Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units.
How to solar panels works.
Solar photovoltaic pv panels are based on a high tech but remarkably simple technology that converts sunlight directly to electricity.
When you really break them down a solar panel is nothing more than a big sheet of glass over a metal frame with a patch of wiring that runs to your home s main electrical panel.
Solar panels work by absorbing sunlight with photovoltaic cells generating direct current dc energy and then converting it to usable alternating current ac energy with the help of inverter technology.
In fact the term photovoltaic literally means light and electric these cells are designed from materials capable of reacting with a photovoltaic effect simply put the sun ray excites the electrons in the photovoltaic cell.
A module is a group of cells connected electrically and packaged into a frame more commonly known as a solar panel which can then be grouped into larger solar arrays like the one operating at nellis air force base in nevada.
It s an idea that has been around for well over a century.