Silicon Solar Power Cells: How To Get Optimal Performance
By taking the right steps, you can expect to get superb performance from your silicon solar power cells.
Silicon Solar Power Cells - A Solar Step Worth Taking
If you're looking to purchase a solar power system, congratulations.
- Investing in solar power is a great step towards reducing your energy expenditures and cutting your long term electric bills.
Whether, like many home owners, you're considering 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.
Your Solar System Relies On Silicon Solar Cells
Your photovoltaic system relies on silicon solar cells to run, and these have a lot of benefits to them.
The first is that they're solid state electronics, and comparatively hardy.
Silicon Solar Cells Consist 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).
Silicon solar cells, like most electronic devices, rely on being semi-conductors to work.
Solar Cells Require An Array
Your silicon solar cells need to be wired up in an array. While the ins-and-outs of solar power array wiring is beyond the scope of our article here, wiring an array can be an easy weekend project for you if you are comfortable with a soldering iron.
- The array combines the voltage from several silicon solar cells and aggregates them to be used in your entire system.
Weather Enclosures - Protecting Your Solar Power Cells From The Elements
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.
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.
Solar Power Cells - Location Is Everything
Other factors you'll want to think about for your silicon solar cells 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.
Motorized Arrays For Solar Power Cells Give You Optimum Sunlight Exposure.
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 power 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.
The Case For Silicon Solar Power Cells
Silicon solar power cells are fairly low maintenance.
Your entire solar power system will consist of the following:
- 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.
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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Silicon Solar Cells - 5 Things You Need To Know About Getting Them To Perform Their Best |
