The Simple Solar Energy Diagram

A basic solar energy diagram explains how the sun's energy is converted to electrical power. Very basically, photons contains in the rays of the sun are captured by a solar panel.

Those photons are then captured the silicon that is part of the solar panel construction. The silicon is semi-conductive material that forms the solar cells in a solar panel.

Solar Energy Diagram

As the photons are captured they form free electrons and those electrons are able to pick up a current and this results in electricity produced that is then transmitted for use. The solar panel acts to harness the sun's energy by catching that energy in the various cells of the panel.

A solar energy diagram may be an illustration of the way in which the sun's rays hit solar collection panels but that is only part of the process of creating solar energy.

Expanded

How the power is transmitted and used is a more complex solar energy diagram. The power may be transmitted directly to a water heating facility or used to heat a swimming pool. While efficient for heating water for home use, using a solar energy diagram solely to heat the volume of water in a swimming pool is not cost effective. The best use of solar energy with current technology is to provide electrical power in remote locations.

Living off the grid means living in remote areas where commercial electrical power is not available. Power lines are run to towns and subdivisions and farms but there is no financial incentive to running a power line to one home located far away from other residences.

If a homeowner wants commercial power to a remote location he will need to pay a high cost and in many cases the power company is not willing to provide power in remote areas due to maintenance and repair issues.

Living Off the Grid with Solar Energy

Prior to the development of solar panels, living off the grid meant using old fashioned methods of creating power. A home located deep in the mountains would be heated with a wood stove and light provided by gasoline-fueled generators.

A generator could run a refrigerator and other basic appliances and could be supplemented with battery-powered lamps and light fixtures. In more primitive remote cottages, heat might be generated by a wood burning fireplace and light provided by kerosene lamps and battery powered light fixtures.

Living off the grid is preferred by some who want to live closer to nature and away from the rush and stress of established communities. Even as our homes have become more comfortable and luxurious, many people today are choosing to live a simpler life in the country.

For those with the funds available, a solar energy diagram is part of the construction or renovation plan for their new home in the country. The cost of solar energy mainly the purchase and installation of solar panels and for simple water heating this can be a do-it-yourself project.

Providing a Full Power Source

For those who prefer a more comfortable lifestyle even when living off the grid, a solar energy diagram is a necessity. To provide full power to the home other components are added to the solar panel installation.

The power captured by the solar panels will flow through a combiner which will then transmit power positive and negative charges of electrical power to the charge controller through a fuse.

From there, the power can flow into a battery bank to recharge batteries used as additional power when the solar panel production falls during cloudy days. The electrical power is sent through a circuit breaker to a power inverter that connects to an AC generator, a power meter and a breaker panel.

If you build your home to utilize solar power as the main source of electricity, installation of a solar energy diagram that will power the home systems can be quite expensive. This form of energy will cost considerably more than the standard HVAC system we associate with power provided by commercial electric companies. Much, if not all, of the costs of installing a system utilizing a solar energy diagram will be recouped with years of low cost electricity used to power the home.

The wiring in a solar energy diagram and the various electrical components are necessary if you want to produce a true source of usable electricity. You can use a much simpler system to provide hot water for your family's use and this will reduce your energy costs over time. However, if you want to live off the grid of commercial energy sources, you will need to design a solar energy diagram that can sustain all of your home's energy needs.

Combining Power Sources

For some homes, solar energy can be used in conjunction with commercial power to reduce the cost of heating and cooling your home. The majority of solar energy is captured during the five-six hours per days when the sun's rays are most direct. If you use a backup system of commercial power your home's systems will pull that power when the solar energy is not available.

For homes off the grid, the batteries in a solar power diagram accomplish the same efficiency as using commercial power as a backup system. Energy produced by the sun is stored in these large, powerful batteries. The battery power is used as needed by your home's electrical systems when weather conditions limit the amount of solar energy produced and also provide power at night.

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