| What are solar cells? |
| Solar Panels collect the suns energy and convert it
to electrical energy. This is used to charge a 12 volt battery. The
battery runs the accessories, not the panel. Solar Panels are rated
in watts ie. a 50 watt panel gives us approx 4 amps. To achieve its
full potential a panel must be reasonably aligned to the sun. If it
is not or it's covered in dirt, dust or shadows, it will not perform
anywhere near its full potential. |
| |
| How do they work? |
| A solar cell consists of layers of semiconductor materials with different electronic properties. In a typical polycrystalline cell the bulk of the material is silicon doped with a small quantity of boron to give it a positve or p-type character. A thin layer on the front of the cell is doped with phosphorus to give it a negative or n-type character. The interface between these two layers contains an electric field and is called a junction. |
| Light consists of particles called photons. When the light hits the solar cell, some of the photons are absorbed in the region of the junction, freeing electrons in the solicon crystal. If the photons have enough energy the electrons will be able to overcome the electric field at the junction and are free to move throught the silicon and into an external circuit. As they flow through the external circuit they give up their energy asuseful work (turning motors, lighing lamps, etc) and return to the solar cell. |
| This solar cell (photovoltaic) process is completely solid state and self contained. There are no moving parts and no materials are consumed or emitted. |
| |
|
|
|
| When considering solar panels, you should be aware
that there are 3 different technologies on the market. |
| |
|
|
|
| Polycrystalline |
solar cells are a blue colour, with the individual
crystals being visible from multiple angles. The cells. are cut to
a square shape which gives the best power production for a given panel
size. Aiming is not as critical as the cells are picking up the light
from many different angles. They work slightly more efficiently in
low light, and they are also very durable in construction. They also
perform well in high temperatures. |
|
 |
| Amorphous |
solar cells are of a non crystalline structure and
are blue in colour. They are flexible and their wiring gives them
better performance in shaded conditions. To achieve the desired output
the panel has to be much larger than the other panels. They are wired
in parallel. |
| |
 |
| Monocrystalline |
solar cells appear black in colour, are of a rigid construction and do not fill the entire panel area. As a result they only effectively pick up light when correctly aimed towards the sun. They are however durable in construction but perform slightly worse than polycrystalline cells in excessive heat. |
| |
|
|
|
| Things to Know about Solar Panels: |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
- The solar panel is used to charge a 12 volt battery. The battery runs the Accessories
- A 50 watt pabel provides approx 3.75 apm
- They are not fragile, in fact modern panels have warranties
of up to 20 years.
- They are designed to withstand severe weather conditions from
ice and snow to searing desert heat, they have no moving parts
and produce power silently
- They are inherently stand-alone systems that reliably operate
- Unattended for long periods if correctly designed and require
no connection to an existing power source or fuel supply so they
can be combined with other power sources to increase system reliability
(hybrid systems).
- They require no connection to an existing power source or fuel supply.
- They can be combined with other power sources to increase system reliability (hybrid systems).
- They consume no fossil fuels -their fuel is abundant and free.
|
| |
|
|
|
Complimentary Products
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Solar Panel Regulator |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Environmentally Friendly and Efficient
|
