by George Leard

Created on: February 07, 2011   Last Updated: February 08, 2011

How Solar Powered Batteries work

Solar powered batteries or Photo-Voltaic Cells works through the process where sunlight is converted to electrical energy, without passing through the heat generation phase.

When sunlight, bearing energy packets called photons, are made to hit directly upon the interconnected rows of battery, the photons caused electrons to be released from the cathodic points, and began to flow to the last terminal, thereby generating electricity, which is basically a flow of electrons.

Wires that are connected to these batteries to transmit the electrical signals to an inverter, which converts them to usable electricity, the moment they are delivered to the equipment. The electricity is either used directly, stored in a back up battery, or subjected to a net-metering arrangement; where the excess current goes to the grid system and become revenue for the business or household generating the electricity. In cases of inclement weather, net-metering facilitates a revere flow of current, so that the businesses or household residence can continue their operations.

During the net metering process, the meter will normally rotate in the opposition direction, if there is a reverse flow from the grid system, and the difference between both readings are calculated at the end of the billing cycle, with either the power company or the household receiving payment.

In order for Solar Power Batteries to work efficiently, however, there are a number of critical arrangements that has to be in place.

 Firstly, the photo-voltaic batteries; which can be as much as 36 in number, has to be properly aligned, so that electrons can flow unimpeded from the first to the last terminal, the surfaces must be adjusted to receive the maximum amount of sunlight at all times of the day, and the best material (usually silicon) should be selected, to provide the highest level of conductance to the current generated.

Silicon should be the logical choice, because it is available in abundance, and is one of the best known semiconductors in the business. It hangs on to its electrons more tightly than other conductors, and less loosely than other insulators, so that they are not knocked off easily, when light rays fall on them. This characteristic prevents the positive charge created, from being equitable distributed throughout the chain of battery cells, and allows the electrons to flow with greater efficiency, generating high outputs of electricity in the process.

Lastly, in a situation where a back up battery is the only option, it must be of the ideal voltage capacity, to receive the excess current that will be generated during the peak supply of sunlight, and should be able to supply the system when production is limited.

Operators therefore  who ensures that their Solar Battery System has these facilities in place, will be the beneficiaries of  constant supplies of electricity as well as even monthly rebates from power companies, where available, despite  threats of inclement weather at times.

Reference

1. Woodside, Christine, Home Owners Guide to Energy Independence, (2006) The Lyons Press, Guilford ,CT  pp.27-42

Learn more about this author, George Leard.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.