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Power and Light · Guide

Solar power basics

A short primer on the parts of a solar power system: panels, charge controllers, battery bank, inverters and the tie-in to a home's breaker box.

Quick facts

Panels
photovoltaic cells produce DC electricity
Charge controller types
PWM and MPPT; MPPT has higher efficiency
Battery pick
LiFePO4: higher upfront cost, far longer cycle life, no maintenance
Battery capacity
measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh)
Inverter types
string, microinverters, hybrid (ideal for off-grid)
Home tie-in
through a transfer switch or utility-approved disconnect

Explore how solar panels generate electricity, the role of charge controllers and batteries, how inverters convert DC to AC power, integration with home electrical systems, and more in this informative guide to solar energy basics.

What You'll Learn

  • How solar panels capture sunlight and generate electricity.
  • The role of solar charge controllers in regulating power flow from panels to batteries.
  • Types of batteries used in solar energy storage and their characteristics.
  • How inverters convert DC electricity into AC electricity for household use.
  • Different types of inverters and their suitability for various solar setups.
  • Integration of solar power with your home's electrical system, including connection to the breaker box.
  • Additional information on net metering and backup power solutions for solar systems.

Watts, amps, volts, and watt-hours

Volts x amps = watts. Volts are the pressure pushing electricity through the wire, amps are the flow, and watts are the power you get from the two together. Amps also tell you how much current the wires, fuses, and charge controller have to carry.

Example: a solar panel at 12 volts and 10 amps produces 120 watts. Hold that for 5 hours of good sun and you bank 600 watt-hours. Watt-hours are what batteries and power stations are rated in, so that is the number you size a system with.

Solar Panels: Generating Electricity from Sunlight

What are solar panels?

Solar panels are devices comprising photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. They are typically installed on rooftops or in open areas to capture sunlight effectively.

How do they work?

When sunlight strikes the photovoltaic cells, they generate an electric current through the photovoltaic effect, producing direct current (DC) electricity.

Additional Information:

  • Solar panels consist of silicon-based materials that create an electric field upon exposure to sunlight.
  • This electric field causes electrons to flow, generating DC electricity.

Solar Charge Controllers: Regulating Power Flow

What is a solar charge controller?

A solar charge controller regulates the voltage and current from the solar panels to prevent battery overcharging.

Importance of charge controllers:

Charge controllers optimize energy production and protect the battery bank from damage, thereby prolonging its lifespan.

Additional Information:

  • Solar charge controllers come in various types, including PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) and MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking).
  • MPPT controllers are known for their higher efficiency and ability to extract more power from solar panels under different conditions.

Battery Bank: Storing Excess Energy

What is a battery bank?

A battery bank stores excess energy generated by solar panels for use during periods of low sunlight or at night.

Types of batteries:

  • Lead-acid batteries: Traditional and affordable but require regular maintenance.
  • BEST CHOICE: Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries: higher upfront cost, but a far longer cycle life, no maintenance, and a more heat-stable chemistry than other lithium-ion types.

Additional Information:

  • Battery capacity is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and determines the amount of energy that can be stored.
  • Depth of discharge (DoD) indicates the percentage of a battery's capacity that can be safely utilized before recharging.

Inverters: Converting DC to AC

What is an inverter?

An inverter converts DC electricity from the battery bank into alternating current (AC) electricity, suitable for powering household appliances.

Types of inverters:

  • String inverters: Basic and cost-effective, suitable for small-scale installations.
  • Microinverters: Installed on each solar panel, offering higher efficiency and individual panel monitoring.
  • Hybrid inverters: Combine inverter, charger, and battery management functions in one unit, ideal for off-grid systems.

Additional Information:

  • Inverters must be appropriately sized to handle the power output of solar panels and meet household energy demands.
  • Some inverters feature built-in functionalities like grid connectivity and remote monitoring for added convenience.

Integration with Your Home's Electrical System

How does solar power integrate with your home?

The inverter's AC output ties into the home's breaker box through a transfer switch or a utility-approved disconnect, never straight into a panel or outlet. That isolation keeps your power from backfeeding the lines and electrocuting a line worker. Grid-tied systems also need a permit and an interconnection agreement.

Additional Information:

  • Net metering enables excess solar electricity to be fed back into the grid, earning credits or reducing electricity bills.
  • A standard grid-tied solar system shuts itself off when the grid goes down. It takes a battery with a hybrid or off-grid inverter, or a generator, to keep power on during an outage.

Questions this answers

Tap a question for the short answer.

How does solar power work?

Photovoltaic cells in the panels turn sunlight into direct current electricity. A charge controller regulates that power on its way to a battery bank, which stores the excess for night or low sun. An inverter then converts the DC into AC, and that output ties into your home's breaker box through a transfer switch or a utility-approved disconnect to run appliances.

What does a solar charge controller do?

It regulates the voltage and current coming from the solar panels so the batteries do not overcharge. That protects the battery bank from damage, extends its lifespan, and helps optimize energy production. Controllers come in two main types, PWM and MPPT.

What is the best battery for a solar system?

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is my best choice. It costs more upfront but has a far longer cycle life and needs no maintenance. Lead-acid batteries are the traditional, affordable option, but they require regular upkeep. Capacity is measured in kilowatt-hours, and depth of discharge tells you how much of that capacity you can safely use before recharging.

What is the difference between pwm and mppt charge controllers?

PWM stands for Pulse Width Modulation and MPPT for Maximum Power Point Tracking. Both regulate power from the panels to the batteries, but MPPT controllers are more efficient and can pull more power out of the panels across different conditions.

What does an inverter do in a solar setup?

An inverter turns DC electricity from the battery bank into the AC power household appliances run on. String inverters are basic and cost-effective, microinverters mount on each panel for higher efficiency and per-panel monitoring, and hybrid inverters combine inverter, charger, and battery management, which is ideal off-grid. Size it to match panel output and household demand.

What is net metering?

Net metering lets the extra electricity your solar system produces flow back into the grid. In return you earn credits or lower your electricity bill. It applies when your inverter's AC output is tied into the home's breaker box through a utility-approved disconnect, and grid-tied systems also need a permit and an interconnection agreement.

Keep going

Read nextOff-grid solar power setup under $850Recommends the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic power station with a Zoupw 400W solar panel, with specs, runtimes, and how to use them for backup.Power and Light · Guide

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