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Solar Panels Come in all Shapes and Sizes
Photovoltaics or PV for short can be thought of as a direct current (DC) generator powered by the sun.
When light photons of sufficient energy strike a solar cell, they knock electrons free in the silicon crystal structure forcing them through an external circuit (battery or direct DC load), and then returning them to the other side of the solar cell to start the process all over again.
The voltage output from a single-crystalline solar cell is about 0.5V with an amperage output that is directly proportional to cell’s surface area (approximately 7A for a 6 inch square multicrystalline solar cell). Typically 30-36 cells are wired in series (positive to negative) in each solar module. This produces a solar module with a 12V nominal output (~17V at peak power) that can then be wired in series and/or parallel with other solar modules to form a complete solar array to charge a 12, 24 or 48 volt battery bank.
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Nowadays the Australian government is giving a cash incentive for home owners to install solar panels. Is this the case as well for the USA?
Hi Tom,
Yes, you can get rebates and tax incentives for installing solar panels and other energy saving or producing equipment in many places in the US.