PV Gap

Mattie Said:

i have 3 solar panel each of 12V & 75W.but i need 48V supply to charge the battery system .?

We Answered:

Adding a battery won't help. The extra battery will just discharge. To charge a 48 volt system you need 48 volts. Add a 4th solar panel. This will give you the 48 volts you need to charge the batteries. Just connect the solar panels in series.

If you simply can't add a 4th panel, you can get a voltage converter to change the 36 volts (series connection) from the 3 solar panels to 48 volts. Also, you could connect the solar panels in parallel, giving you 12 volts but at higher current. Then you would use a converter that changes the 12 volts to 48 volts. Doing this will reduce the efficiency somewhat as the converter will add some loss to the system.

The extra solar panel is the best way to go.

Jerome Said:

Properties of solar panel?

We Answered:

The basic element of solar panels is pure silicon. When stripped of impurities, silicon makes an ideal neutral platform for transmission of electrons. In silicon’s natural state, it carries four electrons, but has room for eight. Therefore silicon has room for four more electrons. If a silicon atom comes in contact with another silicon atom, each receives the other atom's four electrons. Eight electrons satisfy the atoms' needs, this creates a strong bond, but there is no positive or negative charge. This material is used on the plates of solar panels. Combining silicon with other elements that have a positive or negative charge can also create solar panels.

For example, phosphorus has five electrons to offer to other atoms. If silicon and phosphorus are combined chemically, the results are a stable eight electrons with an additional free electron. The silicon does not need the free electron, but it can not leave because it is bonded to the other phosphorous atom. Therefore, this silicon and phosphorus plate is considered to be negatively charged.

A positive charge must also be created in order for electricity to flow. Combining silicon with an element such as boron, which only has three electrons to offer, creates a positive charge. A silicon and boron plate still has one spot available for another electron. Therefore, the plate has a positive charge. The two plates are sandwiched together to make solar panels, with conductive wires running between them

Photons bombard the silicon/phosphorus atoms when the negative plates of solar cells are pointed at the sun. Eventually, the 9th electron is knocked off the outer ring. Since the positive silicon/boron plate draws it into the open spot on its own outer band, this electron doesn't remain free for long. As the sun's photons break off more electrons, electricity is then generated. When all of the conductive wires draw the free electrons away from the plates, there is enough electricity to power low amperage motors or other electronics, although the electricity generated by one solar cell is not very impressive by itself. When electrons are not used or lost to the air they are returned to the negative plate and the entire process begins again.

Dorothy Said:

how can i build my own solar panels??? plz guide me....:)?

We Answered:

Here are some projects that people did http://www.instructables.com/tag/?q=sola… .

I would add, be careful of web sites that suggest you can power your entire home cheaply with home built panels, if you will just send them a few dollars for the information. It's simply not that cheap or easy. If it were, you would see lots of people doing it.