The item below is taken from the March 2007 Archives of the Batteries blog - you'll find a link in the External Links below. There is also a link to an interesting 2-page pdf which gives further information on solar power, if you're interested in the subject just have a look... it's free! "Solar power... all the facts you want to know
First let's consider solar lighting for our gardens...
Solar lighting is created by turning sunlight into energy. Energy is created as sunlight strikes a solar collector, and then it turns energy into an electrical current. This electrical current then sends this energy to a power supply, i.e. rechargeable batteries, which in turn energizes a lamp source [LED - type of tiny light bulb].
Some calculators have solar cells and never need batteries, and in some cases don't even have an off button. As long as you have enough light, they seem to work forever.
The idea that one day we will all use free electricity from the sun is an extremely seductive promise. One day, when technology allows, we could collect solar energy so that we could easily power our homes and offices for free [always assuming the corporate energy suppliers allow it]. But, to start with, solar lighting for your garden makes great sense as it is easy to install, has no wiring to install... and no electricity costs.
Solar lights are composed of:-
A plastic case
A solar cell on top
A single AA Nicad battery
A small controller board
An LED light source [a type of tiny light bulb]
And a photoresistor to detect darkness
Electricity for your home... from solar power...
Solar panels turn sunlight into electricity. The battery charge regulator controls the flow of electricity into and out of the battery bank. The energy flows into the batteries, and then to the inverter. As detailed in a previous post... "Inverters take DC power [battery or solar, for example] and convert it into AC "household" power for running electronic equipment and appliances."
The power conditioner [inverter] turns that electricity into a safe, ready-to-use form that flows through your home's electrical outlets. Excess energy is stored in the battery bank for later use.
A good source for more information for the more technically minded is... (the pdf in the External Links)
