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Module 4: Basic Solar Components and How They Work

If you’ve made it this far, you now understand the basics of electricity, how to size batteries, and the different types of solar power systems. Now it’s time to look under the hood and break down the actual hardware that makes generating and storing solar power possible.

In this lesson, we’ll cover the three core components every solar power system needs:

• Solar Panels (how power is generated)
• Batteries (where power is stored)
• Power Inverters (how power becomes usable)

You’ll also learn about a few supporting components that make solar power systems safer, cleaner, and easier to expand.

By the end of this module, you’ll understand how power flows through a solar system, and why sizing each component correctly is so important.

The Three Main Components of a Solar Power System

At the most basic level, your solar power system needs to generate electricity, store that power, and then convert it so it can be used by your appliances and devices.

Each of these tasks is handled by a different piece of equipment. Here’s how they work:

1. Solar Panels: How Power is Generated

Solar panels are the most recognizable piece of equipment in any solar power system. They also happen to be one of the most crucial, as they are what generates the power that you need.

Inside each panel you will find photovoltaic (PV) cells that absorb sunlight and convert it into an electric charge in the form of direct current (DC) electricity.

Solar panels come in a variety of sizes and power ratings. This power rating is almost always measured in watts (W), and this number will tell you how much power the panel can produce in an hour under ideal conditions. For example:

• Small folding solar panels could have a rating of 100W
• Medium rigid solar panels a rating of 200W to 400W
• Large residential solar panels a rating of over 400W

While you can plug a single solar panel into something like a portable power station, most solar power systems use multiple panels which are wired together to form a solar array.

The total wattage of all of the panels together is what matters most. We won’t worry too much about sizing solar panels just yet, as a later module will walk you through that step-by-step process. 

⚡Solar Lab Tip: Your Solar Panel Wattage is Conditional

The wattage rating for a solar panel is its output under ideal conditions. Just because you have a 400W panel, it doesn’t mean your panel will generate 400 watts of solar power. 

This is why it’s so important to optimize your setup by positioning and angling your solar panels correctly. Luckily, we have a guide for that: Solar Panel Tilt Explained

The main takeaways here are that your solar panels generate DC power, each panel has a wattage rating that describes its output under ideal conditions, and the total wattage of all of your solar panels describes your solar array and total solar output. 

2. Batteries: Where Solar Power is Stored

With your solar panels generating free, off-grid electricity, you need somewhere to store that power. This is where your battery bank comes into play. 

We already covered sizing batteries, but it’s important to understand their role and how they fit into a solar power system if you want to learn the basics of solar. 

Without batteries, you wouldn’t have a source of power at night, during storms, or basically any time you need it. A common misconception with solar power systems is that the solar electricity your panels generate goes directly to your home’s outlets. The reality is that power must be stored inside your batteries. 

Batteries store DC electricity, so you can draw it at your convenience. Battery capacity is measured in watt-hours (Wh), or kilowatt-hours (kWh). This tells you how much the battery can store when it is fully charged.

For example:

• A 2,636Wh battery can store 2.6kWh of power when fully charged
• A 5,000Wh battery can store 5kWh of power at full charge

It sounds obvious, but the larger the number, the more power it can store (and the longer you’ll be able to run your appliances and devices).

Without batteries, you would only be able to use solar power while the sun was shining, and even then it would be difficult to generate the amount of electricity your appliances and devices needed. It just isn’t practical, which is why every solar power system, including portable power stations, uses a battery for power storage.

If you want to revisit battery sizing, you can go back to the second module, or watch our video guide: Sizing Battery Capacity for Your Solar Power System

3. Power Inverter: Turning Solar Power into Usable Power

Solar panels generate DC power, which solar batteries store; however, most homes and appliances use alternating current (AC power).

Your power inverter is the component that converts the DC power in your batteries into the AC power you need. 

Like solar panels, inverters are rated in watts (W). The wattage measures how much power the inverter can output at any given time. For example, a basic 3,000W inverter can supply up to 3,000 watts of power when it is running at full capacity.

Inverter designs vary, with some designed for off-grid applications and others for hybrid setups. Portable power stations also contain their own built-in inverter, which is why they have AC input ports that allow you to plug your AC appliances and devices directly into them. 

Choosing the right type and size of inverter for your needs is an important decision. Too small, and your solar power system won’t be able to accept all of the power your panels generate, or supply enough power to run your electrical loads. If your inverter is too large, you could just be overspending on something you don’t need. 

We’ll cover inverter sizing in Module 6, but you can watch our video guide ahead of time if you’re interested: Sizing a Power Inverter for a Solar Power System

A Quick Visual of a Solar Power System

To help visualize how these components work together, imagine a simple solar power setup:

1. Solar panels collect sunlight and use it to produce DC electricity
2. That newly generated solar electricity is stored as DC power in your batteries
3. When you need the electricity, the power inverter converts the stored DC power into AC power
4. The usable electricity is then used to run your appliances, charge your devices, and power any other load you have

A simplified way to think about it is to imagine your solar panels are like your paycheck, your batteries are your bank account, and your inverter is your debit card.

You need enough income (power generated by your panels) and enough savings (stored power inside your batteries) to cover all of your expenses (power converted by your inverter that is needed to cover your electricity needs).

Other Components in a Solar Power System

While your solar panels, batteries, and inverter are the core components of your solar power system, a real setup will include a few supporting components: 

Charge Controller: 

A charge controller is a device that regulates the voltage coming from the solar panels, ensuring that the batteries are charged safely and efficiently. Most modern inverters have built-in charge controllers, but you’ll need to include one in your setup if yours doesn’t have one. A portable power station will also include a built-in charge controller.

Bus Bars and Distributors: 

These components help organize the wiring in your system, making it easier to manage and expand if needed. They allow you to connect multiple devices to your batteries without creating a tangled mess of wires. 

PV Disconnects or Isolators: 

These act like safety switches that disconnect the solar panels from the rest of the system, allowing you to perform maintenance or repairs without risking getting electrocuted. 

Solar Panel Mounts: 

Roof and ground mounts hold your solar panels fixed in place. While they’re not completely necessary, they keep things organized and compact. They can also make sure your solar panels are angled in a way that allows them to absorb as much sunlight as possible. 

You can build your own DIY solar panel mount, but we’d recommend buying a prefabricated version. There are plenty of high-quality mounts out there that are still very budget-friendly. 

Up Next: Module 5 – Sizing Solar Panels for Your System

Having a basic understanding of how the components in your system work together will help you avoid feeling lost when it comes time to size and purchase equipment.

We already covered sizing batteries in Module 2, but we’re going to get into sizing and wiring solar panels in our next lesson. From there, we’ll explain how you can size your inverter.

In the end, you’ll be able to purchase the solar components or power station that you need, without guesswork or falling victim to predatory sales pressure.

P.S. Don't forget to bookmark these lessons and download your free PDF version of the course!