Frequently Asked Questions
Solar panels are made from specific materials which contain “Solar Cells” or photovoltaic (PV) cells. This is the very core of solar energy because these solar cells are able to capture the photons emitted by the sunlight. From there, these cells generate electricity by creating a flow of electrons from the excited photon cells. This system is formally called the “Photovoltaic effect”, and was first discovered in 1839 by Edmond Becquerel.
Although there are many different types of material and manufacturing processes used to produce solar, there are ideally three types of Solar Panels in the market:
(1) Monocrystalline: High in Efficiency, Expensive, Highest Concentration of Crystalline
(2) Polycrystalline: Medium Efficiency, Effective, Moderately Priced
(3) Thin-Film: Low Efficiency, Inexpensive, Flexible.
There are a variety of different variables to consider when choosing your Solar Panel system such as your electricity consumption, financial expenses, roof size, geographical location, and climate, just to name a few. Thus, it is important to speak to a professional with regards to all of these factors, as solar panels are not cheap and you will want to get the most out of your investment.
Yes ! Most of our customers drastically decrease their electric bill, or even cut the amount to $0, with a solar panel system. In fact, if the solar panel system is able to produce more electricity than you use per month, you could earn money back from your city’s electricity provider.
It depends on your solar panel system. If the system is connected to the grid, then no, the solar panels will not function during a blackout. However, if your system has a specific inverter to provide backup such as a generator or battery, then the blackout or power outage will not affect your solar panel electricity.
Solar Panels are most effective when they are able to receive direct sunlight. That is why it is important to keep them constantly exposed to the sun and clean from dirt, leaves, snow, or any other materials that may obstruct their exposure. Commonly, solar panels do not require a lot of maintenance due to the system being made of durable tempered glass. In the event that the solar panels become too dirty or damaged in order to produce electricity, then there are panel cleaning services and warranties that are available. Click here to find out more about these options.
In order for the solar panels to produce electricity, they must be receiving photons directly from the sun. So, if it is cloudy outside, these solar cells will still receive some of the photons from the sun and produce electricity, but not nearly as efficiently as if it were sunny. Likewise, because there are no photons at night to trigger the solar cells, no electricity will be produced.
However, depending on the Solar Company, there are usually warranties that come with your purchase. For example, here at Penguin Home Solutions, we offer a 25-year warranty on our solar panels.