Components of Solar Powered SystemsIn order to collect solar energy, turn it into electricity and power an electronic device a basic understanding of solar powered electrical systems is needed. Understanding a few simple basics will save you a lot of grief in getting one to work for you. The Component Parts Of A Solar Energy SystemA complete solar panel energy system consists of a solar panel, a battery and a charge controller and in some cases, a power inverter is also required. A brief description of the 4 parts and their relationships follows:
Solar Panel
One or more Solar Panels are needed in order to generate electricity from the sun. A Solar Panel consists of a number of individual units called "Solar Cells". A solar cell is a semi-conductor, the same material computer chips are made of, which generates electricity when hit by sunrays. These cells are connected to each other within the solar panel in order to multiply the electricity which is generated by the panel. So the number of cells in a panel effect the amount of electricity it is capable of generating.
BatteryYour solar panel needs to connect to something, usually this would be a battery, though not always. Solar panels can also be used to directly power devices, in this case a battery is not needed as part of the setup. But frequently solar panels are used to charge batteries, the batteries in turn power equipment. Having a solar panel set up to operate through a battery also has the additional benefit of allowing you to continue to use the device after the sun goes down.
Charge ControllerA charge controller is a device that regulates the electricity coming from the solar panel and going into the battery. It shields the battery from damage by preventing over-charging of the battery and also prevents electricity running from the battery into the solar panel. It is therefore an essential component of most setups (though there are exceptions to this).
InverterAn inverter is an electrical device that changes Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC). A solar panel generates Direct Current only, so if you need to Alternating current you need a device that will change it for you. This is what an inverter does. Most small electronic devices run on DC, so its not often that you need an inverter. An inverter is mainly used when you are powering larger devices and have a permanent solar panel set up on an RV, summer house or even your home.
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Some examples:Solar ChargerThere are 2 types of solar battery chargers. One for small batteries such as AA batteries or AAA batteries. The other, for 12v batteries such as you would find in your car, RV or boat etc. Small panels for AA or AAA batteries usually have the panels, batteries and Charge controller included in one unit. When you buy this unit, nothing else is needed as all components are included. There is usually the option to either remove the batteries to put into some other device or you can connect directly to the other device with a cable. For Larger 12v (12 Volts) batteries you need a solar panel and a separate charge controller. Sometimes these are included when you buy a solar panel, but usually these have to be purchased separately.
What about my cell phone, iPod, MP3 player, GPS etc.?Cell phones, iPods MP3 players etc. do not consume a lot of power. A solar charger such as the one mentioned above to charge AA or AAA batteries is usually specifically designed in order to recharge small electrical devices and usually come with the needed cables in order to do so. The added benefit is that because it charges batteries, you can connect to it and recharge your device at any time of the day. These solar chargers are usually quite compact and highly portable. A few of the leading brands selling these are Sunsei Solar Charger, Solio Charger, Coleman Solar Charger and the Brunton solar charger.
Solar Energy For The HomeThe only times you would end up using all four components is when you want to power equipment that is normally run from the wall outlets in your home. This is completely feasible, though in order to get this set up you are best off contacting a company that specializes in installing solar panels as there is a lot more work that goes into this than just plugging in an a solar panel into your electrical system in your house.
Next Article: Understanding Solar Power in Portable Devices
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See also our Solar Charger Guide to estimate which Solar Charger you need and how many watts you will require.
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