How to Go Green with Solar Energy
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What Happens in the Solar Panel?
A solar panel is usually made with a special substance that is capable of exhibiting a fascinating property, the ability to have electrons accept light energy and move away from the atoms that they are initially part of. This is called the Piezoelectric effect. Most atoms hold their electrons, but a few release some electrons when showered with light. The light is absorbed, and gives the electrons enough energy to break free.
The crystals do not run out of electrons because the Earth and its atmosphere have an abundance of extra electrons, and these extra electrons are available to take the places of those dislodged. These give off energy when they are captured, but that is of no consequence. Actually, they can then also absorb light and move away from the atom just as the first electrons did.
The freed electrons are directed to gather, thus producing an increasing electric charge. This charge is on a battery, and may be stored until needed. This is why solar energy works even at night.
The crystals do not run out of electrons because the Earth and its atmosphere have an abundance of extra electrons, and these extra electrons are available to take the places of those dislodged. These give off energy when they are captured, but that is of no consequence. Actually, they can then also absorb light and move away from the atom just as the first electrons did.
The freed electrons are directed to gather, thus producing an increasing electric charge. This charge is on a battery, and may be stored until needed. This is why solar energy works even at night.
Table of Contents
- Pass it on!
- Does the Solar Panel Just Plug into a Circuit?
- INVERTERS
- Solar Power
- SOLAR ENERGY BOOKS
- I Plan to Sell Extra Power to the Power Company
- SOLAR PANELS
- Black Spaniel Gallery's Environmental Link
- Why Are We Not Using Solar Power?
- SOLAR PANELS
- Going Solar
- Exactly How Clean Is Solar Power?
- Greenhouse Effect
- Products that educate the public as they was used. Get the message out!
- Poll Module
- Poll Module
- Quiz A
- Quiz B
- Quiz C
- Quiz D
- Quiz E
- Quiz F
- Quiz G
- Quiz H
- Quiz I
- Quiz J
- Solar Power News
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Does the Solar Panel Just Plug into a Circuit?
No. Batteries provide direct current. Our homes run on alternating current. So, the current must be changed to be useful.
Can we run homes on direct current? No. Motors in appliances require alternating current to work. There are direct current motors, but these are much more complicated to build, and our home appliances are not equipped to use them.
Not only must we convert our current to direct current, but it must be regulated to have a root mean square voltage of 115 volts, and a frequency of sixty cycles. Different values are used in many countries, but in the United States these are the standard.
Can we run homes on direct current? No. Motors in appliances require alternating current to work. There are direct current motors, but these are much more complicated to build, and our home appliances are not equipped to use them.
Not only must we convert our current to direct current, but it must be regulated to have a root mean square voltage of 115 volts, and a frequency of sixty cycles. Different values are used in many countries, but in the United States these are the standard.
INVERTERS
SOLAR ENERGY BOOKS
I Plan to Sell Extra Power to the Power Company
You must match phase with the power company. If your current is flowing in one direction when their circuit is flowing current in the other direction things will not work, and you could cause a major fault on their line.
SOLAR PANELS
Why Are We Not Using Solar Power?
The fact is that we may one day have to use solar power if fossil fuels run low, or if the atmosphere becomes too dirty. In the meantime, solar power is underutilized because it is new. Not everyone understands we can have power at night and on rainy days. And, like new technologies, it started out expensive. As costs come down more and more people will move to solar energy.
And if the battery runs down, conventional power company electricity can be used to back up your solar power unit.
So, when will it be cost effective? What do you pay for power? When you can recapture your investment in a few years you may want to convert. And that time may well be now.
In addition to the savings on your power bill, check with your state and the federal government for tax breaks associated with converting to solar energy.
And if the battery runs down, conventional power company electricity can be used to back up your solar power unit.
So, when will it be cost effective? What do you pay for power? When you can recapture your investment in a few years you may want to convert. And that time may well be now.
In addition to the savings on your power bill, check with your state and the federal government for tax breaks associated with converting to solar energy.
SOLAR PANELS
Going Solar
Sunforce 50022 5-Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger
The Sunforce 50022 5 Watt Solar Battery Trickle Ch more...0 points
Lenmar PPUS20 PowerPort Solar Charger & Battery for Cell Phone/MP3/PDA/Gaming Devices, Charging Cable/Device Tip Adapters
The PowerPort Solar Charger and Battery has been d more...0 points
2 Watt Monocrystalline Solar Cells
Superior Class A Monocrystalline Solar Cells. Thes more...0 points
Sunforce 50032 15 Watt Solar Battery Charger
The Sunforce 50032 15 Watt Solar Battery Charger g more...0 points
Solar PI1500X 150w 1 Outlet W/Usb Power Inverter
Power Inverter Type: Power Inverter Voltage: 120 N more...0 points
Duracell 813-0291-07 175 Watt DC to AC Pocket Power Source Inverter
Whether you're at home, on the road, in the air, o more...0 points
HQRP KIT (170W (85W+85W) Monocrystalline Solar Panel, 20A Solar Charge Controller / Regulator, 200W Power DC / AC Inverter, Red & Black Clamps and Cigarette Lighter (Female)) for Solar Systems
Products trademarked HQRP%u2122 are marketed and sold more...0 points
12VDC 4 Amp Voltage Controller with Overvoltage protection. Great for Solar Panels.
This professional DC voltage controller provides l more...0 points
Exactly How Clean Is Solar Power?
Power requires some fuel to be consumed. Power plants consuming fuel affect the environment by adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Nuclear power is cleaner, but comes with risks. And the spent fuel rods must be disposed of, resulting in an environmental problem that must be solved.
Solar power comes from within the sun. It is the result of hydrogen undergoing fusion to make helium. And even that is confined to the sun. What comes to the Earth is light, and we simply use it. There is no fuel consumption on our planet, so we do not introduce greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Perhaps wind power is equally clean, but much less reliable.
Solar power comes from within the sun. It is the result of hydrogen undergoing fusion to make helium. And even that is confined to the sun. What comes to the Earth is light, and we simply use it. There is no fuel consumption on our planet, so we do not introduce greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Perhaps wind power is equally clean, but much less reliable.
Greenhouse Effect
Products that educate the public as they was used. Get the message out!
Poll Module
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Quiz A
Quiz B
Quiz C
Quiz D
Quiz E
Quiz F
Quiz G
Quiz H
Quiz I
Quiz J
Solar Power News
- Solar-Panel Co Nanosolar Gets $70 Million In Venture Capital
- By Cassandra Sweet SAN FRANCISCO -(Dow Jones)- California solar-panel maker Nanosolar Inc. said Friday it has raised $70 million in venture capital to make its solar panels at commercial scale. The company, based in San Jose, makes thin-film solar ...
- San Diego Renewable Energy Society Provides Middle School Students Exciting ...
- Competitive Solar Electric Car Race for San Diego Youth San Diego, CA (PRWEB) June 01, 2012 Our next generation will decide the future of a sustainable planet, and one organization is facilitating the education necessary to allow kids to understand how ...
- Solar power generating social change
- This story is exclusive to the Chronicle's Sunday print edition and will not appear on SFGate.com until 3:00 AM on Monday, June 4. To read this and other exclusive print stories today, subscribe to The Chronicle's iPad app by visiting ...
- Element Power Adds Educational/Cultural Center to Solar Power Projects in ...
- Portland, Oregon solar power systems installer and project developer Element Power Solar is adding an educational public outreach aspect to its recently announced plans to build 10 projects with 300MW of solar power capacity in Chile.
How about a thumbs up?
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Please sign in. We really appreciate comments.
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karmicchristian
Jun 13, 2011 @ 11:19 pm | delete
- Very important to be eco-conscious and wind and solar energies need to top the agenda for green energy. Thanks for the highlight.
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Pastiche
Apr 7, 2011 @ 2:34 pm | delete
- Quite a lot of homes in Vermont and other northern US states are "off the grid" and rely on solar power for electricity generation. Many have a surplus that they sell back to the power company - that helps everyone because it's green and it keeps the rates lower.
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ChrisDay
Mar 14, 2011 @ 1:15 am | delete
- Some of this new-generation technology even harnesses realistic power in the English climate!
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scss Jan 27, 2011 @ 6:05 pm | delete
- I'm installing solar panels this year, so its interesting to learn all about how it works - thanks. Great lens!
Helene Malmsio
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