How Solar Energy Systems and Kits Create Electricity
It seems that everywhere you look these days someone is making better use of the sun’s energy. Solar power is used to heat homes, power schools, heat water, and so many other things. As we search for a better and renewable source of energy for the planet, solar power has found more applications. If you plan on using it, here are three main types of solar power systems.
The Components of a Solar Power System
We all know the first component—solar panels. We’ve seen them mounted in yards, on roofs, and even on top of road signs. This is how we capture the sun’s energy. The panels are usually on the south side of the home or yard for maximum radiation.
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The solar panels are connected to the other components of the system. The charge controller regulates the amount of electricity going to the battery. The battery stores electricity. The inverter changes the current into usable form and sends it to the outlets in the house.
The Three Systems
There are three main types of solar energy systems:
• Grid intertied
• Grid intertied with battery
• Off-grid solar power system
Grid Intertied
You are already attached to an electrical grid. This means that your electricity comes from the power company that uses fossil fuels to power their generators. When you start with solar power, don’t disconnect from the grid. You want to be sure that your solar system can produce enough electricity to meet your needs.
This type of solar power system works in conjunction with the grid. The system is tied directly into the home so that as the electricity is produced, it is used. Any surplus will run your meter backwards. You can share the electricity with the power company by calling them for more details.
Grid Intertied with Battery
The sun doesn’t shine all the time. With a battery connected to the solar power system, any excess electricity can be stored until you need it. On cloudy days, your lights will still work. The battery comes in handy when the system needs to be shut down to clean or repair the solar panels.
Off-Grid Solar Power System
People living in remote locations don’t have the benefit of grid power. They use other methods to power their homes. Building a solar power system is a good option. Not only do you get electricity directly from the sun but your method is environmentally safe.
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This system directly wires into the home circuit box so that any electricity produced is funneled into the home. Off-grid systems use a battery backup. Since there is no other option for electricity, a batter stores excess electricity from really sunny days to be used on dark, cloudy days. One drawback is that when the energy is gone, so is your electricity. But most places on earth receive an appreciable amount of sunlight so that is not usually a problem.
Solar energy systems lower electricity costs. They can also lead to energy conservation as we fine tune our energy needs to match what is produced by our system.