Go Solar Power For Homes

A

Active solar heater = A solar water or space-heating system that moves heated air or water using pumps or fans.

AGM = Absorbed Glass Mat is a very reliable new type of battery that uses saturated absorbent glass mats rather than gelled or liquid electrolyte.

Alternating current (AC) = the ‘traditional’ type of electric current that powers all electric appliances in your home – the most common type of household electricity. It is called ‘alternating’ because the direction of the electric current’s flow is reversed at frequent intervals, usually 100 or 120 times per second (50 or 60 cycles per second or 50//60 Hz).Amorphous semiconductor = a non-crystalline semiconductor material used to make thin film solar panels. Although it’s easier and cheaper to make than crystalline semiconductors, it’s also less efficient. It slowly degrades over time. Also called thin film.

Amorphous solar cells = these blue, flexible, non crystalline structure solar cells are generally larger than the other panels. They offer better performance in shaded conditions.

Ampere or amp (A) = The unit of measurement for the electric current, the flow of electrons. One amp is produced by an electric force of 1 volt acting across a resistance of 1 ohm. One amp is 1 coulomb passing in one second.

Ampere-Hour (Ah/AH)  = A measure of the flow of current (in amperes) over one hour; used to measure battery capacity. Deep cycle batteries used in solar power for homes systems are rated in Ah (amp-hour).

Angle of incidence = Angle between the normal to a surface and the direction of incident radiation; applies to the aperture plane of a solar collector. Most modern solar panels have only minor reductions in power output within plus/minus 15 degrees.

Antireflection coating = A thin coating of a material applied to a photovoltaic cell surface that increases light transmission by reducing light reflection.

Array = a set or grouping of photovoltaic solar panels. For example, you may need several arrays on separate parts of your roof when installing your solar power for homes system.

Autonomous system = A stand-alone PV system that has no back-up generating source. May or may not include storage batteries. Most battery systems are designed for a certain minimum “days of autonomy” – which means that the batteries can supply sufficient power with no sunlight to charge the batteries. This varies from 3-5 days in the sunbelt to 5 to 10 days elsewhere.

AWG = American Wire Gauge, a standard system for designating the size of electrical wire. The higher the number, the thinner the wire. Most house wiring is #12 or 14. In most other countries, wire is specified by the size in millimeters.

Azimuth = Angle between the north direction and the projection of the surface normal into the horizontal plane; measured clockwise from north. As applied to the PV array. So, 180 degree azimuth means the array faces due south.

B

Balance of system = all the parts of your solar power for homes system excluding the solar panels and the inverter  including items like racking, wires, conduit, and safety shut-offs. Typically this can also include design costs, land, site preparation, system installation, support structures, power conditioning, operation and maintenance costs, indirect storage, and related costs. The balance of system might account for as much as 15% of the total cost of your solar power for homes system.

Base load = the amount of electric power a utility must supply constantly to meet the demand for energy.

Baseline performance value = The rating used to validate the manufacturer’s performance measurements provided with the qualification modules. Initial values of Isc, Voc, Pmp and Imp measured by the accredited laboratory and corrected to Standard Test Conditions.

Battery = Two or more electrochemical cells connected to provide energy storage for the extra power your solar power for homes system generates. A home can use the stored power at night, on overcast dark days or in the event of a power outage when the solar system isn’t producing enough energy.

BIPV panel = a type of solar electric panel that uses silicon as a semiconductor and acts like a part of your roof. They’re also known as solar roof shingles. BIPV can be done on new or existing roofs.

Blocking Diode = Effectively a one-way valve that allows electrons to flow forwards, but not backwards, this semiconductor or diode is connected in series with a solar cell or cells and a storage battery in order to block reverse current from flowing backward through a module in a circuit. It keeps the battery from discharging through the cell when there is no output, or low output, from the solar cell and is often used to prevent a battery from discharging through a Solar Array at night.

British thermal unit (BTU) = The total amount of heat energy needed to make the temperature of one pound of water rise from 60 degrees F to 61 degrees F in a room with an atmospheric pressure of one.

Building-integrated PV (BIPV) = Used to describe a structure where photovoltaic panels are integrated into the building replacing traditional materials.

Bypass Diode = A diode connected across one or more solar cells in a photovoltaic module such that the diode will conduct if the cell/s become reverse biased. It protects these solar cells from thermal destruction in case of total or partial shading, broken cells, or cell string failures of individual solar cells while other cells are exposed to full light. Alternatively, a diode that is connected in an anti-parallel across a part of the solar cells of a photovoltaic module.

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Info via: solar4power.com, homesolarpowersystems.org, sunwize.com and sunrunhome.com

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