Affordable Solar Panels
Residential solar systems typically harvest solar energy through a process called photovoltaics. In short, this process involves collecting solar energy, converting it into power for your home, and then feeding into your home's primary circuit board.
How Solar Panels Work
The Photovoltaic Process for Harvesting Energy
Collect Energy
The sun’s rays hit a semiconductor within a solar panel (usually made of silicon), which releases electrons. These electrons move through a conductor to produce an electric current.
Convert Energy
The current produced by these wires is known as direct current, or DC; your house requires alternating current, or AC electricity. A component known as a solar inverter turns the DC power into AC power.
Power Home
AC power is then fed into the primary circuit board, meaning it can power any of the outlets or connected appliances in the home. Surplus solar electricity may be stored in a battery to be used on cloudy days.