How Solar Power Works in Our Homes
Solar power is one of the cleanest and probably one of the most popular of the renewable energy technologies for home owners. How solar power works in several forms to help power our houses like lights, water heating, can be judged by its popularity with home owners. The technology and the systems are becoming smaller, more compact and better looking, than when they were first created and used.
The Use of Solar Energy in Our Homes
How solar power works seems like magic to some, but right from powering our calculators to supplying electricity to home appliances like water heater, attic fans, lights, etc, solar power can be cleaner and cheaper source of energy.
How solar power works is rather simple. The sun's rays are converted into electricity with the use of solar panels. When the sun's rays hit the solar panels, some of the energy in the sunlight is converted into electricity that can be used in our homes. The solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells are made up of a positive and a negative slice of silicon placed under a thin sheet of glass. A number of solar panels convert the solar energy into direct current which then goes through an inverter which turns it into 120 volt alternating current needed to power home appliances. The electricity is then distributed in the house after passing through the distribution panel.
The flow of electricity generated is used optimally and stored in batteries. The batteries continue to supply electricity when there is power failure. If you are connected to a grid, then excess electricity generated because of low usage, can be passed to the grid. An efficient solar system in a home will be able to generate 75 to 100% of its own power and with a grid tie one may not have to pay for electricity is how solar power works efficiently for small home owners. A battery backed up system is expensive as compared to grid intertied system.
How solar power works in a home will depend on how effectively and efficiently we use our home appliances. A few cost effective ways will go a long way to make solar power the only source of energy in a home. Replacing of all incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights will be a big help. Junking old appliances for new modern energy saving appliances will also reduce load on the solar system.
