep cycle batteries used for |
| electrical energy using a silicon wafer / semiconductor | | | | storage of solar power electricity produced by the |
| called a photovoltaic cell. This technology is simple and | | | | solar array panel. The 12 volts (DC) produced by the |
| easy to maintain. | | | | solar panel array is stored in the batteries. The |
| What are the main parts of a typical residential solar | | | | charging controller regulates charging, thus extending |
| power electricity system? | | | | the life of these batteries. |
| A typical residential system would have 4 key Parts: | | | | Inverter: The output from batteries is 12 volts (DC) and |
| 1) Solar panel array | | | | can run only devices that work on 12 volts (DC). Most |
| 2) Charging controller | | | | home appliances work on 110 / 220 volts (AC). Hence |
| 3) Batteries | | | | 12 volts (DC) needs to be converted into 100 / 200 |
| 4) Inverter | | | | volts (AC). The inverter does the job of converting 12 |
| Solar panel array: Solar panel array is made up of | | | | volts (DC) into 110 / 200 volts (AC). |
| several solar panels. A series of photovoltaic cells | | | | Along with these four main components several other |
| working in unison in a module form the solar panel. The | | | | hardware accessories, wires and connectors would |
| solar panel array needs to be exposed to sunlight, and | | | | be required to have the complete solar power |
| the array is normally installed on rooftops where | | | | electricity system functional. |
| sunlight exposure is more. The solar array converts | | | | |