How to Buy Solar Panels
Today more people are seriously considering turning to solar energy for some or all of their electricity needs, but they're not sure how to buy solar panels. Solar electric systems are springing up on roofs everywhere, and the most visible aspect are the solar panels. If you are interested in buying Solar Bonny Hills. Check our packages here.
Most people know that solar panels use the sun to produce electricity but are generally unaware as to which panels they need to produce the amount of electricity they need.
We'll take a brief look at how to decide which solar panels are right for the project for which they're needed.
How Do Solar Panels Work?
Solar panels work using the photovoltaic effect, which is why they're often referred to as PV panels. The photovoltaic effect was discovered in the 19th century, when Frenchman Edmund Becquerel noticed that when particles of light hit certain materials, such as silicon, they produced a tiny electrical charge.
This was gradually refined to the point where, today, solar cells are built that generate a substantial amount of electricity. These cells are wired together to create a solar panel, several of which are combined to create an array to produce sufficient electricity to power appliances and electronics.
What Are The Various Types Of Solar Panels?
There are three types of solar panels currently available on the commercial market - mono-crystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous.
Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Mono-crystalline cells are made from single-crystal silicon and are the most efficient panels, but also the most expensive. Polycrystalline cells are manufactured using grains of single-crystal silicon and are less expensive than mono- but also less efficient. Amorphous cells are created by placing non-crystalline silicon on surfaces such as metal or plastic. These are the cheapest but also the least efficient.
Which Panel Should I Buy?
There are several factors involved in deciding which panel to buy. A lot will depend on your budget and the size of the system you need to fulfill your electrical needs. Also, the amount of space you have available on which to mount the panels will be a major factor.
Even though two panels may be the same size, they may produce varying amounts of electricity, depending on the age, type and quality of the cells used to build the panels. Newer panels may be the same size as older panels but, due to advances in the technology used, will probably be more efficient.
Amorphous, or thin-film, panels are currently the cheapest on the market, but, since they are relatively inefficient, you'll need more of them than mono-crystalline panels, which, in turn, means you'll need substantially more space to mount them.
So, what's the best criterion to use to decide which panels to buy? Probably the best measure is the cost per watt, and for the best value you'd want to be paying around $4 per watt. So, if you're buying a 100 watt module (another term for panel) and paying around $400, you're in the right area.
On the other hand, if space for your system isn't an issue, you'd be better off picking up panels made using older technology if they're cheaper and suit your needs. They'll do the job just as well, saving you money but taking up more space.