Articles database
 
 
Web AnyArticles.com
Browse by Category:
  Reference and Education >
  Subcategories
College University College University (310)
Psychology Psychology (151)
Science Science (469)


  Categories :
 
  Arts and Entertainment
  Automotive
  Business
  Communications
  Computers and Technology
  Finance
  Food and Drink
  Health and Fitness
  Home and Family
  Home Based Business
  Internet and Businesses Online
  Kids and Teens
  Legal
  News and Society
  Recreation and Sports
  Reference and Education
  Self Improvement
  Shopping and Product Reviews
  Travel and Leisure
  Womens Interests
  Writing and Speaking
  Random Category
  Small Business
  Taxes
  Funny stuff
Science article : How Does Solar Power Work?
 

Reference and Education > Science > How Does Solar Power Work?

0 Reviews [ add review ], Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Peter Lenkefi

The basics of solar power.

Solar power is probably the cleanest, most viable form of renewable energy available and it can be used in several forms to help power your house. Many gardens now use solar lights or solar garden water features. The availability and wide use of solar power in gardens shows exactly how versatile it is as a source of energy. The technology and the systems are becoming smaller, more compact and better looking than when they were first created and used. Early examples of solar power systems can be seen in California where, in the 1980s, enough solar power panels were installed to power over 10 million homes.

How do photovoltaic tiles work?

Simply put photovoltaic tiles and other forms of solar energy work by converting some of the energy in sunlight into a clean form of electricity that can be used in our houses. The PV cells consist of a positive and a negative slice of silicon placed under a thin slice of glass. As the protons of the sunlight beat down onto the PV cell they knock the neutrons off the silicon. The negatively charged free neutrons are attracted to the silicon but are trapped by the magnetic field that is formed from the opposing fields. Small wires on the silicon catch these neutrons and when connected in a circuit an electric current is formed.

This reaction gives Direct Current electricity though, and it must

be passed through an inverter to be converted into an Alternating Current used in our homes to power any electrical items. Some of the power is lost in this part of the process as the inverter is only around 95% efficient but this is a much greater efficiency than was once available.

The nature of the PV cell means there is little or no maintenance required and there are no moving parts; this means that a typical PV cell can last up to 40 years with no work besides an annual clean.

How can I use them to power my house?

There are several ways to use solar power around the house and not just for powering. You can use it to heat your hot water, heat your pool or even your central heating or if you have plenty of roof space and a reasonable amount of sun you can get a grid tie system; a grid tie system means that not only can you power your entire house but during those times when you create an excess of electricity you can sell it back to the grid. An efficiently solar powered home will be able to reasonably create between 75 and 100% of their own power and because of the grid tie system this means you may not have to pay for electricity ever again.

For more more information about solar power please visit http://www.solar-power-energy.info



0 Reviews [ add review ], Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Peter Lenkefi
Rate this story : and read/post review(s)


Article reviews



Post your review
[ Note : no HTML/URLs - will removed automatically ]
Your name
Your comments


More articles from Reference and Education > Science

Add article | Manage Articles | Top Rated articles | Most Reviewed articles | Contact us | Links