I want to buy a solar panel kit but I'm unsure of how it works. Basically I want to run my entainment set, Xbox, cable box, 46 led tv, and some desktop speakers. I went online and found a kit for like 250 or something like that at homedepot and was wondering if that kit is worth the money or go bigger or something.
It isn't really that simple. First you have to decide if you are going to use it after dark and in cloudy weather. If so you are going to need batteries to store power. You are also going to need an inverter to convert the direct current, low voltage power to 20 volt alternating current. Once you have made those decisions you need to determine power requirements. Look at the back of each piece of equipment and find the wattage rating for the device. Add them together and you will have a starting point for power consumption. Since you will want to charge the batteries during daytime and you have parasitic drain from the inverter use you want to increase that number by 50%. When selecting the number of panels you want you have to assume they will not operate at the optimum they do deteriorate over time so de-rate them by about 50%. Once again, look at the data plate to determine wattage and get enough panels to meet the power requirements using the criteria I have mentioned.
Solar panels use light energy (photons) from the sun to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect. The structural (load carrying) member of a module can either be the top layer or the back layer. The majority of modules use wafer-based crystalline silicon cells or thin-film cells based on cadmium telluride or silicon. The conducting wires that take the current off the panels may contain silver, copper or other non-magnetic conductive transition metals.
I okorder to get more information on the subject.
Well, you'll want to find the wattage your devices use. Then you'll want to be able to supply that with your solar cells. Plus a fair margin for emergencies. Most of them should have their expected wattage printed on them, but you could also get a meter to measure it. Beyond that, you will want an inverter, and some batteries.
