How Residential Solar Panels Work

How do solar panels work on homes.

How residential solar panels work. Solar panels are composed of many smaller photovoltaic cells linked together. Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity. Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units. The surplus electricity produced during the day can be processed for later usage.

A photovoltaic pv solar energy system is composed of solar panels racking for mounting the panels on the roof electrical wiring and an inverter. Photovoltaic cells absorb the sun s energy and convert it to dc electricity the solar inverter converts dc electricity from your solar modules to ac electricity which is used by most home appliances electricity flows through your home powering electronic devices. Panels generate electricity at night with the power storage space of the solar panel network. The inverter converts the dc into alternating current ac the type of electricity required for household use.

Solar panels work by letting photons released by the sun knock electrons free from atoms and thus generate a flow of electricity. The more panels you deploy the more energy you generate. Solar panels cannot produce electricity at night when the sun is down so that is when your home will draw power from the grid. Usually when solar panels are installed on a home they are tied to the grid.

So even if it is cloudy you can use stored solar energy. The net calculation is also an alternative. Here are the main steps for how solar panels work for your home.