Silicon Solar Cells - 5 Things You Need To Know About Getting Them To Perform Their Best
Silicon solar cells are the backbone of solar power systems, so it helps to understand the 5 core things you need to do to get them to perform their best.
Solar cells are the backbone of solar power systems.
Your photovoltaic system relies on solar cells o run, and these have a lot of benefits to them.
The first is that they're solid state electronics, and comparatively hardy.
A solar photovoltaic cell consists of an anti-reflective coating, a negative side (where the silicon is doped with phosphorous to give it an extra electron) and a positive side (where the silicon is doped with boron to give it a 'socket' for that extra electron).
A solar photovoltaic cell, like most electronic devices, rely on being semi-conductors to work.
To Work Properly, Silicon Solar Cells Need To Wired To An Array.
The array combines the voltage from several smaller silicon solar cells and aggregates them to be used in your entire system.
Wiring the solar photovoltaic cell to array is a good weekend project for most people who're comfortable with a soldering iron, and while silicon solar cell wiring is beyond the scope of this article, you can get handy advice from any basic book on electronics.
Protecting Your Silicon Solar Cells
Because your solar array is going to be out in the weather, where it'll be exposed to sunshine, rain, wind and more, you're going to want to have your silicon solar cells put into a weather-tight enclosure.
Likewise, you're going to want anything that comes out of your silicon solar cells to be in a water-tight conduit; water is bad for electronics is something we all learn as children.
It applies to electronics that sit outside, day and night, as well.
Other Factors That Will Influence Silicon Solar Cell Performance
Other factors you'll want to think about for your solar photovoltaic cell is where you'll place the array; in the US, you'll want them facing the southern horizon, and probably facing southeast, if your property and landscaping allow it.
If you can afford it, you can get motorized arrays that use a photo-sensor to rotate the entire panel system to face the sun.
- You may also want to look at dual purpose solar power systems that combine photovoltaic (electrical generation) systems with silicon solar cells and hot water pipes that heat up water and store it for you.
- (Not only is solar thermal more efficient than photovoltaic, but hot water is the leading energy consumption element in American homes.)
Silicon Solar Cell Maintenance
A solar photovoltaic cell is fairly low maintenance.
Your entire solar power system will consist of the following components:
- Your photovoltaic cells,
- The power feeds running from them to your energy storage bank,
- Your battery storage unit, and
- Your DC to AC inverter, which converts stored battery power into something that can run your household appliances.
The Silicon Solar Cell Makes Your Dreams Of Going Solar A Success
Whether, like many home owners, you're using a tax rebate to make a one time purchase now and cut expenses later, or you're doing this for the feeling of being 'green' in your electrical use, welcome aboard to the wave of the future.
Here's to finding a way to bring more solar power into your family!
P.S. Here's a few more tips to help your solar power projects go smoothly...
Photo-Voltaic Solar Panels And Their Role In How Solar Energy Works |
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