How does a solar power system for a house work?
Question:
Answer:
Photovoltaic solar panels (Called modules in the trade) are mounted so they see direct sunlight. They generate DC electricity. The DC is converted to AC by inverters. Some DC can be use to maintain a charge on batteries. Where permitted the homeowner can feed excess power to the utility, and get it back at night when the solar system is not generating.
Batteries are needed if the system is not on the utility grid, and can be useful where utility outages are frequent, or have an impact on the user.
You can put the solar panels on the house or on framework in the backyard. Sometimes, but definitely not always, the panels charge a huge battery pack that powers the house. The battery pack has two advantages. One, the power collected during the day is used at night. Two, you can hook a generator up to it. In the 'burbs though, they connect your solar powered house to the power grid. When you collect sunlight during the day that you are not using, it causes your electric meter to turn backwards. You are selling energy to the electric company.
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