We’ve all seen solar panels and solar cells powering devices from calculators to call boxes and wheelchairs. It was in the late 70’s when the first solar powered calculators came out and back then, these devices almost seemed magical, as they worked even without batteries! While solar technology has been around for decades now, many of us continue to wonder how exactly solar panels work. All we know is that when there’s sufficient light, these solar-powered devices can be used.
How do solar panels work?
There are two types of solar panels. One type is used for heating oil or water, while the other is for generating electricity; the mechanism for these two differs. Solar panels for heating water or oil make use of coils, thermal collectors and plastic piping, as the sun works to heat up the fluid that pass through the coils. A popular brand for these solar panels is Solahart. These are perfect for hot tubs, Jacuzzis, spas, as well as heated swimming pools. For providing heat throughout a building or home, these solar panels can be used with baseboard units and for hot water flooring systems. In homes, using this type of solar panel eliminates the need for other heating equipment. However, a pump that is motorized will be needed to “assist” these solar panels.
And then there are cell systems that are photovoltaic, and if there’s a technology that deserves the credit for allowing us to ‘extract’ energy from the sun, it’s photovoltaics. This process creates power (electrical) as the energy radiated by the sun is turned into DC or direct current electricity by way of semiconductors or silicon. Photovoltaics technology has expanded greatly, and is now used for sunglasses and stations for recharging electric cars. With these, for as long as the sun is around, solar energy will be available. For the most part, a solar system’s power depends on its size and quantity, and so installing more or bigger solar panels translates to being able to enjoy more solar power.
Solar panels are now more “mainstream” than ever, and just about anyone with a couple of hundred dollars or so to invest are able to enjoy solar power through solar panel kits. Some of these regular solar charging kits like the Sunforce 50048 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit can provide as much as 45 to 60 watts of solar power. It is not only select houses that now use solar power, but communities all over the world – in Canda’s Drake Landing, Germany, as well as in Oahu, Hawaii in the US and the Sydney Olympic Village in Australia. It’s clear to see the benefits of solar energy: these do not emit carbon dioxide, so they are environment-friendly. A lot have also reported savings of about 30% or more on their monthly electricity bills by installing solar panels in their home.
