Making the move to clean energy feel simple and stress free

Your Friendly Neighborhood Solar Guide

Solar Panels

Solar Panels work when sunlight from the sun hits the panels. Photons from the sun strike the photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are typically made of silicon. The energy from the photons excites electrons in the silicon, causing them to break free from their atoms. The freed electrons are forced to move in a specific direction by an internal electric field, creating a flow of electricity known as direct current (DC). The DC electricity is sent to an inverter, which converts it into alternating current (AC) electricity, the type of power used in homes and appliances. The AC electricity is then sent through your home's electrical system to power your devices, with any excess energy being sent to the grid or stored in batteries.

Batteries

Solar batteries work by storing excess energy generated by solar panels for later use, typically at night or during cloudy weather. When sunlight hits the panels, they produce direct current (DC) electricity, which is either sent to power the home, stored in a battery as DC power, or converted to alternating current (AC) by an inverter to run appliances. When needed, the stored energy is released and converted back to AC power for use in the home. When the sun sets and the solar panels stop generating electricity, the battery begins to discharge. It releases the stored energy, which is converted from DC to AC by the inverter and used to power your home at night. And when configured appropriately, certain batteries can also be used as a backup during a power outage. This can provide homeowners peace of mind, knowing that power will still be available for the most important necessities if the power were to go out.

Inverters

Whether a Solar System uses just one Integrated Inverter, or a series of Microinverters, the Inverters convert the direct current (DC) electricity generated by solar panels into the alternating current (AC) electricity that home uses for energy. If the system has just one Inverter, it is connected to all the panels in the system, while if the system has a series of Microinverters, then there is one Microinverter for each panel.