Something that puzzles me about solar panels. (1 Viewer)

[knokinonabit]

Apart from nearly everything, that is.

If a panel is exposed to sunlight but not connected to anything to charge/run/power etc, does it still produce power, and if it does, where does it go ?

As you may be able to tell I am a complete numpty when it comes to solar, or 'owt else electrical really, so please only answer in terms a numpty like me can understand.

 

[tacr2man]

Simplest answer you need a circuit for it to flow

 

[knokinonabit]

Simplest answer you need a circuit for it to flow View attachment 240116

Ok, that seems easy enough, but, where does it go if it's not flowing ?

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[Lenny HB]

It doesn't go anywhere you just get a potential difference across the connections.

 

[tacr2man]

a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles (such as electrons or protons), either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current.

 

[DBK]

It's like the 13A socket on the wall of your house. It has the potential to produce energy but not unless it is connected to something. But unlike a 13A socket a solar panel doesn't go phut if you short the wires together.

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[knokinonabit]

It doesn't go anywhere you just get a potential difference across the connections.

a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles (such as electrons or protons), either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current.

Thanks for the replies.

Don't understand any of it

Basically the panel doesn't do anything then, and there is no build up of unused power or energy.
I think !!!!!!

 

[knokinonabit]

It's like the 13A socket on the wall of your house. It has the potential to produce energy but not unless it is connected to something. But unlike a 13A socket a solar panel doesn't go phut if you short the wires together.

Thank you. I understand now



.

 

[Jim]

When we lived in Wales we'd collect every bit of Sunlight from May to September and store it all in a PP9 battery. Wow if it was a good summer and we got it fully charged it used to make our tongues tingle .

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[chatteris]

you had sunlight in wales

 

[tonyidle]

you had sunlight in wales

Not really. He daren't describe the other methods they have for making tongues tingle.

 

[Driventemple]

It's like the 13A socket on the wall of your house. It has the potential to produce energy but not unless it is connected to something. But unlike a 13A socket a solar panel doesn't go phut if you short the wires together.

Just don't short the wires together for too long!

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[Taran_Las]

When we lived in Wales we'd collect every bit of Sunlight from May to September and store it all in a PP9 battery. Wow if it was a good summer and we got it fully charged it used to make our tongues tingle .

The sun only shines on the righteous​

 

[knokinonabit]

Just don't short the wires together for too long!

You lot are just trying to confuse me now



.

 

[pappajohn]

It's like a water tap...... You know there's water in the tap but it doesn't come out until you open the tap.

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[tonyidle]

It's like a water tap...... You know there's water in the tap but it doesn't come out until you open the tap.

I know of taps that give entirely the wrong impression. A bit like Schroeders cat.

 

[Linda and Steph]

When we lived in Wales we'd collect every bit of Sunlight from May to September and store it all in a PP9 battery. Wow if it was a good summer and we got it fully charged it used to make our tongues tingle .

A friend of my dad once checked the power supply to a light fitting using that method, I stress the ‘once’.

 

[Ivory55]

You lot are just trying to confuse me now



.

Next they will talk about pmt, and shunts and all other 12v voodoo words, and then they wonder why simple people like me take the easy option and get a generator. Haha

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[pappajohn]

I know of taps that give entirely the wrong impression. A bit like Schroeders cat.

Yes, I knew a tap that did impressions... But nobody could faucet to do them........ Boom-boom.

 

[DBK]

 

[TheBig1]

tis a Jedi mind trick......the force is strong in solar panels... there is no work or not work the solar panel just is

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[Lenny HB]

The sun only shines on the righteous​

So you have yet to find out what sun is then Phil.

 

[Larrynwin]

Sky hooks of course

 

[hilldweller]

Just don't short the wires together for too long!

OK, why ? In the case of a motorhome sized panel.

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[knokinonabit]

OK, why ? In the case of a motorhome sized panel.

Oh for goodness sake.
We're going to get an answer that contains words and abbreviations that I won't understand now.

 

[hilldweller]

Oh for goodness sake.

I just can't work out the thinking behind the statement, that bugs me.

 

[knokinonabit]

I just can't work out the thinking behind the statement, that bugs me.

It means that I am frustrated that there will be posts and explanations that I don't understand and it was meant in a joking fashion.
Hope you are now de-bugged

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[hilldweller]

Hope you are now de-bugged

After a couple of thousand miles across EU land pretty much so, but for a problem with FIAT cruise control. Often it works perfectly by the book but now and again I can nudge it one up ( expecting 1 mph or so ) and it tries to take off and in this state the nudge down does not work and can even speed up. At least the foot brake always turns it off. So a faulty switch I'm guessing. It makes life very pleasant on clear EU motorways with an effortless rock steady speed.