The Flexibility And Power Of Modern Solar Panels
When people think of solar panels, the vision that usually pops into their mind is the large roof style solar panels that typically stretch across the entire expanse of a home roof. And while these types of solar panels are still very much in use today, although improved greatly, many panels have been greatly downsized. As a result, you can find solar panels in many common products being produced. For example, solar powered fans, lights, water pumps, generators, and bird baths are just a few of the many products being built today that possess some version of a solar panel. Unlike in the past, today such a panel can come in a variety of sizes and designs. In many cases, such as with many styles of solar shingles, you would not even recognize them as a solar device.
Basically, a this type of panel is designed to do just two things. Capture the energy from the sun and transform it into some form of usable energy - usually electricity. Although, there are various ways of performing each of these functions, most devices being created today follow a relatively standard methodology which has remained pretty consistent over the years. And this methodology is to take solar cells, which are the essential building blocks of solar technology, and configure them into various ways to produce a solar panel.
Depending on how the cells are configured, manufacturers can produce panels that output various voltages - 12 volt, 17 volt, 24 volt, and so on. This flexibility allows solar panels or batteries to be produced in all sizes - from small enough to power a small calculator to large enough to power a car, van, or other mechanical device.
Advances in solar technology design have also allowed solar cells to be placed in a wider variety of shapes and materials. In fact, many of the newer uses of solar cells involve placing them on very thin film solar panels. The film allows the panels to be twisted and bent, without harming the panel itself. With flexible panels such as these, you now see these devices being used in clothing, blankets, backpacks, and many other products that would have been unthinkable even ten years ago.
When if comes to creating energy, these devices have almost infinite use. By combining a series of these devices, you can create solar arrays that are big enough to provide enough electricity to power an entire home. But, even though solar technology has advanced by leaps and bounds over the past decade, it is still not yet developed enough to provide the amount of energy needed to run the typical home in areas of the country that have limited daylight. However, in many other areas of the country, the technology has advanced so far that running a home, year round, on solar energy alone, is entirely feasible.
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