Solar Power Systems For Residential Homes
Using the Sun's energy to power your home can be split into two categories. There are passive and direct solar power systems. Passive systems generally take advantage of the Sun's thermal properties to generate heat. Thus solar water systems use the Sun's heat to make hot water to be used in the home. Creating rooms in the home or Sun traps that absorb thermal rays can also act as a form of heating for the home. However this article is more concerned with the direct use of solar power to create electricity in the home.
The photovoltaic (PV) cell is the technology that creates electricity from sun light. It is made from a silicon compound that reacts to a certain frequency of sun light. This reaction causes an electron to be thrown from the atom. This loose electron flows from a negative to positive charge resulting in an electric current being produced.
When many PV cells are connected together they are called a solar module. When numerous solar modules are connected together they are referred to as a solar panel.
You have probably seen solar panels dotted on roofs in your suburb. This is generally the most practical place to install them but they can go anywhere that their is plenty of sunlight.
Solar panels create direct current (DC) electricity. A power inverter is used to convert this DC to alternating current (AC). AC electricity is needed to power most of the appliances in the home.
An electrical service panel or breaker box then distributes the AC to various electrical points in the house or to the lighting system. A utility meter manages your electricity usage if you are connected to the grid.
For example, a solar panel works best when the sun is at it peak or midday. Most electricity will be generated at this time and the utility meter may well go backwards. This indicates that you are generating more electricity than you are actually using and effectively creating electricity for your power company.
There are two types of home solar power system - on or off the grid. On the grid is sometimes referred to as a net metering system. This refers to laws enacted in some states that require utility companies to pay a certain amount for the electricity that a home owner generates with their solar power system. Before these laws, the utility company would buy at a discounted rate making the installation of a solar panel less economically viable for the homeowner.
An off grid system means that you are not connected to the utility company. All your electricity needs must be found by your home solar power system. This is more responsibility and work for you as you need a contingency or alternate power system if the solar system fails or cannot cope.
Gasoline powered generators are often used as a back up system as they are fairly reliable, however some people that have the space may opt for another form of renewable resource, like a water or wind driven power system. Another responsibility of an off grid system is keeping a battery bank to store DC from the solar panels for use at night times.
A grid tied system with net metering is the way to go when you are first starting out. It is relatively hassle free and can help you save a bit of money on your monthly power bills. Eventually you may want to go off grid completely. This will be more responsibility but you will save more money as you won't have any utility bills.
Article Source: http://www.search-raven.com
About the Author
Learn more about solar panels how they work and a solar power inverters use in a home solar power system at solarpowerappliances.com.
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by: AdrianFletcher
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