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The Silicon Solar How-To Guide is the best source for Solar Panel information.

Welcome to the solar energy information center where you can find answers to all of your solar energy questions. Whether you are looking for information on how to setup your solar hot water system or information on the differences between crystalline and amorphous solar cells, you"ll find the answer"s here.

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• How can I tell which side of my flexible solar panel is the positive side and which is the negative?
  
  
• I've your solar panel (product no 04-1207) for 12V - 4W. The package only includes the panel. I wanted to know can I connect the panel directly to the 12V battery ? Is there any polarity issue involved in this? or do I need a separate charge controller between the panel and the 12V battery. Appreciate your help
  
  
• How can I connect the solar panel to the solar car?
  
  
• How does a solar system work and where can I find information on how to determine what size solar panel(s) I will need for my application?
  
  
• Doing some research, I have become befuddled by the wattage rating system; Is there any real limit to the amount of electricity that a solar cell can produce? ie if you focus twice as much light onto a small cell, will it not output twice as many watts? Would i require a special type of panel in order to complete this project? Thanks for any help you can give me.
  
  
• I am interested in powering a 144 sq ft studio space. I will need to power 2 standard outdoor wall lights on this unit, landscape lights, and a laptop computer. What solar panel product do you recommend for this environment? Thanks, :linsu
  
  
• I am interested in the solar flexible film panels - 20 watts specifically. Do I need a charge controller to prevent overcharging to a 12v battery? if so, does it come with the panel.
  
  
• I just bought the 12v marine battery charger; how strong is the product? I am not sure where to mount it and dont have much space. Can it be stepped on or is it very fragile?
  
  

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• How can I tell which side of my flexible solar panel is the positive side and which is the negative?
  
  When your looking at your panel you will notice 2 sets of lines that travel through its face. One set travels the complete width of the panel which we will call "line set W". The second set of lines comes off of the lines in "line set W" at a 90 degree angle and form a gap with the lines in "line set W". Think of these little lines as pointers which point to the negative side of the flexible panel. The positive side is the opposite terminal of the negative side.
  
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• I've your solar panel (product no 04-1207) for 12V - 4W. The package only includes the panel. I wanted to know can I connect the panel directly to the 12V battery ? Is there any polarity issue involved in this? or do I need a separate charge controller between the panel and the 12V battery. Appreciate your help
  
  We recommend connect battery clamps our your specified terminals located on each solar panel. Using a multimeter, test the leads to be sure of which terminal is positive or negative. Additional wire leads may be soldered or connected at your discretion
  
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• How can I connect the solar panel to the solar car?
  
  We would not be able to provide technical support with installing solar panels to any motorized vehicle.
  
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• How does a solar system work and where can I find information on how to determine what size solar panel(s) I will need for my application?
  
  The electricity generated by a Silicon Solar energy solution works just like the electricity delivered by your local utility. After passing through a component called an inverter, the direct current (DC) electricity generated by photovoltaic panels is converted to alternating current (AC), the type of electricity that you normally access through the outlets in your home or business facility. To find a solar system suitable for your application. You must first do some research and understand the basics of a solar system operation. Here is a link to several Solar Books carried by Silicon Solar Inc. http://www.siliconsolar.com/solar-books.html
  
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• Doing some research, I have become befuddled by the wattage rating system; Is there any real limit to the amount of electricity that a solar cell can produce? ie if you focus twice as much light onto a small cell, will it not output twice as many watts? Would i require a special type of panel in order to complete this project? Thanks for any help you can give me.
  
  Typically when you concentrate a light on a solar cell, the output increases, however at the same time when you increase the about of light on a solar cells, the temperature of the solar cells also increases. As the solar cell temperature increases, the overall efficiency of the cell decreases. We do not recommend exposing solar cells to long levels of intense light without proper heat sinks. A charge controller will enable you to regulate the amount of electricity the solar cells/array uses.
  
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• I am interested in powering a 144 sqft stuio space. I will need to power 2 standard outdoor wall lights on this unit, landscape lights, and a laptop computer. What solar panel product do you recommend for this environment? Thanks, :linsu
  
  You need to first consult with a local electrician to see the load demand to power a battery source in a given time frame. From there we can determine what size panel.
  
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• I am interested in the solar flexible film panels - 20 watts specifically. Do I need a charge controller to prevent overcharging to a 12v battery? If so, does it come with the panel.
  
  Yes a charge controller will be need to prevent overcharge and discharge. I am sorry but it does not come with the panel but needs to be purchased separately.
  
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• I just bought the 12v marine battery charger; how strong is the product? I am not sure where to mount it and don't have much space. Can it be stepped on or is it very fragile?
  
  The glass itself is very fragile but the metal framing is pretty durable. When mounting this you can drill through the frame but you MUST be careful not to drill the glass as it slightly recedes into the framing. I would drill as far out away from the glass as possible to prevent breakage.
  
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