Understanding the Key Components of a Solar Electric System
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 some of the terms and components people are talking about and what they mean.
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.
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. Bell Labs developed the first silicon solar cell in 1953 – the first to generate measurable electric current. By 1956, this fantastic new technology to generate electricity was costing about $300 per Watt (compared with a rough cost now of $5 per Watt). Depending on the nature of the cell, each should produce roughly half a volt.
2. Solar Panel
Solar panels are a collection of solar cells joined as a unit in a frame. Traditional solar panels are made from wafer-thin pieces of crystalline silicon, called solar cells. As energy particles from the sun (called photons) impact the silicon they have the effect of bumping electrons from the cells. These electrons flow through connective wires towards a positively charged panel, causing an electric current. While the electricity produced by one of these solar cells is miniscule, by chaining hundreds of these cells together enough electricity is generated to power everything from calculators to an entire home, depending on the overall size of the panel. Between 4 and 22 percent of the energy falling on a panel is actually converted to usable electrical energy. The rest is reflected or turned into heat. These panels should not be confused with those used for solar water heating, which simply use the sun’s energy to heat water directly.
3. Solar System
Also known as a photovoltaic system, a solar system is an interconnected set of solar panels. A Solar Electrical System, also referred to as a PV or Photovoltaic system, consists of solar panels installed on your roof, facade, garage, greenhouse, barn, pole or yard structure, that generates electricity when exposed to sunlight and electronic devices which regulate and convert the electricity into useful forms which can power your house or recharge your electric car. 
With a Grid Tie System your electric meter will run backwards during the day when a surplus is generated, thus providing you with free electricity at night from your electric utility company. Adding batteries to your system provides even more redundancy, especially when brown outs, power outages, or natural disasters occur and water pumps or other critical equipment is needed. A solar system typically converts enough sunlight into electricity to provide most or all of the power required by a home.
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.
5. Direct Current
It is a type of electricity that flows in only one direction. Solar cells produce direct current electricity.
6. Alternating Current
Alternating Current is electricity that flows in both directions. AC power is the type of electricity used by utilities companies and therefore in practically all appliances and machines in a home.
7. Inverter
An inverter is 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.
Obviously, there are a wide variety of systems for converting sunlight into power. Being familiar with the above components is a good place to start.
In case you haven’t been keeping up with advances in the solar power industry, there have been lots of advances. Now more than ever you have many choices of solar energy products to help you reduce your consumption of traditional fossil fuels. The solar revolution of the last two decades has made solar energy an increasingly powerful force in the energy arena.
Doing a Home Energy Audit Yourself – Part 4 What to do about Windows, Doors and Furnace
4. Windows
• Here you want to get the best performance out of what you have or have them replaced.
• If you have old wood single pane windows then you can tighten them up with a V self adhesive weather strip.
• Make good all cracked or missing panes. If you have storm windows make sure the same it true for them. If you don’t have storm windows, today the cost to replace the whole window is not much different cost than buying a storm window.
• Make sure the caulking around the window frame is good both inside and out.
• Thermal pane windows are a must today and vinyl replacement windows are the best way to go. If you replace a couple a year in 3 or 4 years you could have the whole house done. There also isn’t much mess created installing them.
5. Doors
• Here again you want to ensure that you’re getting the best performance out of what you have.
• If there are air leaks around the door you probably need new weather stripping. There are spring tension ones that do the best job but don’t get them too tight (just snug) or the door won’t work well.
• This is also true for how threshold seals the bottom of the door. You want them tight but not over tight. I find that a door sweep really works the best but may need replacing more often.
• If you have a storm door it too needs to fit and work well. Over time the hinging breaks down and the door won’t adjust properly and it will need to be replaced.
• Old wood doors can crack and are hard to weather strip well. Today’s steel entry doors are very efficient as they are foam filled and they are the standard to work toward.
6. Water Heater & Furnace
• Newer water heaters have adequate insulation built into them but older water heaters may benefit from the installation of a water heater insulation jacket. You may also save by installing water pipe insulation the first 10 – 20 feet hot water pipe.
• The water temperature is another issue. We can often turn our water heater temperature down a little and still be comfortable, but save a lot.
• Old furnaces are not very efficient however if serviced by a professional on a regular basis and by changing the filter regularly you will get the most out of it.
• Newer High efficiency furnaces save you big on your utilities and you can recover your investment in approximately 5 years.
• Make sure any ducting runs through areas not heated or cooled, are wrapped with insulation. It won’t cost you much but can save you a lot.
7. Fireplace
• Fireplaces can take more heat out of a home than they provide. Just keeping the damper closed when you’re not using the fireplace will help.
• You can decrease the heat loss by installing glass doors.
• The best thing you can do though is seal it off completely or install an insert into your fireplace.
8. Thermostat Setting
• Having a good programmable thermostat is a great investment and programming it to be at your comfort level only when you are in the house and up is important. Keeping it 5 – 10 degrees lower at other times will make a big difference
• Another simple thing is to wear more than a T shirt around the house in the winter or even by adding a sweater will help keep you comfortable. This will allow you can keep the thermostat set lower to save you money.
If you get all these up to standard then you are well on your way to having an efficient home.