As time progresses, our use of energy only increases. This increase in the amount of energy we use not only results in higher power bills, but also in negative consequences for the planet we call home. There are more environmentally-friendly ways to generate the power we need to get through our day to day modern lives, and one of the main methods is solar energy.
Perhaps you thought that solar energy could only be used on an industrial scale, but the reality is it’s a type of energy you can harness right from your own home. That’s where solar panels come in.
Table Of Contents
- What are Solar Panels?
- How Do Solar Panels Work?
- Types of Solar Panels
- Calculating Your Solar Panel Power Needs
- Benefits of Using Solar Panels
- Criteria: Choosing the Right Solar Panels
- Solar Panels: Product Reviews
- The Best 12V Solar Panel
- The Best 250 Watt Solar Panel
- The Best 300w Solar Panel
- The Best 50 Watt Solar Panel
- 2The Best 4V Solar Panel
- The Best Arlo Solar Panel
- The Best 100 Watt Solar Panel
- Conclusion
What are Solar Panels?
First of all, it’s essential that you understand the most basic component of solar power, which is that the energy source is the sun. Solar panels are used to convert the photons in the light from the sun into electricity.
Solar panels serve an important purpose, which is to generate heat and electricity from a natural source. They are used in a wide variety of situations including on city buildings, residencies, wide open spaces like deserts, and even on a smaller scale like for solar street lamps.
How Do Solar Panels Work?
Before you learn about solar panels work, it’s important to know what they’re made from. The primary component of solar panels is the solar cells, otherwise known as photovoltaic cells. This is the element of solar panels which facilitates the transformation of the sun’s rays into heat and electricity.
Solar panels work by collecting and storing energy during the daylight hours to be used at night. When photons from the sun hit a solar cell, electrons are knocked loose from atoms, leading to the formation of an electrical circuit. This is a process known as the Photovoltaic Effect (1).
When electrons flow through this created circuit, they are able to generate electricity. The electricity conducted using solar panels is called direct current electricity (DC), meaning that the energy flows in one direction around the circuit.
In the United States, the electrical power grid uses alternating current electricity (AC) because it is less expensive to transmit the electricity even across long distances. There’s no need to worry about the effectiveness of solar panels in the US, however, as it’s easy to use an inverter to turn solar panel DC electricity into the AC version.
Types of Solar Panels
If you’re new to using solar panels, you will want to learn a bit about the different types you will come across during your search. The solar cells of solar panels are most commonly made using silicon. The silicon used to make the solar cells is found in three main forms (2):
Monocrystalline Silicon: made from a single crystal and trimmed into a square. This type of solar cell works best when positioned at 0 degrees. This type of cell absorbs the most light into the solar panel.
Polycrystalline/Multicrystalline silicon: this is a powerful type of solar cell which works well in weaker light and has the highest wattage of power production.
Amorphous Silicon: this is the type of technology that you will find in smaller solar panels, like in garden lamps, however, they are beginning to gain traction in larger applications, as well. Amorphous silicon cells have a much shorter lifespan than other types and have a lower power density. This means that you will need to use a higher number of panels to achieve the amount of power you desire.
They type of solar panel you find will depend on the type of silicon used to make the solar cells. As you search for the right panels for your needs, you will come across First-generation and Second-generation panels.
Here’s the difference:
- First-Generation Solar Panels: made from monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon.
- Second-Generation Solar Panels: made from amorphous silicon and other materials including CIS (copper-indium-selenium), CIS (copper-indium-gallium-selenium), and CdTe (cadmium telluride). Second-generation panels use thinner films, which makes them less expensive, but results in a lower electricity output.
Calculating Your Solar Panel Power Needs
As you begin to look at different solar panel models, you will realize that there are a number of power details you’ll need to know to make the best choice for your purpose. If you’ve never thought about calculating the electricity you use, this may feel intimidating. Don’t panic, there are a few easy questions to ask yourself to reach a conclusion about what you need.
Consider these factors (3):
- Battery Energy Storage: the capacity of your battery will originally be measured in Amp Hours (AH), but you will need to convert that figure to Watt Hours (WH). You will do this by multiplying the battery’s AH by its voltage.
- For example, a battery with 20AH with 12V, you will end up with 240WH. This means your battery could store 240W for 1 hour or 120W for two hours.
- Appliance Power Consumption: you need to think about how much energy you will be using over time. You can do this by multiplying the appliance’s power consumption in Watts with the intended hours of use.
- For example, a 20W television that you use for 2 hours a day will use 40W each day. You can lower your overall power usage by switching to LED lights.
- Solar Panel Energy Generation: to figure out just how much electricity your solar panels can generate over time, you will multiply the power rating (in Watts) by the hours of sun exposure.
- For example, if you have a 10W solar panel that is exposed to 6 hours of sunlight, you will get 60W of energy for your battery.
- Bringing it Together: to determine the solar panel size that will work best for you, determine your power requirement in Watts and divide it by the number of sunshine hours your panel will get at that time of year. This equation will provide you with the necessary panel size.
- For example, if you need 196W and your panel will get 6 hours of sunlight, then you need a 32.6W panel. So, you would choose a 30W or 40W panel.
Benefits of Using Solar Panels
If you feel like the process of figuring out what solar panels you need is super complicated, the thing to remember is that using solar panels offers significant benefits. This is what you have to gain:
- Potential to live off the grid.
- Clean and renewable source of energy.
- Extremely durable and require little maintenance.
- Initial installation costs are your only financial commitment. Your electricity will be free!
- Possibility of earning income by selling excess power to electric utility companies.
Criteria: Choosing the Right Solar Panels
When the time comes for you to start exploring your options for solar panels, you want to be prepared and know just what you’re looking for. These are the factors that will help you determine which solar panels are right for you:
- Type of Solar Panel: remember to evaluate the main purpose for your solar panels and think about which type of panel will work best for what you need.
- Size: consider both the physical size and wattage size of your solar panels. You want to power everything you need in a convenient and practical manner.
- Durability: solar panels are an investment, so make sure to choose a model which provides a warranty and is made to last.
- Energy Efficiency: the more energy efficient your solar panels are, the more electricity they will generate, although the will be more expensive up front.
- Quality: do your research on any potential brands and be sure that their panels are made from quality materials that will not be damaged or worn down easily.
- Cost: solar panels are a large investment. The trick is to determine exactly what you need and to avoid spending more on panels that go above your requirements.
Solar Panels: Product Reviews
Now that you’ve learned more about solar panels, how they work, and which ones will work best for you, take a look at some of your options:
The Best 12V Solar Panel
Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Panel
HQST 100 Watt 12 Volt Polycrystalline Solar Panel
ECO-WORTHY Polycrystalline Solar Panels 5 Watt 12 Volt
The Best 250 Watt Solar Panel
TR Solar 250W Monocrystal Solar Panel
ALEKO 2PP250W12V ETL Polycrystalline Modules Solar Panel
Trina Solar 250W Poly BLK/WHT 35mm Solar Panel
The Best 500 Watt Solar Panel
ECO-WORTHY 500 Watts Complete Solar Kit
Renogy 500 Watt 12 Volt Solar Premium Kit
Renogy 500 Watt 12 Volt Solar Complete Kit
The Best 300w Solar Panel
Renogy RNG-300D Solar Panel
Renogy 300 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Starter Kit
ECO-WORTHY 300 Watts Solar Panel Kit
The Best 50 Watt Solar Panel
ALLPOWERS 50W 18V 12V Solar Panel
Renogy 50 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Panel
ACOPOWER All Black 50 Watt 50W Mono Solar Panel
2The Best 4V Solar Panel
Sainty Solar 255 Watt 24 Volt Monocrystalline Photovoltaic Solar Panel
ALEKO SP30W24V 30W 24V Monocrystalline Solar Panel
Goliath 30 Watt 30W Solar Panel Module 24V
The Best Arlo Solar Panel
Arlo by NETGEAR Solar Panel
Wasserstein Solar Panel Compatible With Arlo Pro & Arlo Pro 2
The Best 100 Watt Solar Panel
Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Panel
ECO-WORTHY 100 Watts 12 Volts Polycrystalline PV Solar Panel
HQST 100 Watt 12 Volt Polycrystalline Solar Panel
Conclusion
There are many purposes for solar panels and the benefits of switching to this energy source are endless. Remember that while the initial investment in your solar panel energy system may be steep, you will save a lot of money in the long-run, all while helping the environment. Evaluate your needs and learn which solar panels will work best for your situation.