| A solar panel review provides an understanding of | | | | and the equipment can be made smaller. The answer |
| factors involved in investing in green or renewable | | | | relies in the fact that more individual batteries provide |
| energy systems. With major players entering into solar | | | | more power than a single 9 volts battery. (It should |
| manufacturing, one wonders how to make an | | | | also be mentioned that if you open a 9 volt battery, |
| educated decision. Actually it is easy to find out which | | | | you would find inside several small batteries). However |
| path to go. The secret is in knowing various pieces of | | | | if someone could hypothetically make a single 9 volt |
| information and how they relate to your situation. | | | | battery, it would be able to supply more power than |
| To have a systematic approach, I define the decision | | | | individual batteries connected together. |
| making procedure into 3 areas: | | | | The solar panels are made in two types; one type is |
| 1- Economics of the system. | | | | called mono-crystalline. It is made up of one silicon |
| 2- Efficiency of the solar panels and supporting | | | | crystal. Its physical characteristic is distinguished by a |
| accessories. | | | | color resembling semi-transparent layers which look |
| 3- Technical knowledge and skills. | | | | like different colors mixed with black color (Similar to |
| We would cover these areas in various articles to help | | | | color of gasoline poured onto the asphalt). They are |
| you in your project. Economics of the system | | | | more money than the next type. They are meant for |
| discusses the cost, geographical location, warranties, | | | | higher temperature climates. |
| etc. The efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) devices | | | | The other type are Polycrystalline solar panels which |
| gives you the return on investment figure. The last and | | | | are made up of smaller individual cells which look like a |
| the most important issue is how knowledgeable you | | | | tiled surface. They are less expensive, because it is |
| are in terms of the technology of the PVs. In | | | | easier to manufacture smaller cells and connect them |
| comparing these, I will try to get into more details of | | | | together. They are meant for cooler temperature |
| the technology driving this sector. | | | | environments. |
| Solar panels are made of silicone materials. It is almost | | | | When reviewing solar boards, one has to also consider |
| the same material used in semiconductor components. | | | | the accessories that go with it. For example, I can |
| Examples of semiconductor components are | | | | mention solar panel charger, backup batteries, wiring, |
| transistors and Integrated Components widely used in | | | | and mounting hardware. The type of roof, and its |
| computers, audio systems, TVs, and of course the cell | | | | positioning in respect to sun are to be considered. |
| phones. | | | | This article is an introduction to solar panels and can |
| To get a better understanding of a PV, I like to use an | | | | assist potential investors in green energy a review on |
| analogy to batteries. Let's consider a portable CD | | | | solar panels. Our approach is to discuss various issues |
| player. It can be powered with several batteries. Using | | | | related to solar panels and solar power systems for |
| several batteries allow achieving higher voltage values | | | | home and commercial establishments. |
| by connecting them in series. If you connect six C Cell | | | | In our future articles we explore more facts about |
| batteries, you get 9 volts (six times 1.5 volt for each | | | | renewable energy in particular to Photovoltaic power |
| battery). One might ask why not use a single 9 volt | | | | generators. |
| batteries instead. It would be much more convenient | | | | |