Solar panels: a first lesson in technology

Because in concept, it's all pretty easy, but if you really get to work with it, then there are still a lot of things that you might or may not have thought of. With this information as a basic knowledge, you are already a lot better for it. There are a lot of options, and you can lose your way.

Basics

Just to start at the beginning. A solar cell converts sunlight into electrical voltage (expressed in Volt), electricity for short. By combining many cells together, you create a solar panel. With a larger number of cells, you also get more electricity, which is expressed in a higher voltage (more volts) or a greater power of the solar panel (Watt). Only how can you do what with that electricity? You can charge your laptop or your phone right away, but you can also put it in a battery and store it. In itself, you do that with your phone and laptop, but you can only use that energy for that device. By storing it in a battery, you can use it for multiple things. Only batteries want that delivered in a special way: at a certain voltage (Volts) and with a often limited strength (Ampere). That's what the solar charger comes with. Those solar chargers come in all kinds of shapes and with specific strengths and less strengths, but what they all actually do is convert the electricity into the right voltage and amperes, so that the battery can store it without breaking down. And that can be done several times.

With these basic components, we can store sunlight as electricity and later - for example in the evening - use it to light a light, or charge your phone. And all without the sun having to shine.

An example

What does such a system actually look like? I caught it in a sketch below. The solar panel (panel) gives a voltage of 19 Volts and is connected to a red (+) and a black (-) wire to the solar charger (charger). That charger converts the 19volt of the solar panel to another voltage that is good for the battery, for example 144 Volt. As a result, the battery charges, and when the sun no longer shines, energy will be stored in the battery. An invertor is connected to the battery. This inverter makes the approximately 12 Volt DC voltage of the battery, 230 Volt AC voltage. That's the same thing we get out of the socket at home. This allows us to light a lamp, for example.

What has not yet been snapped is how thick the connection cables should be. That is a topic for later, because that comes with some computational work and depends a lot on how big the powers we switch and/or connect. If you already have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I'm happy to answer them. Even if I have missed things or need to be clearer. All comments are welcome.