Solar Panels 101

Solar panels are complex modules of photo-voltaic cells. If you break down that word, 'photo-voltaic' it literally means light (photo) - electricity (voltaic). These photo-voltaic cells accumulate sun energy and turn it into electricity. Though the system may seem very complex, from the technical point of view things are not difficult at all.

Depending on the necessity of the user, the solar panels vary in size according to the number of photo-voltaic modules that they incorporate. Modules are held together by special wiring systems and they function as a field unit.

Fiberglass, metal, simple glass or even plastic are used for covering the photo-voltaic cells and creating the exterior of the overall solar panels.

There are some practical conditions to be met for the solar panels to work properly. First of all, the cells in the solar panels have to be connected with each other in order to accumulate and pass on the electric charge. Then, the solar panels have to be protected from the outward environment, since they are very sensitive. Thus, you have to take all the measures necessary for the exterior protection against hail, heavy snow and winds. Such precautions are particularly important if your solar panels are made of wafer-based silicon cells which are more brittle.

You can increase the performance and the life of the solar panels by creating some insulation cover against moisture; hence avoiding metal corrosion. This will ensure that the panels remain in good shape. Depending on the type of module structures, solar panels can be flexible if based on thin film cells, or rigid for normal modules.

You don't have to worry about the potential overheating of the cells since there are diodes integrated in the structure of the solar panels that decrease temperature automatically. Moreover, manufacturers most often include special ventilation channels in the design of the solar panels.

The most competitive solar panels use a combination of mirrors and lenses to focus solar energy on the cells, thus reducing the energy production costs. Companies are offering extensive innovations to their systems, since the demand for solar panels has seen a real boom over the last ten years.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1561644