Photovoltaic Installations by Electricians & Electrical Contractors

Introduction to Photovoltaic Installations by Electricians

Making use of the energy from the sun, Photovoltaic solar power is a technology that can be installed by electricians in a number of different applications. Photovoltaic solar power technology originated in technology designed for satellites. The International Space Station for example is installed with the largest solar power ever installed. It is so big that if installed by an electrician it could power 15 homes.

Photovoltaic solar power has come some way since the installations by electricians in the 1950s. The technology is useful for use with other applications installed by electricians including semi-conducting materials for converting sunlight to electricity.

Photovoltaic cells installed by electricians are applicable for smaller devices including solar calculators, watches, torches and more items are being discovered all the time which electricians install. Parking meters, telephone boxes and street lighting are such examples which electricians and electrical contractors install. Ultimately the growth of Photovoltaic installations by electricians will continue to rise given their potential for generating electricity at the site of use and therefore reducing grid demands.

Photovoltaic’s, A Green electricity Generator?

The capability to generate electricity via solar power and therefore the sun is predominantly a new technology that provides a number of opportunities to electricians and the consumer market. The provision of green electricity installed by electricians is quickly becoming a sought after installation and is being heavily promoted and incentivised by the government. Photovoltaic solar power is the name given to this green technology and offers clean renewable energy that can simply be installed in domestic and commercial premises by a local electrician. The energy from the sun is in abundance and provides no harmful carbon dioxide emissions, when correctly installed by electricians.

Photovoltaics Generation of Electricity?

Photovoltaic solar panels convert abundant sunlight directly into electricity through an installation by a local electrician who is correctly certified through the microgeneration certification scheme. Photons of light are emitted by the sun to generate electricity when the ray hits the photovoltaic cell.

PV Systems On Housing

Your local electrician will install many components, which are of significance to the Photovoltaic solar system. The Photovoltaic solar panels can be mounted in different ways and the necessary cables are installed by the electrician in combination with the right switches. This equipment is often referred to as balance of system which includes typical items used by electricians such as wires, conduit, circuits, fuses, safety components, socket outlets and metal parts for the support of the system.

The electrician will install a charge controller to regulate the flow of electricity from the Photovoltaic solar panels to the battery. Your electrician will explain how this helps maintain a full battery without overcharging.

The electrician may provide batteries for the purpose of storing electricity for certain situations. The batteries may also be used to meet loads when the Photovoltaic solar panels do not generate enough power.

An Inverter is installed by the electrician to convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC).

The electrician will install a meter if necessary to ensure the owner of the house or commercial premises is credited for any excess power generated by the Photovoltaic solar panel system. Your electrician will explain how this information is fed back to the grid. Over the course of the coming years homes will be fitted with smart meters, to provide more real time information to utilities companies.

Using Photovoltaic Solar to Your Advantage

Your electrician will explain that Photovoltaic solar power needs to be installed in the correct way to achieve the right system efficiency. The variables your electrician will explain include:

The location of the Photovoltaic solar panels is important as the electrician needs to install the units to capture as much sunlight as possible.

The orientation of a building and solar positioning are vital to the success of energy production via Photovoltaic solar power installations by electricians. Ideally the Photovoltaic solar panels should be fitted by an electrician to face south to collect the most sunlight throughout the year.

The electrician will fit the panels at the correct tilt angle towards the sun to increase the levels of energy production. The right angle is dependant on the latitude of the proposed installation site. Photovoltaic solar panels installed by an electrician on the equator will produce the optimum amount of energy when installed in a horizontal position.

Installation Locations

Photovoltaic solar power systems have a variety of applications for both commercial and domestic purposes as your local electrician will confirm.

Stand Alone Photovoltaic solar power systems

Electricians often comment that property owners turn to Photovoltaic’s as a last option for electricity generation. Typically this includes installations by an electrician in remote locations that are difficult to access or where the grid connection is too expensive. Electricians install stand-alone Photovoltaic solar power systems due to their economically viable capabilities. These Photovoltaic solar power systems installed by an electrician are not connected to the grid and have excess energy stored in a battery.

Grid Connected Photovoltaic solar power systems

Photovoltaic solar power technology awareness is rising and electricians are installing a number of different systems. The requirements for clean electricity and renewable technology are becoming more apparent with more installations by electricians. Domestic and commercial properties are more interested than ever to implement such Photovoltaic systems. More systems are being connected to local electricity networks. The electrician will ensure all the connections are in place to provide for this facility called embedded generation. In this Photovoltaic system the grid is effectively a storage facility. The electrician will install the system to generate electricity for use immediately, which is often the case for Photovoltaic applications in offices or commercial premises. The excess electricity can be sold back to the utility company, which is typical of domestic Photovoltaics where no one is in the house during the day. For evening operations the Photovoltaic solar system will not generate the required power so electricity is bought from the grid at this point.

Photovoltaic solar power systems integrated in a building

Electricians are installing photovoltaic’s on buildings at a substantial rate. Photovoltaic solar power systems can be installed by electricians in buildings in a variety of situations. Electricians may install them on south facing roofs or other areas suitable for the installation. Photovoltaic solar panels can be installed by electricians in the building itself, including roof tiles, cladding, canopies and skylights.

Photovoltaic installations by electricians are far more progressed in other countries than in the UK. The UK has been losing out to other countries significantly due to their market stimulation measures and use of Photovoltaic systems that incorporate low cost manufacturing processes.