What Is a Solar Array?
Solar arrays are designed to harness the sun’s energy. They can be used for a variety of purposes, including power generation and lighting.
The size of a solar array system depends on how much electricity you need. This is measured in kilowatts (kW) and kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Solar Panels
Solar panels are made of a series of individual solar cells that absorb sunlight and turn it into electricity. The number of cells in a panel, along with their quality and efficiency, determines the amount of energy produced by the panel.
Ideally, solar panels need to be located where they can receive direct exposure to the sun’s rays without obstructions, such as tall buildings or trees. They also need to be large enough to satisfy the average power consumption of your home.
A solar system can save you a lot of money on your power bills. You can even generate excess electricity during the day that you can sell back to your local power company.
Fresnel Lens
Fresnel lenses are one of the main types of lenses used in solar panels. They create a bright beam of light by using glass prisms set inside a metal frame.
The prisms bend and reflect the light as it travels through them. This allows all of the light to exit in one direction.
This is a key principle behind a solar concentrator, which uses Fresnel lenses to direct sunlight towards a particular point. It’s also what makes Fresnel lenses so useful for a variety of other applications.
Another common application for Fresnel lenses is magnification. However, the lens’s distortion makes this an unrecommended use. Moreover, the image quality does not compare with that of a higher-precision system.
Modules
A solar array is a group of connected solar panels that produce electricity. Each individual panel produces about one-and-a-half watts of power under ideal conditions.
A PV system typically contains several modules and an inverter. The inverter converts direct current produced by the modules into alternating current needed for a load, such as a light bulb or a water pump.
The voltage and wattage output of each module can vary according to the type and quality of solar cells used. The higher the wattage output of a solar module, the more energy it can produce per square foot of solar space.
In a typical PV system, each module is wired in series to achieve the desired output voltage and current capability (amperes). This wiring can be done using a number of different methods depending on how much power needs to be generated.
Wiring
A solar array’s wiring design is crucial for ensuring safe and effective power production. A well-planned network of cables and wires connects the solar panel, charge controller, batteries, and inverter.
There are two basic ways to wire a solar array: series and parallel. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks.
In series, the total voltage of all panels is summed together and the amperage stays the same (equivalent to the panel’s voltage). It’s best to use panels with the same current rating when wiring in series.
When stringing solar panels in parallel, each additional panel increases the amperage of the circuit while keeping the voltage the same. This helps ensure that the entire string stays in operation even if one of the panels is shaded or covered.
This is especially true when installing solar arrays on grid-tied systems, where the charge controller needs to monitor the voltage and provide a steady output. If the voltage falls below the “start” voltage of the inverter, the system won’t produce any usable power.
