The photovoltaic effect is a process that generates voltage or electric current in a photovoltaic cell when it is exposed to sunlight. It is this effect that makes solar panels useful, as it is how the cells within the panel convert sunlight to electrical energy. The photovoltaic effect was first discovered in 1839 by Edmond Becquerel.
Higher amperage means more electricity is flowing. Solar panels generate electricity when sunlight hits the photovoltaic cells, causing electrons to move and create a current. The amperage produced by a solar panel depends on the amount of sunlight it receives and the efficiency of the cells.
The photovoltaic effect occurs in solar cells. These solar cells are composed of two different types of semiconductors - a p-type and an n-type - that are joined together to create a p-n junction. To read the background on what these semiconductors are and what the junction is, click here.
Solar panels generate electricity when sunlight hits the photovoltaic cells, causing electrons to move and create a current. The amperage produced by a solar panel depends on the amount of sunlight it receives and the efficiency of the cells. For instance, on a sunny day, a solar panel might produce a higher current compared to a cloudy day.
Photovoltaic cells produce their power output at about 0.5 to 0.6 volts DC, with current being directly proportional to the cell’s area and irradiance. But it is the resistance of the connected load which ultimately determines the amount of amperage supplied by a panel, or pv cell.
As we have seen throughout theses alternative energy tutorials, photovoltaic solar panels are semiconductor devices that covert sunlight into electrical DC energy. Connecting PV panels together in parallel increases current and therefore power output, as electrical power in watts equals “volts times amperes” (P = V x I). On Sale Now