Off-Grid Stuff

Solar photovoltaic panels are used to make electricity from solar radiation. It is one of very few ways of making electrical energy without using rotating parts, like in alternators. Those panels (also known as solar modules) are made from smaller parts, called solar cells.

Most solar photovoltaic panels are made to work with 12V systems, like the one you have in your car. It’s because this system is probably the most popular, it’s not very unusual to have solar photovoltaic panel on your camper or caravan. Of course you can always use those panels to get higher voltage, by connecting two or more panels in series. But be aware, that you will always get direct current (DC), not the alternating current (AC) you have in your wall sockets!

Because of what I mentioned above, if you want to power your home devices from solar photovoltaic panel, you would need at least an inverter. And a battery bank if you want to use those devices not only when the sun is shining.

250W Monocrystalline HJ Black Panel Solar PV Panel MCS Approved Photovoltaic £289.00 Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-05-2012 16:30:27 GMT   | Watch this Item

250 Watt Solar Panel PV Monocrystalline 12V 250W TUV MCS Approved Photovoltaic £269.99 Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-05-2012 16:43:45 GMT   | Watch this Item

New 240 Sharp NU-R240J5 Mono Solar Photovoltaic PV Panel Module £142.00 (37 Bids) Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-05-2012 20:27:26 GMT   | Watch this Item

Unused 240 watt Sharp NU-R240J5 Mono Solar Photovoltaic PV Panel Module £124.00 (16 Bids) Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-05-2012 20:27:58 GMT   | Watch this Item

Unused 180 watt Trina Solar TSM-180DC01 Mono Solar Photovoltaic PV Panel Module £62.00 (6 Bids) Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-05-2012 21:08:13 GMT   | Watch this Item

10 pair MC4 Connector for solar panel male female, TUV, photovoltaic £13.63 Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 13:50:33 GMT   | Watch this Item

2x Photovoltaic Solar Power System Panel 10W 12V Marine £34.20 Auction Ends: Monday Feb-06-2012 19:09:42 GMT   | Watch this Item

You can find more solar on eBay, as well as all the accessories needed to put this energy to use.

Photovoltaics is not a very efficient way to make use of solar energy, if you’re looking for something much more efficient, check the solar thermal systems, like solar water heaters I mentioned previously.