| Solar panels for homes have gone through many | | | | overall output. The higher voltage generating solar |
| important changes over the years, which have helped | | | | panels are more expensive, but are still a better |
| to make them more efficient and more durable. Most | | | | purchase than some of the others that generate a |
| modern solar panels can produce several times more | | | | smaller overall output. The key thing to remember is |
| power than panels sold even a few years ago and | | | | that all of the panels used in you system have to be |
| are also able to produce this solar power for homes | | | | matched to each other as well as the inverter for a |
| for more of the day. Because most solar panels for | | | | specific voltage. |
| homes are now a fairly standard size, their mounting is | | | | Newer Is Better |
| simpler and you can even mix different brands of | | | | Because of the improved solar panel design used in |
| panels into the same system to help lower your cost. | | | | these modern solar panels for homes, they are all able |
| All of these changes have helped to make these | | | | to produce a greater amount of power than older |
| homes solar power systems a great alternative | | | | panels for the same amount sunlight. This is a big |
| energy solution for almost any need. | | | | advantage for homeowners since it allows you to |
| Converting Light Into Electricity | | | | install less of these newer panels to generate all the |
| Modern solar panels are able to produce a | | | | power they need. One other advantage that these |
| considerable amount of power from simple sunlight. | | | | newer panels provide is their ability to generate a good |
| They do this through the use of photovoltaic solar cells | | | | bit of power from less than perfect sunlight. Older |
| that are mounted to the solar panel frame and are | | | | panels had a hard time generating power from the |
| able to convert direct sunlight into an electrical current. | | | | dimmer sunlight found at sunrise, sunset and on cloudy |
| A standard solar panel contains a collection of these | | | | days. Also, if older solar panels were not perfectly |
| solar cells that are connected together to provide a | | | | aligned with the travel of the sun, their output would |
| large amount of power. Even though individually these | | | | suffer as well. This means that your panels would be |
| solar cells can only produce a small amount of current, | | | | inactive for most of a typical day when the sun was |
| when they are joined together with other cells their | | | | not at its brightest. Also, if your home did not have the |
| output can be quite substantial. All of these solar cells | | | | required roof space with the proper orientation, you |
| are housed inside the solar module, which provides a | | | | could not have taken advantage of these older panels. |
| strong and stable platform for mounting the fragile cells | | | | Angle of Incidence Doesn't Matter As Much Anymore |
| and helps to protect them from the elements. | | | | The newer solar panels for homes have solved these |
| Voltages Vary | | | | issues and can take advantage of the weaker sunlight |
| Most modern solar panels come in a variety of | | | | and still produce a large portion of their overall |
| voltages that then can produce. Typically the higher | | | | expected power from this dimmer light. They are also |
| the voltage, the more efficient the overall system will | | | | more forgiving with sunlight that hits them at a more |
| be. The reason for this is that there is always a | | | | severe angle. This allows many homes that do not |
| percentage of losses inherent in any solar power | | | | have the perfect solar alignment to take advantage of |
| system and the higher the voltage you generate, the | | | | these newer solar panels and generate all the power |
| less of an impact these losses will have on your | | | | their home requires. |