As more interest grows in using renewable energy sources rather than traditional fossil fuels, the popularity of solar power as a source of electricity has grown. Despite the predictions of global warming linked by reliance on fossil fuels, it seems that it is the cost of solar power over traditional grid electricity that is making it popular. In California for example, where the climate is ideal for solar power, it is cheaper to create solar power electricity than buy it from a utility company. However, most people don’t like the responsibility of generating their own electricity or simply do not know enough about it to consider it as a viable option. This article will cover creating electricity from solar power, with particular reference to the solar powered power inverters.
Solar power for electricity is created using photovoltaic technology. These are the solar panels that you see on roof tops. A solar panel is an array of solar cells that use photovoltaic technology to convert direct sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. A solar cell is made of silicon dioxide and the reaction of photons with the silicon dioxide causes an electron to move in the silicon dioxide. This is the principal behind creating direct current. As each cell is lined up in series the DC current will flow from one cell to the next.
Direct current is good for many appliances but most homes use alternating current (AC). Alternating current is also more efficient for moving electricity so it is used by utility companies. Thus a solar powered power inverter is placed in between the solar panels and the power supply to the house with the task of converting DC to AC. It makes the electricity usable in the home.
(more…)