Solar Energy to Electrical Energy Through Solar Panels

You may be thinking of buying or even making your own solar panels in order to stay away from your monthly electric bills. How do solar panels work? This is the main question that you have to be able to answer before you get your tools and start working on your homemade solar panels.

It collects radiation from the sun and then convert this energy to electricity. The solar cells function just like how large semiconductors work. When the solar cells are exposed to the sunlight, its positive-negative or p-n junction diodes convert the energy into electrical energy. When the energy strikes the surface of the solar panel, electrons are knocked out from their orbits and are released. The electric fields of the solar cells pull these electrons in a directional current. This is where the metal contacts of the solar cell will be able to generate electricity. You should remember that the more solar cells with high qualities are there in the solar panels, the more total electrical output will be produced. The whole process of converting sunlight into usable electrical energy is called the Photovoltaic Effect.

There are certain factors that affect how it works. Solar insulation is the measurement of the amount of solar radiation received by the solar panel. Your solar panel efficiency greatly depends on weather conditions. If the location of your panels is shaded, the direct sunlight radiation will be obstructed. It is best to place your panels away from obstructions so that it can receive sufficient amount of sunlight. It is also recommended that you consider the hemisphere on where you are located. If you are at the northern hemisphere of the earth, it is recommended that you place your panels facing south to receive maximum amount of sunlight. On the other hand, you have to put your panels facing north if you are located in the southern portion. However, you can also use mounts that can follow the position of the sun in the sky. You can use this to rotate your panels to get the maximum amount of sunlight exposure as possible.