Q:Is it possible to store energy from solar panels for night?

Yes. okorder /) and informed me of all the incentives I was eligible to receive as well as giving me a break-even analysis, estimated annual savings, and projected return on investment. They are a great resource to begin your solar pursuit. Good Luck!

Q:When you add a load resistor to a PV panel (Solar panel) of 00 ohms what happens to the voltage produced from the cellAlso, as the resistance increases, how does this affect the output voltage

Photovoltaic cells have a load curve that gives the power conversion based on the current drawn. This makes it harder to calculate. For instance, at infinite resistance, the solar cell will have a peak voltage that produces no power (P=I*V=V^2/r). At short circuit, the voltage collapses to essentially nothing and so the power is almost nothing. There is an optimal load (sweet spot) where the resistance applied will draw the most power out of the cell while not overloading it. This measure is either given by the manufacturer or found experimentally. Upon taking a lit panel that has no load and applying a 00 ohm resistance, the voltage will drop. By how much is entirely dependent on the array layout and specific cell characteristics. As the resistance drops from the optimal load point, the voltage collapses fairly sharply. As the resistance increases from the optimal load point, the voltage will rise more at first and then level off to the peak or no-load voltage.

Q:I've run out of things to keep me entertained recently and as part of a larger project, I was curious if its possible to 'McGuyver' up a solar panel out of common materials?

It okorder /

Q:is this fact true? - its a limitation to solar panels during summer when it's in extremly hot countrie. I've heard it from my science teacher .. please give detail if you have any and any more benefits/limitations is welcomed .. Thank you :) !

Solar okorder /... you'll notice that they have different curves for different temperatures. But they do still produce power, certainly. I have an array on my roof, and it still manages to max out the inverter on a hot summer day. But I do notice that the top row, which is hotter due to heat rising from those below, consistently puts out a few less watts than the bottom row. So more sun is certainly better; direct light is exactly what's needed. But hot panels due to poor air circulation or high ambient temperature does cut into efficiency. (Solar thermal, of course, is a different story)

Q:How do solar panels affect the roof's structural integrity?

Solar panels do not typically affect the roof's structural integrity. Properly installed solar panels distribute the weight evenly across the roof and are designed to be lightweight. In fact, they can even offer some protection to the roof by shielding it from the elements. However, it is important to have a professional assess the roof's condition before installation to ensure it can support the added weight.

Q:If I wanted to add solar panels to my home to produce on average, 8 kWh of electricity daily, how much do you estimate it would cost using state of the art technology?I live in Virginia (Washington DC Metro Area), and I have Dominion Power. I pay the following electric rates:Jun-Sep $0.0904/kWhOct-May $0.0776/kWhAnnual Ave: $0.0824/kWhDistribution charges add on approximately another $0.0228/kWh.How long would the ROI for an 8 kWh/day solar system be?

Figure 8 hours of sun per day, so 8 kW-hr is a rate of kW, which is a medium sized panel, probably not enough to operate your house totally, unless you have a very small unit. Averaged over 24 hours, that is power at a rate of only 300 watts, enough for a TV. Average US home use is .2 kW, which over 24 hours is 29 kW-hr, plus you need extra for cloudy days, peak demands, and to charge batteries. You have to decide off-grid or on-grid, and if you want to (and are allowed to) sell excess power to the power company. Off gird, the cost of batteries and charge controller are a large part of the cost. On-grid, you have to purchase equipment approved by the power company to match your power with the grid. Panels will cost about $3 per watt, so for 000 watts that is $3000. Double that for installation, then add in cost of charge controller, inverter, batteries, etc. The last items depend on your alternatives, see paragraph above. .

Q:There are places in the US where it is sunny almost all the time, like the southwest. But if we covered an area of the Sahara with solar panels, the sun exposure with the area would generate enough energy for the whole US at least. Plus, I would imagine it would be a great source of income for those countries.Why isn't this a topic under discussion or even mentioned between countries' governments/in Congress/in politicians' viewpoints?

Good question. One of the reasons is the greed of manufacturing companies. No matter the profit margin of the product, they seem to want to charge so high a price that the break even point is ten years down the road, so the true savings are few. The cost of solar panels should have dropped way lower than they have by now. I believe that the political correctness of the product will tempt the manufacturers to keep the prices artificially high. One other answerer is right, the panels are very fragile, and damage would destroy the investment, so new inroads need to occur in technology to protect the panels from damage. Somewhere in the middle is a profit for the manufacturers, and savings for the consumer. I hope we find that middle-ground soon.

Q:We see increasing, what appear to be, solar panels on electric poles?

I work in NJ and we started seeing them around our industrial park. I think it's probably some scam for the most part. Each panel isn't going to put out more than a few volts. Because they are so widely distributed about the only thing they might be good for is lighting a sodium bulb or something. A much more effective use if it was a serious / more efficient/effectively designed project, we'd probably be seeing farms of panels going up all over the place and on the tops of big-box buildings, but I'm not seeing alot of that.

Q:Can solar panels be used in hot climates?

Yes, solar panels can be used in hot climates. In fact, solar panels are more efficient in hot climates as they thrive in high temperatures. However, it's important to ensure proper installation and maintenance to prevent overheating and maximize their performance.

Q:I need a solar panel which can light up 4 full loaded 5 rooms appartment houses

good idea going solar, i would suggest doing a google search, as their are many suppliers. then you need to calculate the amount of wattage you think these apartment houses are going to require. volts x amps = watts. if you are going to be off of the power grid, then you will need a way to store excess energy during good times,( lots of sun) in order to use it during bad times ( no sun ). or see if you are able to sell your extra power back to your local power company, check because some companies do not allow this. you could even have a generator for emergencies if you go off the power grid. on final note, solar is a pretty sizable investment up front and your profits are seen mainly in the long run, but you will get energy savings immediately, but more likely those savings will go to paying off the solar panels also, you will need a converter to convert the ac (alternate current) produced by the panels into dc ( direct current ) which is used by the apartments. it will tie in to the existing electrical system in the apartments. i know germany is really pushing solar energy and they offer their citizens some pretty sweet deals to go solar. the companies are profiting from this so i would suggest looking for a supplier in germany, first. they may have better deals, or try bp (british petroeum) they have been in the solar business for awhile. i wish you success!