How do Solar Panels work?
A lot of people still don't understand how we take something as simple as light and turn it into an energy source. Think back to chemistry class, the basic element in solar panels is silicon. Silicon, when stripped of its impurities, makes a perfect material for the transmission of electrons (this is what helped start the computing revolution!).
Silicon atoms have enough room to carry 8 electrons but in their natural state only carry 4. If a single silicon atom contacts with another silicon atom each receives the others four electrons. This helps create a strong bond but with no negative or positive state, as the silicon is still in its natural state.
Of course slapping a load of silicon onto a sheet of glass won't get you anywhere as it can't hold a positive or negative charge, so we need to combine it with a host of other elements join in that can hold a +/- charge.
Phosphorus has five electrons to offer to silicon atoms. If silicon and phosphorus are combined, the result is a stable eight electron atom with an additional free electron. It can't escape, because it is bonded to the other phosphorus atoms, but it isn't needed by the silicon. Therefore, this new plate is considered to be negatively charged.
In order to create a flow of electricity, we also need a positive charge to be created. We achieve this by combining our silicon with another element such as boron which has only 3 electrons. A silicon/boron plate still has another spot left for another electron - meaning the plate is now positively charged. Then we sandwich the two plates together in a panel, with some conductive wires that run between the pair of them.
Now we've got our two plates ready, we need to get our energy from the sun. Natural sunlight gives off a ton of different particles of energy however we're mainly interested in one particle called a photon. Photons are like a moving steamroller. When negative plates are pointed at the sun at a correct angle, photons hit the silicon/phosphorous atoms.
Finally, the electron that wants to be free (the 9th) is kicked out of the outer ring but it doesn't remain that way for long since the positive silicon/boron plate pulls it into its own ring. The suns photons break off more electrons and electricity is generated.
The main drawback with solar panels is that they only generate a small amount of power for their size compared to something like a generator which has a relatively small footprint but large power output. A single solar cell can power a calculator or small electronic device similar, but to power a house requires many, many more.
The angle at which your solar panels hit the sun can have a huge impact on the efficiency, a slight change in the angle can reduce efficiency by 50%!
It's reasons like this why it's advisable to follow a trusted guide/expert rather than just slap some panels on your roof and hope for the best. Aligning your panels and mounting them properly can make or break the worthwhileness of going solar.
One guide I used to construct my first panels you can find at Easy DIY Solar Energy [http://www.easydiysolarenergy.net]. Be sure to follow instructions to a T and learn as you go along!
Silicon atoms have enough room to carry 8 electrons but in their natural state only carry 4. If a single silicon atom contacts with another silicon atom each receives the others four electrons. This helps create a strong bond but with no negative or positive state, as the silicon is still in its natural state.
Of course slapping a load of silicon onto a sheet of glass won't get you anywhere as it can't hold a positive or negative charge, so we need to combine it with a host of other elements join in that can hold a +/- charge.
Phosphorus has five electrons to offer to silicon atoms. If silicon and phosphorus are combined, the result is a stable eight electron atom with an additional free electron. It can't escape, because it is bonded to the other phosphorus atoms, but it isn't needed by the silicon. Therefore, this new plate is considered to be negatively charged.
In order to create a flow of electricity, we also need a positive charge to be created. We achieve this by combining our silicon with another element such as boron which has only 3 electrons. A silicon/boron plate still has another spot left for another electron - meaning the plate is now positively charged. Then we sandwich the two plates together in a panel, with some conductive wires that run between the pair of them.
Now we've got our two plates ready, we need to get our energy from the sun. Natural sunlight gives off a ton of different particles of energy however we're mainly interested in one particle called a photon. Photons are like a moving steamroller. When negative plates are pointed at the sun at a correct angle, photons hit the silicon/phosphorous atoms.
Finally, the electron that wants to be free (the 9th) is kicked out of the outer ring but it doesn't remain that way for long since the positive silicon/boron plate pulls it into its own ring. The suns photons break off more electrons and electricity is generated.
The main drawback with solar panels is that they only generate a small amount of power for their size compared to something like a generator which has a relatively small footprint but large power output. A single solar cell can power a calculator or small electronic device similar, but to power a house requires many, many more.
The angle at which your solar panels hit the sun can have a huge impact on the efficiency, a slight change in the angle can reduce efficiency by 50%!
It's reasons like this why it's advisable to follow a trusted guide/expert rather than just slap some panels on your roof and hope for the best. Aligning your panels and mounting them properly can make or break the worthwhileness of going solar.
One guide I used to construct my first panels you can find at Easy DIY Solar Energy [http://www.easydiysolarenergy.net]. Be sure to follow instructions to a T and learn as you go along!
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