Installing Solar Panels

Written by April Reinhardt (last updated July 30, 2021)

A collection of individual silicon cells that generate electricity from sunlight, solar panels are comprised of those individual cells housed within a frame. The cells are wired together and connected electrically, framed by metal, and backed with either plastic, metal, or fiberglass. The entire unit—or panel—is covered by glass to protect it from the elements. Solar panels are pre-manufactured in many sizes, and can be mounted on a rooftop, on the side of a structure, or as a stand-alone unit.

There are basically three types of solar panels:

  • Monocrystalline solar panels are manufactured using monocrystals, also called single crystals. Monocrystalline solar cells combine unpolluted silicon and monocrystals to form their solar cells. Thus, this type of solar panel is the most efficient, yet also the most expensive, of the three types of panels. The individual cells are processed from thin wafers of monocrystals, and then wired together into a solar panel.
  • Polycrystalline solar panels, sometimes called multi-crystalline, also use crystals in their construction, but the crystals are slightly less efficient than monocrystals because they aren't as pure. Polycrystals are grown in a large block of many crystals, giving them a shattered glass appearance, and are less expensive than monocrystals.
  • Amorphous solar panels do not use crystals in their construction. Instead, a thin layer of silicon is distributed on metal or glass to create a solar panel. And although they are much less expensive than crystal solar panels, their energy efficiency is also mush less, requiring additional square footage to produce the same amount of power as crystal solar panels.

There are also three types of panel arrays to choose from; fixed, adjustable, or tracking. Tracking panels follow the sun's path continuously. Fixed panels are completely stationary, while adjustable panels are able to be adjusted a few times each year.

Typically, a 100-watt solar panel costs about five hundred dollars. You can run a microwave, refrigerator, computer, several lights, a color television, and an air conditioner using about five 100-watt solar panels. Some utility companies help defray the cost of installing solar panels and some people even "go off the grid" using solar energy—meaning, they use the public electric company only in times of emergency.

Author Bio

April Reinhardt

An admin­istrator for a mutual fund man­age­ment firm, April deals with the writ­ten word daily. She loves to write and plans to author a memoir in the near future. April attend­ed More­head State Uni­ver­sity to pursue a BA degree in Ele­men­tary Edu­ca­tion. ...

MORE FROM APRIL

Getting Rid of Tension Headaches

Caused mostly by stress, you cannot cure tension headaches with medication. Keep a headache journal and discuss with your ...

Discover More

Prom Fashion Basics for Girls

The number one rule to remember when choosing accessories for your Prom ensemble is never to overpower your dress. The ...

Discover More

Landscape Design

Once you have an idea of how you want to arrange your landscape, decide on the elements you want such as lighting, ...

Discover More

MAX Power! A powerful lithium-ion drill/driver that delivers 0-to-650 RPM and 115 inches-per-pound of torque in a lightweight, easy-to-use package. An anti-slip soft grip and LED worklight makes this tool a delight to use. Check out Black & Decker 20-Volt Cordless Drill/Driver today!

More Home Improvement Tips

Adding an Outdoor Receptacle

There are times when you find yourself simply needing another electrical outlet or receptacle more than you currently ...

Discover More

Electrical Tool Kit Necessities

Whether you are going to be simply running a few wires, installing a new electrical outlet, or doing some really major ...

Discover More

Finding a Good Electrician

Whether you are a person who believes in hiring the professionals, or an adequate home electrician who needs help, there ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is two more than 1?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)