Off Grid Series “Solar Power”
Notable Advantages Offered By the Solar Power to Common Households
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The solar power or solar energy is derived only from the bright sunlight that is available in abundance on the earth’s surface. The high energy of sunlight is mechanically converted into electrical energy by the application of the latest technological system. As the sunlight is available for free, this energy has evolved as the most cost-effective source of power in the common households. The people interested to use solar energy only need to install a solar power system at their houses, which can convert the energy of sunlight into electricity for running all the household appliances. Hence, it is highly popular among the common people as the cleanest form of energy that is available almost free of cost, except for the expense of buying this power generating system.
Main components of the solar power system
The solar power system is based on a simple mechanism that consists of only the solar panels, an inverter, mounting arrangements of the solar panels, switches, wirings and a net power meter.
Solar panels contain numbers of photovoltaic cells that are made of silicon, a metallic element with the power of acting as semiconductor. These solar modules receive the sunlight and transform this heat of solar energy into electricity almost instantly. Hence, the solar panels are always installed on the roofs of the buildings, where the photovoltaic cells of these panels can receive uninterrupted flow of sunlight.
The mounting arrangement of these photovoltaic solar panels is specially designed with enormous strength so that these panels can remain steadily mounted for many years, withstanding all natural catastrophes. Moreover, these mounts are made to move automatically at different times of the day, to keep the solar panels faced towards the sunlight all the time.
Inverter is another important component of solar power system, which receives the manufactured electricity through the wirings that connect the solar panels to this device. This inverter turns the low-voltage DC electricity received from the solar panels into the high-voltage AC current that can be safely used in all electrical appliances.
There is a switch installed at a reachable height near the inverter that can disconnect the supply of solar power to the house, whenever it is not required. The entire solar energy system is connected to the main fuse of the house through proper wiring from the inverter, to receive the steady flow of solar power.
A net electricity meter is installed for measuring the amount of AC current formed from the solar energy, which is consumed by the different appliances of the house throughout the day.
Major benefits of using off-grid solar power at homes
The on-grid solar power means the supply of solar energy as long as the solar panels receive sunlight during the daytime. On the other hand, off grid solar energy system ensures the steady supply of electricity even at night, when the sunlight is not available. Thus, the house owner need not pay any electric bill at the end of the month, as he can use the solar electricity throughout the day and night. In this system, the excess electricity is stored in a large battery that supplies electricity at night or during the cloudy days. Moreover, the installation of an off grid system also helps in conservation of environmental energy.
Compatibility of solar energy with hydro and wind power
The solar power is generated in an independent system that does not interfere with the use of other alternative sources of energy; like wind power or hydro power. Thus, the house owners can also use these sources of power alongside the use of solar energy.