![volts to watts volts to watts](https://image1.slideserve.com/3065198/amps-watts-volts-and-ohms-n.jpg)
If your panels are wired in series (one panel is wired to another, which is wired to another, and so on, before being wired to the solar inverter) and some are shaded, the solar power system will not work efficiently because poor power generation on just one panel can impact the entire array. Several factors affect the voltage of your solar panels, including: ShadingĪs a form of renewable energy, solar energy uses the sun as its source of power. That’s why industrial electric appliances have a higher voltage than household appliances - they have to do more, so they need more voltage. In the US, residential outlets are standardized at 120V.Īdditionally, the higher the voltage, the stronger the current a gadget can release. Since the voltage output of electrical outlets can differ, authorities standardize them to ensure they are safe for use. Since volt is symbolized by the letter “V”, 4V indicates a pressure of 4 volts or voltage units. The word volt is used in honor of Alessandro Volta, the Italian physicist who invented the electric battery. Volt is the International System of Units (SI) term used to measure voltage. Looking back to our water analogy, volts can be thought of as water pressure. You just have to make sure you don’t exceed the voltage limit for a device or outlet. More specifically, it’s the variation in electric charge between two points, or the electric potential of sending one watt of power through one amp of current.Īny variation in that pressure affects voltage, which can result in either poor or peak performance. Voltage is the pressure with which electricity flows from a source to power a device. Now we can talk about these words with greater clarity. These concepts translate to common electricity terms we want to help you understand:
![volts to watts volts to watts](http://greenlivingideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/electric-guy.jpg)
You can also change the power of that flow by adding pressure with your finger over the end, which adjusts the current.
#Volts to watts free#
As you stand in your backyard, you keep the hose free of blockages and twists so the water flows freely. In our analogy, the water represents the electricity, the hose represents the wires that transmit the electricity, the diameter of the hose is the electric current, and the water pressure is the power of the flow. With low pressure, water leaves the hose with less force. When the water pressure is high, water exits the hose with more force. Imagine water flowing through a hose as you take care of your backyard. It’s a way to better understand what solar electricity is, how it works, and the terms you’re trying to understand. Let’s begin this discussion with an analogy, showing how electricity is like water.
![volts to watts volts to watts](https://messi.it/dati/layout/files/cartellaelementi/pagine_cavi_50ohm/tabella_conversioni_volt.jpg)
In this article, we will simplify these words so that you can know what they stand for and gain a deeper appreciation for the science of solar technology. You may have even given up trying to understand them, but we can give you hope. You aren’t the only person who finds electricity terms like volts, watts, and amps confusing. It’s important to know how solar power can supply your home with all of the electricity that you need to run your daily life. Having a strong working knowledge of what those technical vocabulary words really mean can be helpful to understand how solar works. As you learn about solar energy, you will hear electrical terms like volts, watts, and amps being used to describe solar power equipment, energy production and consumption, and battery storage.