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What are solar panels? Everyone has heard of them but do we really know what they consist of and how they work. A solar panel is a large panel which has plates that collect the sun’s heat and change it to electricity. Used for many things such as heating a home or powering a variety of electrical appliances, solar panels are becoming our new source of energy.
What Do They Do?
Solar panels change the sunlight we see to electricity. Solar panels are often mistaken for the collectors which are used for heating water. There are many sizes, brands and wattages. From one watt to over 200 there are many from which to choose to find the one that will be the best for your needs.
If you are serious about using solar panels to convert the sun light to energy for your home, one thing you will have to consider is the area in which you live. The winter weather that is dominant in your area may not get a lot of days of sunshine. Since solar panels work on the light from the sun (not the heat) in the shorter days of winter they will not produce as much power.
Do They Work in the Winter?
When the sky is overcast for long periods as in the winter, the solar panels may only produce half the normal electricity. When a photovoltaic (PV) system is used as a backup power source for this the utility company makes up the difference.
However, when there is an abundance of sunshine and you have extra power it goes back to the utility grid and runs the electrical meter backwards. This makes your power usage from the electric company go down and saves you money.
Anything that you want to run directly from the solar panels will require using solar power with a battery back-up for days when it is overcast. This makes up for the difference between what the equipment requires and what the solar panel is generating.
Can You Clean Solar Panels?
Solar panels can be cleaned with a cleanser that is non-abrasive. The connections to all batteries should be checked. The fuse holders should be dry as well as clean. Solar panels do not wear out because there are no moving parts. They can work alone or with other sources of energy.
Solar panels can fail to work if the panel is damaged by water. Installing it horizontally will keep water from standing in the frame. Remember to allow an air space underneath the panel as well. Dry and clean is the key to generating the maximum amount of power.
Solar energy is a clean energy which contains no toxins. You must remember the electricity coming from this system is the same as electricity which is generated through your power company. So caution should be used. The installation of all the parts for this system should be safety approved for their connections and are used according to the correct standards.
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