The Basics
How do solar panels create electricity?
Solar panels are made of silicon. Silicon has amazing properties. When light hits a silicon atom in a solar panel, some of the electrons circling its nucleus get knocked free. These electrons are picked up, or conducted, by very thin metal wires circling the panel. This movement of electrons through wires creates energy in the form of electricity.
Where does the electricity go?
Electricity flows through a wire in the solar cell to where it is needed like water flows through a pipe or garden hose. When sunlight hits the solar panels on the AllSun Tracker, the electricity created moves through the tracker wiring and into the wiring in your house. Depending on how many appliances you have turned on, your Tracker will power some or all of them. If more electricity has been created than you need at that moment, electricity simply flows from the AllSun Tracker into the electric grid ready to power someone else’s computer, coffee maker or anything that requires electricity.
One crucial step: converting DC power to household AC power
Before the electricity from the AllSun Tracker enters your house or business to power your appliances, it must first pass through an inverter. The inverter’s job is to convert DC power, Direct Current created by the Tracker’s PV panels, to AC power, Alternating Current used in your home or business.