Black Solar
Black Solar
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 Solar Panel Charger Controller Regulator 15A 12V 24V Auto swich  US $.95
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 NO RESERVE SOLAR panel charger 2600 mAh battery USB charger Green Power US $9.50
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 500w Grid Tie Inverter for solar panelbatterypure sina wave powerstock USA US $135.99
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 105 V 28 V DC GRID TIE INVERTER 8 5 v 120 v 190 v 240 v AC 50 60 Hz US $289.99
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 Solar Panel Charger Regulator Controller 10A 12V 24V Safe Protection CE Certify US $11.49
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 New Solar Mobile Power Station Charger for iPhone 2G 3G 3GS iPod Touch US $20.00
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 Solar Charge Controller Weatherproof Panel Regulator 8A 12V Outdoor Rugged 100W US $45.00
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 20A MPPT Solar Charge Controller Regulator 12V 24V 2215RN 150V INPUT 20A W Meter US $125.00
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 20A MPPT Solar Charge Controller Regulator 12V 24V TRACER 2215 150V INPUT 20A US $99.00
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 Solar Panel Charger Controller Regulator 10A 12V 24V Auto Swich US $.80
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 105 V 28 V DC 400 WATTS MPPT GRID TIE INVERTER 110 V 120 V 190 V 240 V AC 60 HZ US $199.00
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 600 WATTS 105 V 28 V DC MPPT GRID TIE INVERTER 110 V 120 V 190 V 240 V AC 60 HZ US $299.00
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 1600 Watt Grid Tie Inverter 4 Solar Panel Wind Turbine US $565.00
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 1200 Watts 105 V 28 V DC MPPT Grid Tie Inverter 60HZ 110 V 120 V 190 V 240 V AC US $585.00
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 400 Watt Grid Tie Inverter 12 V 440 W Mono Solar Panel 4x Above 100 W US $1,179.00
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 400 Watt Power Grid Tie Inverter for Solar Panel Wind US $149.99
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 TRIPP LITE APS2012 INVERTER CHARGER 2000 WATT NEW US $579.00
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 30A 12V 24V Solar Controller Regulator Charge Battery Safe Protection CE Certify US $48.99
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 105 V 28 V DC MPPT GRID TIE INVERTER Fit Ac 8 5 v 120 v 190 v 260 V 50 60 Hz US $199.99
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 400W GRID POWER MICRO GRID TIE INVERTER Ac 100 260V New US $148.99
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 600 WATTS 105 V 28 V DC GRID TIE INVERTER 110 V 240 V AC MPPT30 power output US $299.00
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 Solar Panel Charger Charge Controller Regulator 10A 12V 24V US $12.50
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 1000Watt Grid Tie Power Inverter For Solar Panel Generator 110V 220V WORLDWIDE US $249.99
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 HQRP 1000W Grid Tie MPPT Power Inverter Solar Panel Controller Direct Tie plug US $299.99
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 600Watt Grid Tie Power Inverter For Solar Panel Generator 110V 220V WORLDWIDE US $149.00
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 MPPT Grid Tie Inverter for Wind Turbine Solar 600 Watt US $299.20
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 500Watt Grid Tie Power Inverter For Solar Panel Generator 110V 220V WORLDWIDE US $135.00
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 HQRP 500W Grid Tie MPPT Power Inverter Solar Panel Controller Direct Tie plug US $199.99
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 NEW Kinesis K3 BLACK Wind Solar 3 in 1 Portable Cell Phone Battery Charger US $99.95
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 60A Solar Regulator Charge Battery Controller 12V 24V Solar Panel CM6024Z US $90.00
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 20A 12V 24V PWM Solar Street Light Panel Charge Controller Regulator Auto switch US $15.58
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 300w grid tie power inverter solar panel wind 105v 28v US $89.00
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 Solar Controller Regulator 30A 12V 24V Charge Battery Safe Protection CE Certify US $48.99
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 300Watt Grid Tie Power Inverter For Solar Panel Generator 110V 220V WORLDWIDE US $99.99
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 200Watt Grid Tie Power Inverter For Solar Panel Generator 110V 220V WORLDWIDE US $85.99
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 30A LCD 12V 24V Solar Charger Controller Regulator 800W US $8.60
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 10A 20A 30A 12 24V PWM Solar Panel Power Charge Auto Switch Controller Regulator US $22.18
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 10A 20A 30A 12V 24V PWM Solar Panel Charge Controller Auto Switch Regulator US $22.18
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 300W Wind turbine Grid Tie Inverter 108 30VDC Worlwide US $95.99
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 300W Wind turbine Grid Tie Inverter DC 108 30V AC 220V US $95.99
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 60A LCD Solar Charge Regulator Controller 12V 24V PWM US $50.00
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 MPPT Solar Panel Controller Charge Regulator 15A 12V US $85.68
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 15A 12V 24V PWM Solar Charge Controller Street Control US $8.99
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 Stackable 300W Wind Generator Grid Tie Inverter 14V 108 30VDC 110VAC US $95.99
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 300W Wind Turbine Grid Tie Inverter 108 30V DC 110VAC Pure Sine Wave US $95.99
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 300W Wind Generator Grid Tie Power Inverter 108 30VDC TO 90 130V 190 260V AC US $95.99
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 300W Wind turbine Grid Tie Inverter 108 30VDC w Dump Load Controller Stackable US $95.99
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 Premium 300W watt wind grid tie inverter 92 efficiency US $95.99
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 PWM Solar Panel Charge Charging Controller Regulator 30A 12V 24V US $47.00
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 Solar Battery Charger F Phones MP3 Camera USB Device DV US $13.99
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 2 AWG 12 Solar Wind Power Battery Cable Black and Red US $12.20
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 400W GREENERGYSTAR 2ND GRID TIE INVERTER FOR SOLAR WIND US $149.99
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 30A Solar Regulator Controller Control COM RS232 Port US $35.00
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 350w Grid Tie Power Inverterfor solar grid system24v solar panel28 52v DC US $115.01
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 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller Regulator 12V 24V TRACER 4215 150V INPUT 40A US $275.00
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 30A Solar Regulator Controller Communication port RS232 US $35.00
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 500w grid tie power inverter solar panel wind CE US $149.00
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 4 AWG 18 Solar Wind Power Battery Cable Black and Red US $12.10
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 G¼³solar charger case backup energy for iPhone3g 3gs US $22.59
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 PWM Solar Panel Charge Charging Controller Regulator 20A 12V 24V US $15.99
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 CMP Solar Panel Charge Controller Regulator 10A 12V 24V Volt US $5.00
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How Solar Panels & Solar Electricity Works
Solar Electricity
When people think about alternative or renewable energy, the first image that comes to mind is often large blue or black solar panels on rooftops or portable highway signs that have a small panel attached. These solar panels, also known as photovoltaic modules (or PV modules), convert sunlight into electricity, and they have been the backbone of renewable energy for decades. The Photovoltaic Effect (how sunlight is converted into electrical energy) was discovered over a hundred years ago! Yet widespread implementation of this technology has been very gradual. Only in very recent years has photovoltaics gained wide popularity as an alternative way to produce electricity.
In 1958 the first PV modules were launched into space to power satellites. Even today, solar power is the primary source of energy at the International Space Station. On Earth as well, PV has traditionally been used in areas where there is no practical source of electrical power but there is abundant sunshine. Solar panels are often used for remote applications: like powering cabins, RVs, boats and small electronics when grid service is not available. Recently, "grid-tie" solar electric systems have started gaining momentum as a cost-effective way to incorporate solar electricity into our everyday lives. Now we can take advantage of available solar energy while still enjoying the safety net of the utility grid.
How Solar Panels or PV Modules Work
In very basic terms, a solar panel (PV module) is a device that will produce a flow of electricity under sunlight. This electricity can be used to charge batteries and, with the aid of an inverter, it can power normal household electrical devices, or "loads". PV modules can also be used in systems without batteries in grid-tie systems.
Most solar panels (properly called "solar modules") are framed in aluminum, topped with tempered glass, and sealed by a waterproof backing. Sandwiched between the glass and backing layers are the photo-reactive cells themselves, often made of silicon. On the back of the module is a junction box that may or may not have two cables coming out of it. If the junction box has no cables, it can be opened to access the electrical terminals where wires can be attached to conduct the generated electricity away from the module. If there are cables already in place, the junction box is usually sealed and not user-accessible. Sealed junction boxes are more common.
Portable Solar Power
There are lots of ways to make use of solar electricity. One of the simplest is to charge small electronic devices, like cell phones and music players, with lightweight, portable PV modules. These small battery-charging solar panels are even being integrated into backpacks and clothing for maximum convenience. Solar panels can be used individually or wired together to form a solar array.
For larger electrical loads, there are two main types of systems for providing electrical power to homes, cabins and offices, etc: stand-alone battery based systems (also called 'off-grid' systems) and grid-tied systems (also known as utility-interactive). You'll want to decide which system is best for your needs by reading more about both.
Solar Cell Technology
There are several technologies used to make solar cells, the building blocks of panels. The main types currently on the market are:
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Monocrystalline Solar Panels
- Monocrystalline solar panels are often the most expensive due to the manufacturing process, which uses large amounts of highly purified silicon and a great deal of energy. Monocrystalline solar cells are about 13-16% efficient at converting sunlight to electricity.
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Polycrystalline Solar Panels (aka multicrystalline)
- Polycrystalline cell efficiencies range between 11-14% so solar panels are slightly less expensive than monocrystalline ones on a price-per-Watt basis.
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String Ribbon Solar Panels
- String ribbon solar panels use less silicon in the cell manufacturing process than the other crystalline types and achieves efficiencies in the 12-14% range.
- Amorphous Solar and Thin Film Solar Panels
- ProductCategory SolPan Amorphous solar panels, or thin-film amorphous silicon, A-si, are not constructed from individual solar cells, but are made by depositing a photo-sensitive compound onto a substrate. While these solar panels have lower efficiencies, (usually 7-10%), they offer certain advantages. They can often be used in hotter climates since they suffer less power loss than other types under hot conditions. Additionally, many models of the the amorphous technology do not use the typical "glass sandwich" construction, allowing for the creation of flexible solar panels which are also very durable.
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CIGS Solar Panels
- The CIGS technology, or Copper Indium Gallium di-Selenide, uses no silicon at all, and can be made into panels with or without discrete cells. Often this technology is used to make foldable solar panels.
There are also hybrid solar panels which use both crystalline and thin-film technologies to increase energy capture; these modules boast efficiencies up to 19%. Researchers are still working on lower-cost, higher-efficiency alternatives, but for the foreseeable future, these five types represent what is commercially available.
About the Author
Founded in 1999, altE, Inc has catered to DIY customers on every continent of the globe. A 2006 Inc. 500 awarded company, altE aims to continue to fulfill its motto, "Making Renewable Do-able," by offering cost competitive, high-quality renewable energy related products and educational services to a broad spectrum of the public. For more information visit their website at www.altEstore.com or contact Toll Free (877) 878-4060.