In the last two articles in the Solar Energy Primer we discussed how to reduce energy consumption and Solar Panels.  In this article we will discuss DC to AC Inverters and the different models on the market.

The AC inverter is the heart of your Renewable Energy Systems Power Panel.  Unless you want to revert back to really old school where the only off-grid options where a battery bank and 12volt RV appliances, it is necessary to have an AC Inverter.  The basic function of an Inverter is to take input DC voltage (VDC) and convert it to AC voltage (VAC).  It's secondary function is to charge a battery bank should you chose to have one.  Most grid tie systems don't have a battery bank, but could have one for backup power supply.  If you are off-grid, a battery bank is a requirement.  During times of none sufficient power supply from your renewable energy systems, the inverter will convert DC power from the battery bank to AC power for your home appliances.

Electricity can be viewed as a Sine Wave, which is a mathematical function that can be viewed as a graph.  You can search the Internet for more information, but for our purpose think of Sine Waves as the purity of the electricity provided by your inverter to your appliances.

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In the first part of Solar Energy Primer we discussed the prequel of planning your renewable energy system, reduced consumption and calculating the consumption of your main appliances.  Part two of Solar Energy Primer will discuss Solar Panels.  Subsequent parts of Solar Energy Primer will cover Power Inverters, Charge Controllers, Batteries and more... so stay tuned!

Solar Panels, also called Photovoltaic (PV), convert the sun's energy into electricity we can use to power our appliances and run our homes.  In very basic terms, solar panels capture photons in thin silicon wafers which cause electrons to get "excited" and move, thus producing electricity.  A solar panel is a collection of silicon solar cells wired in series to produce a specific voltage.

There are 3 basic types of Solar Panels on the market today: Read the rest of this entry

PART 1

Before you start shopping for Solar Panels and related Solar Power Equipment, you must first determine your electrical consumption to size the system that is required to meet your needs. It is more cost effective to reduce consumption then to produce or harness the Solar Energy. There is no need to buy everything immediately. It is easier to proceed one step at a time and avoid buying equipment that will have to be replaced later.

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Solar energy is a clean and abundant energy resource that can be used to supplement many of your energy needs. Solar energy can be utilized as a form of heat, such as solar water heating, and as electricity, such as solar photovoltaicc. Solar water heating systems are commonly referred to in the industry as Solar Domestic Hot Water (SDHW) systems.

Solar hot water heater collectors are good for your wallet and the environment. Heating domestic hot water accounts for about 20-25% of your home heat energy requirement. A correctly-sized solar system can provide 60%-70% of a household’s hot water needs. Providing more than this is not advisable, as too much heat will be produced in the summer.

Solar should not be seen as an alternative to gas or electricity, but rather as a supplement. Solar cannot totally replace the need for gas or electric heating as there are sometimes days when there is little sunlight.

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