Photovoltaic Panels

Large Solar panel arrays use exactly the same panels as small systems but are wired together in a certain way so as make them ”match” other parts of the system. You may be using 24 volt batteries and charge controller and so you have either to use 24 volt panels or wire the 12volt ones in such a way as to create 24volts, this is perfectly normal and a standard way of connection, you are not abusing the panel in any way. (more information about array voltage follows in “Regulators”) Solar panels come in many different sizes, both physically, electrically and of course cost. Hopefully your “solar person” can advise you and at least give you a choice, once you know what the options are.

To give you a very brief outline, there are 3 main types of (photovoltaic) solar panels and they are known by the names of the material used for the collector part itself, they are called:

1. Mono-christaline:- Most efficient, most costly.

2. Poly-christaline:-Close behind in both respect; Most popular.

3. Amorphous Silicate:-Older style, less efficient but ok if you have the space (less watts per square meter but can be more efficient in hot climates).

Mounting structures can be made to virtually any requirement, they can be made” tilt “adjustable so their angle can at least be changed depending on the time of year/height of the sun, or Fixed so they remain in the same position all the time. Every customer has different wants, needs and expectations of their system and as such it will always be a partial compromise of Efficiency/Site/Costs needed to make their system work well and not be an eyesore for the owner. No matter what it looks like, it still has to work; but of course if the customer accepts the efficiency losses in the name of art I would be more than willing to provide them with such a system.

When designing and pricing a system, generally speaking it comes to the simple equation of Price/Watt. After that we think of the amount of panels, size, etc., so most people go for Poly-christaline panels, a choice that works very well.

	The greater the daily demand for electricity, more solar panels are going to be needed, a couple of other factors to consider are, sun hours per day (in), and mounting system to be used, all have significance to the total efficiency of a project. The amount of panels will have some bearing on the type of mounting structure to be used, as will the site and obviously choices and often compromises have to be made when you have to put for example 12 panels somewhere. Certainly a large solar tracker is the most efficient way to go, but it may not fit anywhere, and so we look to other options, perhaps using in this example 3 smaller trackers with only 4 panels each, or some other form of mounting.
	Large Solar panel arrays use exactly the same panels as small systems but are wired together in a certain way so as make them ”match” other parts of the system. You may be using 24 volt batteries and charge controller and so you have either to use 24 volt panels or wire the 12volt ones in such a way as to create 24volts, this is perfectly normal and a standard way of connection, you are not abusing the panel in any way. (more information about array voltage follows in “Regulators”) Solar panels come in many different sizes, both physically, electrically and of course cost. Hopefully your “solar person” can advise you and at least give you a choice, once you know what the options are. To give you a very brief outline, there are 3 main types of (photovoltaic) solar panels and they are known by the names of the material used for the collector part itself, they are called: 1. Mono-christaline:- Most efficient, most costly. 2. Poly-christaline:-Close behind in both respect; Most popular. 3. Amorphous Silicate:-Older style, less efficient but ok if you have the space (less watts per square meter but can be more efficient in hot climates). Mounting structures can be made to virtually any requirement, they can be made” tilt “adjustable so their angle can at least be changed depending on the time of year/height of the sun, or Fixed so they remain in the same position all the time. Every customer has different wants, needs and expectations of their system and as such it will always be a partial compromise of Efficiency/Site/Costs needed to make their system work well and not be an eyesore for the owner. No matter what it looks like, it still has to work; but of course if the customer accepts the efficiency losses in the name of art I would be more than willing to provide them with such a system. When designing and pricing a system, generally speaking it comes to the simple equation of Price/Watt. After that we think of the amount of panels, size, etc., so most people go for Poly-christaline panels, a choice that works very well.