Solar Education Station
Client Quote
"We were delighted with their service from beginning to end and everyone from the president of the company to the installer was courteous and professional."
Owner, Tonalacalli Residence
Did You Know
In 1905, Albert Einstein published a paper on the photoelectric effect, along with his paper on his theory of relativity.
Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
In a photovoltaic device, the material that readily absorbs photons to generate charge carriers (free electrons or holes).
Alternating Current (AC)
A type of electrical current, the direction of which is reversed at regular intervals or cycles. In the United States, the standard is 120 reversals or 60 cycles per second. Electricity transmission networks use AC because voltage can be controlled with relative ease.
Ampere
A measurement of an electric current. It is commonly known as an amp.
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Balance of System
All of the components in a photovoltaic solar system excluding the solar panels. This includes all of the wiring, conduits, inverters, AC and DC disconnects and breaker box.
Breaker Box
It houses all of the circuit breakers.
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Conduit
A piping system that protects and routes electrical wiring.
Current
A flow of electrons.
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Direct Current (DC)
It is a current that flows in one direction. Electricity produced from photovoltaic panels is direct current. Unlike alternative current, direct current is able to be stored in battery banks.
Disconnect
Switch used to shut-off the flow of electricity.
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Electrical Grid
An interconnected network that provides electricity from suppliers to consumers. It is commonly called a grid.
Energy
It is the ability to do useful work.
Energy Efficiency
It is how efficient energy is converted from one form to another. An internal combustion engine from an automobile has an efficiency of 25%. A photovoltaic solar panel typically has an energy efficiency of 14%.
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Grid-Tied
Interconnecting the electricity generated from a solar array with the power grid.
Ground Mount
A solar array mounted on the ground.
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Inverter
Converts DC electricity into AC electricity. Solar inverters typically have an efficiency of 95%.
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Kilowatt (kW)
It is a unit of power. It is the equivalent of 1,000 watts.
Kilowatt Hour (kWh)
It is a unit of energy. Electric utilities use this unit of measure to determine the amount of energy a customer consumes.
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Net Metering
An agreement between the owner of the solar system and the local electrical utility that would allow surplus electricity to flow in the grid. Depending on the electric utility, some or all of the surplus electricity produced may be partially or fully credited back to the electric customer. This in turn would spin the meter backwards.
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Off-Grid
A system that is not interconnected with the electric utility grid.
Orientation
The direction an array is facing. This is also known as azimuth.
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Photovoltaic (PV)
It is a method of generating electricity from light, typically from the sun.
Pitch
The angle of a roof.
Pole Mount
A solar array mounted on a pole, typically top-of-pole mount.
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Solar Cell
Made of semi-conducting material that converts light into DC electricity.
Solar Photovoltaic Array
A group of interconnected solar panels. It is typically called a solar array.
Solar Photovoltaic Module
Contains a group of solar cells. It is also known as solar panels.
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Voltage
It is the difference of electrical potential between two electrical points. It can be best described as a "carrier" of electrons.
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Watt
A unit of power measured by unites of ampere and volt.
