Size Of Solar Panels Determines Amount Of Available Power
In order to take advantage of alternative energy, freely available from the sun, the production of electricity requires the use of solar panels to convert the sun's rays into electricity. One of the major problems inherent to the original design, being rigid and unbending, has been overcome with the development of flexible solar panels. However, the efficiency rating has not been improved significantly enough to make their installation and use economically feasible.
On average, solar panels work at about 12 percent efficiency, although some of the more recently developed panels can work at 20-percent and a panel measuring about eight square feet can produce 150-watts of electric power. This translates into the need for a large array of solar panels to provide enough power to operate and average home. To determine the size of the array needed to operate a home, add all of the wattage requirements of all of the appliances in the home to determine energy need.
In most installations, the solar panels do not operate the appliances directly. The electricity produced is sent to a large array of batteries that stores the electricity for later use. The power from the batteries is sent through a converter to change it from the 12-volt direct current into 120-volt alternating current for household use. When they power is siphoned off the batteries a regular sends the solar power to them to maintain their charge.
Panels With Tracking Capabilities Work Best
In most installations the solar panels are in a fixed position as installers attempt to keep the number of working parts to a minimum. However, as the sun moves across the sky, the amount of direct sunlight hitting the panels is negatively influenced. In order to keep the solar panels aimed at the sun, some installations fix them to a tracking mechanism to keep them aimed at the sun for the entire day.
Many municipalities and states have installed solar panels on many roadside devices for power, as opposed to having to pay for the installation of electric lines to remote parts of highways. There are even solar powered parking meters lining the streets in some cities, but sometimes the shade trees planted to enhance the area interfere with their operation.
Shade and nighttime are the foes of solar panels, as they require direct exposure to produce enough power to operate whatever it is that it powers. .Even the slightest bid of shade that covers a portion of the solar panels can have an adverse effect on the electic output.
