Solar Panel Technology Explained

Even primitive man was well aware of the power contained in the warmth of the sun. Solar cookers, water desalination purchase acomplia online and home heating were among the earliest methods through which human beings harnessed solar energy for their own benefit.

Within the last few hundred years, however, mankind has made incredible advances in both understanding and employing the sun’s vast energy. While only a fraction of the radiation that actually leaves the sun reaches Earth’s surface, there is still enough to create entire power plants which derive their energy from the sun’s rays.

The late 1800s saw the discovery of photovoltaic processes and the creation of some primitive solar cells. In 1921 famous scientist Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize in physics for his work on the photoelectric effect and by the 1950s the first true solar panels were at work.

At this time the panels were far too costly and inefficient to have any sort of broad based commercial or residential application, but the wave of environmental interest that began in the 1970s put solar panels and solar power on the fast track. Immense investments in research and industry expansion allowed solar energy and solar equipment to become widely available in less than twenty years. They are no longer confined to pocket calculators or small lighting fixtures for exterior use, but are available for DIY installation on homes and in everything from portable panels for hikers and campers, to lamp posts and spot lights for commercial use.

What are solar panels? Any type of equipment used to convert sunlight into energy is considered solar cells or solar panels. The technology behind solar panels has varied widely throughout the past five or six decades and while solar cells were the true origin of modern solar panels, today researchers are shifting to new platforms and approaches to gathering clomid online energy from sunlight.

What a modern consumer can expect to find are solar cells crafted from silicon semiconductors configured to trap and convert the sun’s energy which are coated in an antireflective coating and contained under a glass cover plate to protect the cell from the elements. All of this is usually mounted in a strong frame which must be mounted at the appropriate position and angle to gather as much solar energy as possible. Domestic applications currently include lighting, garden fixtures, solar yard lights, pool and hot water heating systems, home heating and some electrical supply.

The history of solar panels illustrate that the technology is rapidly advancing, and will continue to do so as environmental, energy and consumer demands require.

About the Author

Jonathan Gal is a solar lighting expert and owner of YCA Solar Lights, an organization dedicated to promoting clean, energy efficient solar lighting technology. To find out more about how solar technology is changing the way we live, especially with respect to lighting, you are invited to visit Jonathan’s Solar Outdoor Lighting site.

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Homemade Solar Water Heaters are a Cheap and Simple Solar Solution

Many home owners would love to use solar energy but most are discouraged by the high cost of solar electric equipment. Unfortunately what most overlook is how cheap and easy homemade solar water heaters can be to make.

Considering that heating water is one of the largest consumers of energy in a home it only makes sense to heat your water with solar. Heating with solar is much more simple than making electricity from solar and can be done with very low cost materials.

Simply put water or any substance outside in the sun and it will heat. If you ever noticed how hot the water inside a hose that was left weight loss drugs online out in the sun can get, you already know how simple solar water heating is. A solar water heater uses the exact same principal but makes the process more efficient and will even heat water in cold weather.

Homemade solar water heaters can be made from scratch using low cost materials that can be found in your local hardware store. For less than $100 you could build a solar hot water system that could save you as much as 33% on your power bill.

These systems can be plumbed into your hot water line to work with your traditional water heater to supply you with steady hot water. When the sun is heating your water it is fed into your conventional water heater. As long as the sun is heating your water the water heater stays shut off and doesn’t consume any gas or electricity which saves you money.

With a little more investment you can build an insulated solar water reservoir that will store solar hot water so it will be available even when the sun isn’t shining. Unless you go many days at a time without direct sunlight your conventional water heater may never need to be used.

The amount of free hot water you get depends on the size or how many solar hot water panels you build. Since they can be built inexpensively build as many as you want. Use them to heat your pool or hot tub. Or heat your water to water your garden with. Start using warm (not hot) water instead of cold water to water your plants and notice the difference in their growth.

Unless you really love paying money every month to energy companies, homemade solar water heaters are a no brainer. They are cheap and easy to build and will pay for themselves very quickly.

Learn how to build a homemade solar water heater.

About the Author

Learn how to build a homemade solar water heater.

Save money on photovoltaic systems. Learn how to build solar panels yourself to generate your own electricity.

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