| Solar Photovoltaic Panels versus Thermal Solar Panels | | | | choose multi-crystalline because it is the most |
| Photovoltaic | | | | electricity for your money. |
| The black panels that you see on rooftops facing the | | | | Thermal |
| south are usually solar panels. They consist of lots of | | | | Often times a pool is heated with thermal solar. |
| tiny solar cells that retain a portion of the sunlight and | | | | Thermal is the process of running water through |
| convert it into electricity. Currently, they only convert to | | | | polypropylene, copper, or PVC. The rooftop sunlight |
| electricity about 15% of the electricity that hits them. | | | | warms the water. Since solar is strongest in the |
| However, science claims it will make great strides in | | | | summer, it makes perfect sense to have it for a pool |
| this area through nanotechnology. It may not be all that | | | | or hot tub. The solar batteries can charge during the |
| far off. | | | | day and give off electricity for the evenings and |
| Photovoltaic panels are easier to install and require little | | | | mornings. It's a great combination. |
| maintenance. It is recommended that you hose them | | | | Thermal panels are much cheaper; mostly because |
| down once in a while. In addition, you may want to | | | | they can be made by most homeowners. The |
| remove winter snow accumulation. Photovoltaic panels | | | | technology is not that difficult to master. Thermal solar |
| are made in many varieties. Some are stick on, some | | | | panels are built into a glass framed box; usually made |
| are shingles, and some are the regular panels. | | | | of 2*4. The panes are best if they are double paned. |
| However, there are three kinds of panels: single | | | | Then, you can often use metal sheeting painted black |
| crystal, multi-crystalline, and amorphous. Most people | | | | behind the piping. |