How do Solar Panels Work?

Have you wondered exactly how a solar panel is able to make electricity from the sun? This video explains how by adding chemicals to two sides of a silicon wafer enables it to move electricity with the sun’s light hits it.

For more videos and examples of solar panels see:

[RadioChief]

By far the best and most informative series of videos on solar power on Youtube. Thank you Amy and Alt E. Good Lord willing I am only a year and a half away from my retirement goal of tiny house living completely off grid.

[geekchaser]

You have so much knowledge! For you it is simple. For the rest of us, we grasp! Thank you so much!

[ChrisDIYerOklahoma]

Well done explanation. Happy New Year!

[EjitEnergy]

Thanks for reminding us how this works, great video.

[milvolts]

what do you think I can use to charge a 4S 50ah battery pack with solar? Thanks

[vishnuneelamegam]

Hello. i need to know that is it possible to replace the damaged solar cell in a module and bring back to the original state? & The possibility of soldering the broken metallic contact between the cells?

[Pajunk]

Hello I would love to install solar panels on my van and keep only main battery. Is it possible to do that or i need second battery and isolator?

[thefaeryman]

thanks,
bedget is not getting me to the conference this year.
best and Happy New Year!

[jjseandxcefree]

Hi Amy. I see 100watt solar panels rated at 12V but a lot of 200watt ones are 18volt. Are the 18volt ones better to use for off grid homes?

[Maxid]

So here is the problem I'm trying to overcome. In a multi panel array, or even just one panel in a temperate zone where there's snow fall, the snow will slide off warm panels but most panels have a frame around them that causes a ridge that holds snow in place. If the panel edges were flush with the surface, the snow would more readily slide off. If angled more steeply at night and then tilted for optimum exposure during the day you could reduce the amount of snow on them to nearly zero. I'm also going to experiment with various clear coatings like rainx and the like to see if frost could also be eliminated. Are there any panels that have flush edges? Rounded would be the ultimate profile.

[shankarpreethi]

great video helped me to complete my project...

[nadeem]

what you think what could be the problem if in full sunshine Panel giving half or one third open circuit volts but full amperes ! the normal short circuit current mentioned on sticker of Panel is 8 AND it is giving 8 amps but volts are half or one third open circuit volts. May i know your expert opinion what is the problem in my panel ?? thank-you

[FrancisOpoku]

can different voltage panels be connected in an array? one of your slides shows an 18v connected to a 36v

[donegal]

A couple of elementary mistakes here that completely describe this device in the wrong wy.: at 1.13, diagram shown is incorrect. Where do I start? The p-type layer is not positive, neither is the n-type negative..At the depletion zone( junction potential) the p-type is actually negatively charged and the n-type is positively charged. Thus there is a potential barrier between the p and n types. Freed electrons usually are released from the p-type material and are then swept across the junction potential (or electric field) gaining electrical energy and forming a current flow. This diagram even shows a power source for goodness sake....it is a device that produces electrical power, not consuming

[bartoszbarejko]

Thank you. now i do know how insufisient they are.