A Look At Solar Panels Options For Your Home

A Look At Solar Panels Options For Your Home
After deciding to create a more energy efficient method for producing energy for
your home, it will be necessary to spend some time deciding on the type of panels
that you are going to invest in. Evaluating your needs and doing some research on
the types of solar panels that are manufactured will be very helpful when you are
making this investment.

With a continuing decline of 3%-5% in the cost of solar collectors, more people are
finding that the investment is cost effective. The cost of the systems have continually
declined as technological advances have been made that reduce the expense of manufacturing.
In addition to the incentives and rebates provided by the state and federal government,
there is often a significant decrease in utility expenses when a person goes off the
grid, or stops using utility company power. In most cases, people who convert to solar
energy use the system for home power generation or heating outdoor pools. More commercial
enterprises are converting to the utilization of solar collectors as well, because of
the extra tax savings offered for business owners.

The most commonly seen panels are the Single Crystal Silicon Solar Cells. Other names
for this type of panel is the Monocrystal, Mono Silicon, or Single Silicon panel. These
panels are the most expensive, but also the most durable and are used in space to power
orbiting satellites and spacecraft. The system uses a crystalline silicon that is cut
the size of the panel in which it is used. It is a large single cell that has metal
strips laid over the cell which act as a conductor.

Polycrystalline Solar Cells, or Polycrystal panels are not as effective as the Monocrystal
panels because there are lower silicon levels in these units. These cells are small and
grouped together in a array that, when grouped together make up the panel. There are two
types of Polycrystal cells manufactured, the Cast Polysilicon which is molten silicon poured
into a case and cut wafer thin and the String Ribbon Silicon which are cast in strips, then
assembled. When the cells are assembled, metal strips are laid over the cells which create
continuous electrical current through the panel.

The Amorphous, or Thin Film Panels do not contain crystalline silicon and are not the thing
wafer squares that are commonly seen. The film is applied directly on semi-conductor materials
such as copper indium disenlenide (CIS) or Cadmium Telluride (CdTe). Metal strips are used
as connectors, but the panel does not use the typical components found in photovoltaic panels.
They also do not need the same level of protection that is needed for the fragile crystalline
cells. The film is versatile and has low manufacturing costs, however it is among the least
efficient of the solar panels.

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) are solar collectors that look like
regular roofing tiles. These panels are relatively new technology and do not
have a history yet to validate how long they will last. Choosing the type of
panel that you will use with your system will be almost as important as the
type of solar collectors that you select.

Flat-Plate Solar Panels are durable, but have no internal method of limiting
heat build-up. This is one reason that So solar collectors and panels and other
regions that experience extreme heat have been the focus for more intensive
technological changes than in other regions. These panels are designed for different
regions and may be designed to look like skylights on a roof or be tilted and
anchored to the roof to receive better absorption of sun rays.

These panels are weatherproof boxes that contain an absorber plate under a
transparent cover. The most common area where these systems are used is for smaller
utility needs such as pools or hot water. The flat panels can be the size of a car
radiator or as large as a door.

The panels are difficult to install and maintain, so it is imperative that a
knowledgeable and experienced installation professional be contacted when considering
this type of panel for your system. The Solar Thermal Panel is lightweight and easy
to install. It is designed to eliminate convection and heat loss and is used in hotter
regions. The system has a maximum working temperature and is also used primarily with
pools and hot water system.

A Solar Absorption Chiller is designed to sit beside an HVAC system. It keeps the system
from operating continually and does not work at night or when it is overcast. The rebates
and incentives for this type of system is more limited and it is not made to power a home.
These systems are small and must be in an area where they will receive sunlight. Therefore,
it is sometimes necessary to place the system in an area where it will receive direct
sunlight the majority of the time.

The system combines thermal solar collectors and absorption chillers and uses very few parts.
Maintenance is about the same or less than a regular system, but it can dramatically reduce
the utility expenses of running an HVAC system. In addition, it can be used with any heating
applications.

The type of solar panels and cells that you select will greatly depend on the amount of
wattage that you need, the area where the panels will be placed, and the region where you live.
A person living in a region that experiences gusty winds will need to be careful to select
panels that are flat on their roof. Tilted panels often can cause a roof to loosen in areas
where there are high winds.

Discussing your needs and requirements with a professional who has knowledge and expertise in
the different types of panels available and the advantages and benefits of utilizing solar
collectors for your home will be very helpful. They will be able to provide you with information
about the most effective systems for the area in which you live and the impact that the cells
used in your panels will have on your long-term use. In addition, they will be able to give you
important information about the rebates and incentives that are available for the solar panels
you are considering.