Basic Solar Components & How They Work: Solar Panels, Inverter, Batteries, & More Explained
It may sound like a fairly obvious statement, but understanding the basic components of solar power systems is really important if you're hoping to build a system of your own.
In today’s lesson, we're going to make this really easy by breaking down these three key components of any solar power system: the solar panels, batteries, and the inverter.
While you’ll need more than that if you plan on building a system of your own, these are the essential components that you need to know if you want to get started. Once you’ve grasped these basics, we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty and teach you about cables, connectors, mounts, and more.
For now, let’s just focus on these three central components.
The Solar Panels: How the Power is Generated
The first thing most people picture when they think of the word solar is solar panels. They also happen to be the first that we’re going to discuss because they’re also the most crucial component of any solar power system.
Basically, these specialized panels are responsible for capturing energy in the form of sunlight, then converting that energy into electricity. To be more specific, the PV cells in the solar panels absorb the energy in sunlight and use it to produce an electrical charge in the form of direct current (DC) electricity.
Solar panels come in various sizes and have different power ratings. These power ratings, or capacities, are measured in watts (W). For instance, a small, portable solar panel might produce 25 watts, while larger ones can generate 100, 200, or even 400 watts.
Each solar panel is hooked up to cables that connect it to other components in your system, typically your battery bank and power inverter. Although all solar panels may look pretty much the same, they can vary quite a bit in terms of their output, which is why it’s essential to focus on the total wattage you need from your entire array of panels.
Don’t worry, we’re not going to leave you hanging, we’ll explain more about solar panel wattage and sizing a solar array in our upcoming lesson on Sizing Solar Panels for Your Solar Power System.
2. The Batteries: Where the Power is Stored
The second key component of a solar power system is the battery bank. You guessed it – the batteries store the DC electricity generated by the solar panels, which allows you to draw power at your convenience, even when the sun isn't shining.
Batteries are measured in Watt-hours (Wh), which indicates how much energy they can store. For example, you might have a 12-volt 2,636Wh battery or a larger 48-volt 5,000Wh battery. Both batteries perform the same basic function, but the one with the greater capacity can store more power.
While it’s technically possible to have a solar power system without batteries, such systems are usually designed to sell excess energy back into the utility grid. Without batteries, you’d only be able to draw power as it was being generated by the solar panels, which isn’t practical or very useful at all.
Because of this, just about every solar power system, or self-contained solar generator, is going to feature batteries in one form or another, enabling the user to draw power at their own convenience.
Just like solar panels, solar batteries come in various sizes and storage capacity ratings, so it's important to choose one that suits your specific needs. Again, we’ll jump into this when we get to our lesson on Sizing Battery Capacity for Your Solar Power System. For now, you just need to understand the basic function that solar batteries serve.
3. The Inverter: Your Power Converter
The third essential component is the inverter. The main job of the inverter is to convert the DC electricity stored in the batteries into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is the type of electricity that is required to power and charge most household appliances and devices.
Inverters come in various shapes and sizes, and they often include a built-in charge controller to regulate the flow of electricity from the solar panels to the batteries.
Like solar panels, inverters are also measured in watts (W), and their capacity determines how much power they can supply to your appliances. For example, a 3,000W inverter can provide up to 3,000 watts of power to your appliances and devices.
Some inverters are also designed to save space and even be portable, combining the battery, charge controller, and inverter in one single unit. This style is really compact and simple, making them a convenient option for mobile applications, like RVs and camper vans.
A Quick Visual of a Solar Power System
To help visualize how these components work together, imagine a simple solar power setup.
The solar panels are installed on the roof, collecting energy from the sun. Cables then carry this energy down to an inverter mounted on the wall. The inverter processes the electricity, converting it from DC power to AC power, and then sends it to the solar batteries for storage.
From the batteries, the solar electricity can be used to power your home, run appliances, or even just charge your iPhone. The stored solar power is just like the electricity you pull from the grid when you plug something into any standard wall outlet in your home.
An analogy that might help you understand this process is to think of your solar power system like a bank account. The solar panels are like your paycheck, the battery is your savings account, and the inverter is how you spend the money, like your bank card.
Just like you need to manage your finances to ensure you have enough money to cover your expenses, you need to manage your solar power system to ensure you have enough stored energy to meet your needs.
This is why it’s important to properly size every component when you’re building a new solar power system.
Additional Components in a Solar Power System
While the three components mentioned above are the main parts of any solar power system, there are a few other components they need to function:
Charge Controller: These devices regulate the voltage coming from the solar panels, ensuring that the batteries are charged safely and efficiently. Many modern inverters have built-in charge controllers, but if yours doesn’t, you’ll need to include one in your setup.
Bus Bars and Distributors: These components help organize the wiring in your system, making it easier to manage and expand if needed. They allow you to connect multiple devices to your batteries without creating a tangled mess of wires.
PV Array Isolators: These act like safety switches that disconnect the solar panels from the rest of the system, allowing you to perform maintenance or repairs without risking getting electrocuted.
Solar Panel Mounts: Like the name implies, these mounts hold your solar panels fixed in place. While they’re not completely necessary, they keep things organized and compact. They can also make sure your solar panels are angled in a way that they can absorb as much sunlight as possible.
Our Final Words
Understanding the basic components of a solar power system is one of the first steps you can take towards going solar. Solar panels, batteries, and inverters are the core elements that work together to capture, store, and convert solar energy into usable electricity for your home or business.
Now that you’re familiar with these components and what they do, we can move onto discussing the different types of solar power systems and how to build your own!
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