History of Solar is as old as humanity. We always saw a great potential in using sun's capacity to warm our houses. Ancient Greeks and Romans saw the great benefit in sun's energy. They used architecture to use sun's rays to light and heat indoors. The first inventor of solar motor was Auguste Mouchout. In 1861 he developed a steam engine powered by the sun. During 19th century solar energy intrigued and attracted European scientists. France and England hoped that the solar could power them in the sunny clonies of Africa and East Asia. In USA John Ericsson designed the "parabolic trough collector", this technology was functioning more then a hundred years. In 20 the century Albert Einstein was the one who research the generation of electricity through solar cells. In 1953 Bell laboratories scientists Gerald Pearson, Daryl Chapin and Calvin Fuller developed the first silicon solar cell capable of generating a measurable electric current. In 1956, solar photovoltaic (PV) cells were far from economically practical. It was not until October 1973 that the solar leapt to prominence in energy research. The Arab Oil Embargo demonstrated the degree to which the Western economy depended upon a cheap and reliable flow of oil. The US government invested in the solar electric cell that Bell had produced. By the 1990s, the reality was that costs of solar energy had dropped and huge PV market grown in Japan and German. The PV market is currently growing 30% per year.
Solar Power comes from sunlight. This source can be harnessed to create electricity for humans. Devices which convert light into electricity are solar panels, known as photovoltaic's, which means "light-electricity".
The solar panels are made of solar cells. What is a cell? A small disk of a semiconductor, like silicon. They are attached to circuit. Once the light strikes the cell, light is converted into electricity that flows through the circuit. Primary components foe solar panel is:
Solar panel Charge controller Battery and inverter
Solar Panels charge the battery, which provides DC voltage to the inverter and it converts DC to the normal AC.
Individual cells provide small amount of energy, but when connected together as a panel increase the output significantly. The output of solar panel is stated in watts. Wattage is determined by multiplying the rated voltage by the rated amperage. For example it 6 hours of peak sun (during the day) per day is available in an area, the average solar panel can produce about 360 watt hours of power per day. The power of the system varies, depending on the intended geographical location. The electricity is only produced when solar panel exposed to the sun. Solar panels are very hard and wear out very slowly. Like in all systems we may find some losses of energy due to the fact that the electricity is carried across the wires, batteries which are not 10% efficient. That's why it is good to talk to professionals who are experienced in system designs.
The fact is that solar power has not been taken seriously in the past. All the non believers feel that there is an adequate supply of energy coming from the sun, but being able to capture that is energy is another thing altogether. They feel that the whole ordeal would be too costly. However, as we all know, technology has been growing geometrically over the last decade or so and it keeps getting better and better. So rather then to buying an expensive solar panel and all the equipment you would require to lower your power bill each month, you can now build your own solar panel system at home. In fact, it is very possible for your entire residence to be completely free from the power company just by switching over to solar.
This is what many of the doubters are not aware of; solar power in your home can actually be very easy. There are many types of material that attract the light and heat from the sun like metal, glass, and mirrors. These materials can not only be used to harness the power of the sun, but it also has the ability to store the energy and even transfer it to a battery. A simple car battery can be used to store the power generated by your solar power system.
Contrary to what many people believe, home made solar power programs do not have to be difficult. As long as you can read and follow instructions you can be well on your way to energy freedom and independence. And the wonderful thing about solar power is that you can start small if you desire and grow your solar power system as you would like. You probably want to get the basics of how solar works before you go all out, but when you start seeing the savings on your power bill you may reconsider and start adding on to your solar project.
It seems that everything has a price these days, so it is nice to know that the energy of the sun is still free and available. You may have to buy a few materials for your home solar system to work, but much of it can be constructed from items lying around the house. The basic components of a solar panel will be solar cells, some solder, flux, a soldering iron, and tabbing.
In a short period of time you can be enjoying your homemade solar panel system and helping the environment at the same time. Solar power is being used in places of business and by large companies but now you can have it at home as well.
Both Dora Wysocki & Charles Cox are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Dora Wysocki has sinced written about articles on various topics from Digital Camera, Science and Home Improvement. Dora Wysocki, living and working in USA.If you are looking for more info. go to . Dora Wysocki's top article generates over 2740000 views. to your Favourites.
Charles Cox has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Accessories, Crafts and Baby Shower. C.S.Cox has published many ebooks and websites for various services and products. If you found this article interesting and helpful, find out more at