Types of Solar Panels

If you are ever planning on learning how to make a solar panel or just want to learn about them, it is important to know about the different types of panels.  There are many different types of solar panels, however, there are only four main types that can be bought and installed on a house or other building.  Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
 
The fist main type of solar panel is an amorphous silicone panel. The panels are typically made with copper that has a thin film of silicon over the top of it that are connected with wires. This type of panel is one of the cheapest to produce out of four but it also has the lowest electricity conversion rate averaging around five to seven percent.
 
The second main type of solar panel is  a mono-crystalline Silicon panel.  This type of panel is are made from a single piece of silicone with metal around the edges to make it more conductive.  This type of panel is the most expensive type of panel to produce, however, it is also the most efficient with a conversation rate around sixteen percent.
 
The next type of solar panel is a polycrystalline silicon panel.  This type of panel is made of multiple photovoltaic cells that are connected together to from one single piece.  polycrystalline silicon panels have a conversion rate around thirteen percent and are alos the cheapest to produce.  This is also one of the most common types of solar panels used in homes.
 
The last type of solar panel is a String Ribbon Silicon Panel.  This type of panel is very similar to the polycrystalline panels and have have about the same conversion rates.  The difference between the two is that the photovoltaic cell are arranged in strips of silicon connected with bars of metal to form a single panel.
 
There are other types of panels but these four are the most widley used.  If you are deciding on which type of build or install, keep in mind that investing in a panel with a higher conversion rate will give you the greatest return on investment.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 30th, 2011 at 6:42 pm and is filed under Solar Energy Facts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.