| When you are designing a solar array to power your | | | | power have resistance and some power is always |
| home, you have to consider many factors. Other than | | | | lost going though those wires. By playing with the |
| location, amount of power needed is an important | | | | voltage of the electrical current you can alter the |
| choice. This determines how much surface area you | | | | amount of power lost in the wires. This loss affects |
| need. Although it seems unimportant, voltage produced | | | | the cost of the system. You want this loss to be at a |
| by the panels is also a critical choice. To understand | | | | minimum. |
| why, you have to look at the way electrical power is | | | | The power lost is defined by the equation of the line |
| calculated. | | | | resistance times the amperage is equal to the voltage |
| Electrical power is measured in watts. A watt is a | | | | lost. If we can reduce the amperage we can reduce |
| measure of work performed by the electrical current. | | | | the power loss in the lines. The way this is done is to |
| Solar Panels are rated in how much wattage they can | | | | increase the voltage. The wattage of the solar panel |
| generate. If you look at appliances, you will find that | | | | remains the same. So, if the voltage is raised then the |
| they are rated in watts too. You have to have more | | | | amperage has to go down. When the amperage is |
| watts generated than you plan to use. | | | | reduced the power loss in the line goes down. |
| Wattage is determined from an equation. That | | | | As a side note, by increasing the voltage the required |
| equation is the product of voltage and amperage gives | | | | wire size also goes down. Smaller wire size means |
| the wattage. Voltage is basically the pressure of the | | | | less cost per foot and more flexible wire. That means |
| electricity. Amperage is the amount of electricity | | | | less money spent on the wire connecting the solar |
| delivered. The solar panels produce so much wattage | | | | panel to the rest of the system. The more flexible wire |
| but that wattage can be several combinations of | | | | makes installation easier too. |
| voltage and amperage. This is just like twelve times | | | | As a rule of thumb, always configure solar panels to |
| two is equal to six times four. In both cases the | | | | produce the maximum voltage they can provide. |
| product is the same. | | | | When faced with the choice of twelve or forty eight |
| This would seem like just an intellectual question | | | | volts, chose the forty eight volt set up. |
| except for the fact that the wires that deliver the | | | | |