How big is an average solar panel?
Question:
Answer:
http://www.solarhome.org/
Solar power (also known as solar energy) is the technology of obtaining usable energy from the light of the sun. Solar energy has been used in many traditional technologies for centuries, and has come into widespread use where other power supplies are absent, such as in remote locations and in space.
Solar energy is currently used in a number of applications:
Heat (hot water, building heat, cooking)
Electricity generation (photovoltaics, heat engines)
Desalination of seawater.
There really is no "average size" for a solar panel. They vary a great deal not only to size but shape, weight, etc.etc. depending on the application requirements, manufacturer, etc.
solar panels (Photo voltaics) I'm assuming you were talking about the electric generation kind and not the hot water type come in wide ranes of sizes. It depends on the application you could get the roof shingle type which are the aprox size of a normal 3 tab shingle or you could go with the more standard panel type. The sizes of the panels will vary between brand,type of panel (amorphous or crystalline) and wattage of the pannel.
For example a sharp 80watt crystalline panel is 47in x 21in while a 123 watt chrystalline panel is 59x26
If you are planning to run a house off of the solar panels you will need to use several to get the wattage you need for the amount of electricity you use. Remember solar panels create direct current so to use the electricity in plug in house hold appliences you will also need an inverter to create 110v alternating current and either a tie in box to tie into the power grid when the sun isn't out or a battery bank and charge controller to store the electricity.
If you are just planing on using solar for small appliences you can get smaller panels that are smaller like an amorphous 5watt which is only 18in x 14in
personally I would go with crystalline solar panels they generaly are guerenteed for longer
As for a scource you can look in www.northerntool.com last time I looked they had some good diagrams as well as a fairly good selection of panels as well as wind turbines and charge controllers . You can also check out the solar panel manufacturers websites like www.bpsolar.com www.sharpesolar.com and many more can be found with a quick search
It depends on how big it is.
THERE all sizes,HOUSE 3'BY 3' on a sailboat 2'by 2' .There getting more efficient every day./Ken
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