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Harnessing the Sun for Your Home - Key Components

Using the power of the sun is becoming increasingly attractive from an economic and environmental aspect. If you're going solar, you need to know the components.

Green Generators Solar Components

The gentle curves of the Spiral Solar Wind Chime will come alive with the power of the sun, chiming softly to help your day along.

Solar Panel While generally considered electric platforms, solar systems definitely have unique components. Here's some of the jargon you are going to need to be familiar with before buying.

Although it has been around a long time, solar power is only now taking off. Solar panels, which harness the sun's energy, feature in many homes (although nothing compared to the Continent). Solar panels can readily bought in DIY stores and generate electricity via photovoltaic cells. Solar power is also being tested on sound barriers on the M27 in Hampshire to provide electricity as well as noise protection.

Epa Greenpower 1. Photovoltaic Cell - This is the key piece of any solar platform. Known as a PV cell, it is typically a small cell containing a silicon substance under glass. When the sun hits the cell, the silicon undergoes an electrical reaction that creates a charge. The charge is collected by small wires. Depending on the nature of the cell, each should produce roughly half a volt.

We all use solar power almost daily, sometimes without even realizing it. Have you ever picked up a garden hose that has been lying in the sun This is one example of passive solar water heating. The use of solar power can be as simple as sitting in front of a window where the sun is streaming in, or as technologically advanced as a solar panel array in space to power equipment used on board a satellite.

Wind Energy 2. Solar Panel - A collection of solar cells joined as a unit in a frame. A single panel typically is insufficient to produce enough energy to power anything of significance in your home.

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Solar 3. Solar System - Also known as a photovoltaic system, a solar system is an interconnected set of solar panels. This is what you see on the roofs of home or other areas around homes and buildings. A solar system converts enough sunlight into electricity to provide most or all of the power required by a home.

Wind power harnesses the power of Mother Nature by converting the kinetic energy of the wind into electricity via a spinning blade or windmill. Large wind turbines with 65 meter wingspans can be seen in exposed fields all over the UK and there are hundreds more stationed in the North Sea. Wind power can be generated in anything from a light breeze to a near gale, but they shut down in extreme winds.

Nuclear Power 4. Orientation - Before installing a panel system, one has to give some thought regarding where to put it. The sun tracks across a structure in a particular way. To maximize the energy production, the panels have to be oriented to receive the maximum amount of sunlight. This, of course, results in the maximum amount of electricity.

Greenpower Inc 5. Direct Current - A type of electricity that flows in only one direction. Solar cells produce direct current electricity.

Solar Electricity 6. Alternating Current - Electricity that flows in both directions. AC power is used by utilities and in practically all appliances and machines in a home.

Power Greene 7. Inverter - A key component in a solar panel system. The inverter converts the direct current produced by the solar panels into AC power that can be used in the home or fed back into a utility power grid system.

Green Electric Obviously, there are a wide variety of systems for converting sunlight into power. Making yourself familiar with the above components is a good place to start.

Am Greenpower Richard A. Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com - a directory of solar energy and solar power companies. Visit SolarCompanies.com to read more more solar electricity articles.

Renewable Electricity

Green Company Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on solar power and renewable energy.

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