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Solar for WOMEN

"SOLAR FOR WOMEN" is for women, kids and men who want to learn the concept about Solar Energy. In this section, the definition of solar, an easy to understand 'women' version of how solar works, ideas of what solar can be used for, and more. Click on the "Diagram" for Basic Solar Energy. Easy to Understand Solar LOGO

DEFINITION of Solar

In this 'solar for women' section we will start out with the definition... SOLAR "means pertaining to the Sun" (relating to the sun, the sun rays). Learn More on our Sun - Click HERE - Solar cells are technically called photovoltaics or (PV)for short. A solar cell is a device that changes the sunlight into electricity. (This process is called the Photovoltaic Effect.) More on Solar Cells/Panels Click HERE "SOLAR POWER" is the result of converting Sunlight into electricity. A group of solar cells make up a solar panel (also called module).

Today there are 3 types of panels made. (Just Click "ON" the type you want to view now.)

  1. Monocrystalline
    2.
  2. Polycrystalline
    3.
  3. Amorphous

Bottom line on Solar Panels:

  • Monocrystalline is the most effective per square inch and most costly.

  • Polycrystalline is not as strong as the Monocrystalline nor as expensive, but are stronger than the amorphous and cost more too.

  • Amorphous is the latest technology where these panels are flexible, for example; fold-up solar panels for camping... And then there are amorphous panels that do not roll up because they have a glass-like covering over them. The amorphous panels are cheaper but their estimated life span shorter because as they age, its production decreases more each year than the first two panels. One other drawback is you need more amorphous panels to equal one Monocrystalline, (which means more hardware to install them). A 45 Watt amorphous solar panel set may consist of 3 panels while one of the other panels giving off 85 Watt are only one panel.


    • Solar Panels and WATTS

    Solar panels are sold by the WATT. A small solar panel can start around 1.5 watts while some panels go over 250 Watts. A 200 watt solar panel can weigh about 40 lbs and span a little over 5 feet.

    A Watt's symbol is a "W". The cost of the panels depends on the type(as described above monocrystalline, polycrystalline or amorphous) and the number of the watts per panel. A 85 watt panel may cost a little under 3 a watt, while little gadgets to charge your cell phone with solar energy can cost up to $15 a watt. (A 6 watt gadget can cost $90).

    NOTE: Now if you are having a home solar power systems installed by professionals, you must take into account the installation and planning of the system. So the costs are much higher.

    So what are WATTS? Watts are 'power'. For example, a night light burns at 7 Watts and dimly lights a small area. A 100 Watt light bulb on the other hand has enough power to light up a whole room. So the 100 watt bulb can produce/has the capability to produce more light (power) to the illumination much more than the night light. ... So when looking at purchasing a home solar power kits, you need to determine what the watt total of all the items you want to charge is. Continue reading below.

    Volts and Amps

    Two more "solar for women" Vocabulary words and how they work before we move on.

    A Volt ("V") is pressure or force of the power.

    An Ampere or Amp for short, ("A") is the quantity of electricity carried.

    The Wattage is equal to the Volt times the Amp.

    Here is an example to explain W = "A" x "V".(The solar for women version)

    You have an oily pan you made french fries for supper that you need to clean. You plug your sink and run the water hot and fast and add dishwashing detergent. The high pressure of the fast running water makes lots and lots of bubbles which is the power to dissolve the oil.

    The Volt is running the water on high, the Amp is the flow of water, and the many bubbles that were formed are the Watts, or the power to clean the pot.

    On the other hand, if the water is on slow and drips into the sink and you add soap, hardly any soap bubbles are made because they require the pressure or volt.

    On the other other hand, if you bring a pressure washer into your kitchen and fill your sink at that super high speed, the bubbles will be out of control. That is why when you charge your little electronic gadgets not to interchange the power cords/chargers unless you know their volts. Find the volts requirements on each electronic gadget. You cannot interchange your electric chargers with different voltages (volts are stated on each charger). They can explode the battery.

    How does the Solar Process work?

    Since God made woman's brains different than man's, (and that is literally speaking- The brains are made and structured differently) it may be hard to understand all the technical jargon related to technical subjects. Solar for women page offers the explanation of the concept of solar in a way women can relate.(However, there are very many talented women who understand the technical jargon!)


    If you decide to invest in a solar panel.... weigh your options and costs. A 45 Watt cheap amorphous panel set is made up of 3 panels. This solar panel set charges a battery at a rate of less than an 1 amp per hour, while a single panel-85 Watt Monocrystalline puts out over 4 amps per hour. Okay, so this is what that means...say you are charging a battery, (see battery below) and to fill the battery you have 5 hours of winter sunlight. The amorphous will fill the battery at medium/low speed. But the Monocrystalline will fill the battery at high speed,(yes it is a higher wattage, with a cost of roughly $125 more) so your chances of completely charging the battery, (which we will use the battery at night ), will be full. For days that are cloudy or rainy, chances are the Monocrystalline will have enough energy to fill or partly fill the battery, where the amorphous will barely touch it.

    Click HERE to go to HOMEPAGE from "Solar for Women"



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