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California Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Systems

How it works

Did you know that the sun can perpetually power your home’s electric energy needs by owning your own solar photovoltaic system? Here’s how it works...

You probably have seen or own one of those solar powered calculators that doesn’t have any batteries that only needs enough light to run and you’re wondering how that same technology can actually power your home electric and energy needs?

That same concept of the sun powering that tiny calculator can actually power your energy needs and can also heat up your pool and domestic water system.

Here’s a brief explanation on how solar works around your house in producing clean and renewable energy for your family to enjoy.

Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic System

1. The Sun

It all starts with the sun.

The sun has enough photons that hits the surface of the Earth to power all the world’s energy needs and beyond within just two hours of exposure.

The problem is that we have not yet invented a solar system that can completely harness the power of the sun at 100% if its capacity.

With the invention and development of the photovoltaic cell, we are now able to harness a minute portion of what the Sun can power and convert it to usable electrical wattage around the home.

2. The Photovoltaic (PV) Module

The Photovoltaic (PV) module then captures the sunlight’s photon which “excites” the positive and negative silica embedded inside the modules.

The positive charge of the n-type silicon and the negative charge of the p-type silicon interacts with each other in the molecular level producing extremely high speed and volatile friction, resulting to DC current.

Before this type of current is usable around the house, it has to be converted into AC current by the inverter.

3. The Inverter

The inverter is an electrical device that converts Direct Current (DC) produced by the Solar Photovoltaic Modules into Alternating Current (AC) which is the type of current that powers your home’s electrical appliances and light bulbs.

The inverter also manages the PV electric production by tracking the daily production from the PV panels. Some inverter design integrates a solar monitor for you to view your daily and monthly electric production via a control panel installed inside the house and the production can also be viewed over the internet and smart phone devices.

One safety feature of the inverter is that it shuts off all electric production going back to the grid when there is power outage on a grid-tied system to protect and prevent anyone from an electric shock when working on the power lines.

4. Solar Home

Once the DC wattage have been converted to AC watts, it is now usable around the house to power all your light bulbs and home appliances.

5. Electric Meter (net meter)

During the day when the solar system produces surplus electricity, the inverter then pushes the electricity produced back into the grid resulting in “net metering”.

This is when the electric meter actually goes back as the electricity produced feeds back to the utility company.

Net metering: A desirable form of buy-back agreement in which the line-tied house’s electric meter turns in the utility’s favor when grid power is being drawn, and in the system owner’s favor when the house generation exceeds its needs and electricity is flowing into the grid. At the end of the payment period, when the meter is read, the system owner pays the utility the difference between what was used and what was produced.

6. Electricity production

Electricity produced by your solar photovoltaic system either reduces or eliminates your electric bills.