solar panel

Hi,

Nice query. The efficiency of a home solar power panel is measured by the ratio of the output and input power. Generally solar panels return an efficiency range of from approximately 10 percent to about 19 percent. As might be expected, the higher the efficiency rating obtained, the more likely the cost of each panel will also be higher. Modern home solar power panel designs maximize the generation of electricity from solar energy and are now a very viable option if you wish to harness this form of 'renewable' energy to meet your personal home consumption.

You didn't answer the question, again.

come on guys, answer already. Solar panels generally put out around 14vdc. This i usually run through a charge controler and stored in 12 volt deep cycle batteries. Solar panels can be run in series to create higher dc output, and 12 volt batteries can be run in series to accept higher voltage. Solar panels can now be purchased for about $2.00 per watt of output.

How cost effective they are depends entirely on what you have to pay now. are you running a gas generator, or drawing from a utility company. In my area, grid power costs 10 cents per killawatt hour. My electric bill is around $75 a month. It would take about a 10 yr period to pay off a solar power install at the same rate. Then, untill somthing failed, my power would be free. Many utility companys pay you for excess power you produce using renewable energy. You may be in an area where you could sell to the utility, neighbors, or open a battery charging shop for a fast return on your investment.

if you really want to have a reliable source of electricity capable of generating power 24 hours a day with low fuel costs, look into thermoelectric generators seebeck devices. They are more expensive, but are smaller, not damaged by hail or windstorms,sand,etc and have been used for years by military and nasa. they create power from ANY heat source.

Wrong! See lynlynch's reply - more factual

wrong? about what. The poster asked how much power a solar PANEL PUTS OUT, NOT THE INDIVIDUAL CELLS. Also, how cost effective they are depends on what you pay now, as well as what you do with the power you produce. Please, repost and put quote marks around my "wrong" statements.

Your post - Solar panels generally put out around '14'vdc -note the quote marks.

still wrong

Individual cells have output (typically 0.5 volts) which is summed up for the panel.

The OP request - What is maximum voltage can be produced by solar panel.whether it is cost efficient?

As Lynclynch points out, each cell puts out about 0.5 V. You can mount as many cells as you need to in parallel and series to give you whatever voltage and current you could possibly want...

Most of the commercial panels I have worked with are rated either 12 volt or 24 volt.

I'm new at this, so solar cell is a standard size?

The highest VDC, open circuit voltage I know of in a panel is 37 volts. 37.4 VDC to be exact in a REC PE-US PV module. Of course you can run them in series up to whatever voltage you want.

Just wired up a 14 panel roof top system in Canada and it produces 220vac at 4 Kw.this system came with a double meter base that needs to be changed out so you can meter what power is sent back into the grid @ a calculated cost per Kw.

where did you obtain panels that put out A/C VOLTAGE. i would like to know where to buy them. I thought those were kept in the unobtanium aisle.

Maybe he was the helper for the electrician - carrying the tools or something.

I have solar panels on my roof. Each panel has 72 cells in series, and outputs a maximum of about 37V ie about 0.5V per cell. The cells have internal resistance, so the panel delivers 24V when a current of just over 7A is drawn from the panel. The 24V panel, as it is designated, is a common one used in arrays connected to the power grid.

Be aware that some of these panels have only 60 cells in series, so can only deliver a maximum 30V.

To best answer your question it would help us to know exactly what your plans are for your system however we can give you general answers. As has been stated the crystaline solar cells are able to produce about .5VDC so most solar panels have many of these cells connected in series. For 12V systems you select panels that generate about 16 to 20 VDC for 24V systems you select panels from around 28 to 36VDC. As you can see the panels can be made for almost any voltage. If you can afford an MPPT Charge Controller then you can get the maximum amount of power from your panels. Now, just to add more info, if you are using thin film panels instead of crystalline ones you will find that these panels produce a high DC voltage like 136VDC. These panels are often grouped in series and parallel and the voltage from the array can be very high like 400 to 500VDC. Generally these panels work with high voltage inverters which have MPPT controllers built in.

So you see we need to know exactly what system you plan to use.

everyone a little bit wrong. The maximum voltage by NEC is either 600V or 1000V(NEC and Europe). That is for an array or panel. A panel itself is a collection of modules. A module is a collection of cells. A module or array or panel can be made to any voltage by arrangement of cells in series! (to infinity in theory) Cell output varies differently. Thin film can be monocellular and produce voltages in the hundreds of volts. Practical limits are 600V and 1000V. Some commerical modules for PV are in the hight 50's in Volts at open circuit. Look up Sunpower modules in the 300W range!

thanks for the quick overview.

Prakashmano, the voltage produced by a solar panel is not very useful. You can get any voltage you choose by putting the cells in series. That is why you are getting so many odd answers here. What is important is power.

By putting several cells in series, you can get a lot of power without increasing the amperage running through the cells. The often overlooked amperage is the limiting factor in these systems since amperage results in all sorts of losses. By reducing the amperage as much as possible you make the whole array more efficient.

Cost efficiency cannot be determined without knowing what you are comparing costs to.