by Adrian Fletcher

Using the Sun’s energy to power your home can be split into two categories. There are passive and direct solar power systems. Passive systems generally take advantage of the Sun’s thermal properties to generate heat. Thus solar water systems use the Sun’s heat to make hot water to be used in the home. Creating rooms in the home or Sun traps that absorb thermal rays can also act as a form of heating for the home. However this article is more concerned with the direct use of solar power to create electricity in the home. In terms of the use of solar energy, creating electricity from sunlight is a relatively new innovation. The technology needed to create electricity from sunlight was first developed to a commercially viable standard in the 1950’s. It is known as the photovoltaic (PV) cell. A PV cell is made of a silicon compound that reacts when photons from sunlight strike it. This reaction causes an electron from the silicon atom to be thrown loose. When a number of PV cells are linked together in a serial configuration, the electrons flow to a positive charge creating an electrical current. Many PV cells connected together in series is referred to as a solar module. When many solar cells are connected together than are known as a solar panel. You have probably seen solar panels dotted on roofs in your suburb. This is generally the most practical place to install them but they can go anywhere that their is plenty of sunlight. The solar panel creates direct current electricity (DC). By passing it through a power inverter it can be transformed to alternating current (AC). AC is used in most homes to power everyday appliances. An electrical service panel or breaker box then distributes the AC to various electrical points in the house or to the lighting system. A utility meter manages your electricity usage if you are connected to the grid. An example of how this works is during midday. In theory this is the best time for your solar panels to create electricity. As you may be out or at work this will also be the time when you use little or no electricity. So the utility meter might go backwards indicating that you are generating electricity for the utility company. Your home solar power system can be connected to the grid as described above or it can be off grid. On the grid or grid tied (also known as a net metering system) is a way to make money with your solar panels. Many utility companies have their own set of rules governing this arrangement so you need to check with the company you are using beforehand. Many states have laws that dictate how the net metering system should work and what guidelines the companies should follow. Off grid systems are exactly that. The home is not connected to an electricity supply and all the power must be generated by the solar power system. More thought needs to go into the system and a back up system is needed if the solar panels cannot meet your energy demands or there is bad weather. Gasoline powered generators are often used as a back up system as they are fairly reliable, however some people that have the space may opt for another form of renewable resource, like a water or wind driven power system. Another responsibility of an off grid system is keeping a battery bank to store DC from the solar panels for use at night times. A grid tied system with net metering is the way to go when you are first starting out. It is relatively hassle free and can help you save a bit of money on your monthly power bills. Eventually you may want to go off grid completely. This will be more responsibility but you will save more money as you won’t have any utility bills.

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