Solar Panel System Details

I am sure that many of you have heard or read bits and pieces of what exactly goes into a solar panel system otherwise known as photovoltaic solar electric system. However, there are still a large number of you who have no idea how much energy they can generate, what components are included in a grid-tie system versus an off-grid system and several other pieces of information we will attempt to answer in this and upcoming blog articles. To start out with we will go through some of the most basic information which will help to put everything in a solar panel system into perspective for any future considerations you maybe deliberating.

If you are into building your own solar panel system, you should 
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Photovoltaic Solar Modules

Photovoltaic modules or PV panels as they are more commonly known currently are available to be used in solar electric panel configurations in one of three types:

1. Amorphous
These are not really crystals, but a thin layer of silicon deposited on a base material such as metal or glass to create the solar module. These Amorphous solar panels are much cheaper, but their energy efficiency is also much less so more square footage is required to produce the same amount of power as the Mono-crystalline or Polycrystalline type of solar module . Amorphous solar modules can even be made into long sheets of roofing material to cover large areas of a south facing roof surface.

2. Polycrystalline Modules 
Often called Multi-crystalline, solar panels made with Polycrystalline cells are a little less expensive & slightly less efficient than Mono-crystalline cells because the cells are not grown in single crystals but in a large block of many crystals. This is what gives them that striking shattered glass appearance. Like Mono-crystalline cells, they are also then sliced into wafers to produce the individual cells that make up the solar panel. These types of panels are also only typically warrantied by their manufacturers for a period of 10 years and degrade much faster than mono-crystalline panels.

3. Mono-crystalline Modules
The most efficient and expensive solar modules are made with Mono-crystalline cells. These solar cells use very pure silicon and involve a complicated crystal growth process. Long silicon rods are produced which are cut into slices of .2 mm to .4 mm thick discs or wafers which are then processed into individual cells that are wired together in the solar module. These types of panels are warrantied by their manufacturers for a period of 25 years typically and will by far out last any polycrystalline panels.

The most common question I am asked regarding solar module system sizing would be, "How big is an X kw solar panel system?" Solar modules are generally mounted and wired in what is known as a series configuration or daisy chain. This means that the wattage value of each panel is mathematically added together so if you have a 1kw solar panel system then that would mean all the individual solar modules when their wattage is added together equals 1000 watts or 1 kw. How much does a 1kw solar panel system generate in power per day? This is the second most common question and the answer is that on average a 1kw solar panel system will generate approximately 3.63 kWh (kilowatt hours) of electrical energy as would be measured by your electric meter of your building. Given this you can easily approximate how many kilowatt hours of energy larger solar photovoltaic systems could generate.

Due to their relatively low efficiency in generating electric power the choice here is obvious that you would preferably use PV solar modules constructed of mono-crystalline solar cells so that you maximize your solar panel systems energy output in the smallest area possible.
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If you are into building your own solar panel system, you should 
click here and watch this video