How Do Solar Panels Pv Cells Work

The electricity moves throughout your home powering lights appliances and anything else you wish to use it on.

How do solar panels pv cells work.

The current produced is directly dependent on how much light strikes the module. Modules are designed to supply electricity at a certain voltage such as a common 12 volts system. A number of solar cells electrically connected to each other and mounted in a support structure or frame is called a photovoltaic module. Rays of sunlight photons are absorbed by the solar panels.

A module is a group of cells connected electrically and packaged into a frame more commonly known as a solar panel which can then be grouped into larger solar arrays like the one operating at nellis air force base in nevada. Each pv cell works by allowing a photon which is a particle of light to knock electrons free from atoms this action creates a flow of electricity. In 1839 french scientist edmond becquerel discovered that certain materials would give off sparks of electricity when struck with sunlight. The solar inverter converts the dc energy from your solar panels into ac energy.

Solar photovoltaic pv panels are based on a high tech but remarkably simple technology that converts sunlight directly to electricity. It s an idea that has been around for well over a century. The current is captured and transferred to wires. A solar photovoltaic pv cell turns sunlight into usable electricity in three general steps.

Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units. When you install solar panels on your house the pv cells convert sunlight into direct current dc and an inverter connected to the system is what converts direct current into alternating current ac which is the type of current needed to power your household appliances. The solar cells that you see on calculators and satellites are also called photovoltaic pv cells which as the name implies photo meaning light and voltaic meaning electricity convert sunlight directly into electricity. The solar photovoltaic cells in your solar panels are the mechanisms which convert sunlight into energy.

This pv assembly is called a module and you can wire these modules together into an array. Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity. Photovoltaic cells inside the solar panels absorb the sun s energy and generate dc electricity. Loose electrons flow creating a current.

Light is absorbed and knocks electrons loose. Each panel consists of several smaller components called photovoltaic pv cells photovoltaic means that it converts light into electricity. How do solar panels work. The photovoltaic effect is a complicated process but these three steps are the basic way that energy from the sun is converted into electricity by solar cells.