Solar panels are becoming a viable alternative for saving money on utilities and reducing the use of fossil fuels. The panels are used to produce energy in homes, buildings and other structures that produces everything from hot water to electricity. When installing the units a person may choose to attach to it a roof or use an independent stand. Cost has limited the use of the units however, recently the prices have started to fall and it has become more economical to buy units that will function for larger spaces.

Panels are designed to produce electricity via a photovoltaic effect. This is done through a series of cells that are constructed in a number of ways and used as conductors. Most of the cells utilize silicon which helps to conduct the electricity being produced.

There are a number of requirements for the cells making up a panel to work. There are approximately 180 to 500 cells in a solar panel. The cells are connected using a wire conductor. In addition, because these cells are fragile, they can be easily damaged when they are being made or installed in a panel. Once in the panel, they are protected against corrosion by a solid protective covering.

The number of cells in a panel determines the amount of electricity that is produced. An individual will need to have a clear idea of the amount of wattage that is used in a home on a daily basis and build or purchase a panel(s) that will produce that amount of electricity. There are three different alternatives for solar energy use.

The grid inter-tied is a system provided by some utility companies. The grid inter-tied system works through the regular electric wiring that is already in a home. All electricity generated is credited on a meter which, at times, may give you credit when energy usage goals have been met.

The off grid (stand alone) system is more commonly used where there is no electricity supplied by a utility company. This means, there are no monthly electric bills to pay. There are sometimes limitations to this type of system, such as only being able to use the electricity at certain times. Without a back-up generator or battery pack, these systems are limited in the number of hours electricity can be produced without sunlight.

The system with the battery backup assures you that you will have electricity should a blackout occur. Many people have generators or battery powered back-up that will generate enough electricity to run their home for at least one day. When a person has this type of system they usually will have minimum electric needs on that grid, such as their freezer, refrigerator, and other equipment. These solar panels system are more expensive, but are very useful in areas that do not have consistent sunlight.