do solar panels store energy?

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  • Amputate Your Head
    There can be only one
    • Aug 2001
    • 39075

    #1

    do solar panels store energy?

    like, store it up like a battery would?
    If I'm taking one off, do I gotta discharge it somehow first or something? I don't wanna get electrocuted here....
    SIG TOO BIG
  • ztik
    Confirmed User
    • Aug 2001
    • 5196

    #2
    No, they don't. Unless it has an internal battery.
    .

    Comment

    • Mishi
      Confirmed User
      • Feb 2002
      • 1054

      #3
      I don't believe they do; I believe they're used to charge a battery...but you might wanna do a Google before you take my word for it...
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      • ztik
        Confirmed User
        • Aug 2001
        • 5196

        #4
        also if you do happen to get shocked, it shouldn't hurt very much or at all
        .

        Comment

        • Mike Semen
          Confirmed User
          • Dec 2001
          • 2924

          #5
          Your 'thread to end all threads...'

          It ended?
          ICQ 1454 81 522 |

          Comment

          • Amputate Your Head
            There can be only one
            • Aug 2001
            • 39075

            #6
            Originally posted by Mike Semen
            Your 'thread to end all threads...'

            It ended?
            yeah... it was lame.

            this one has potential though
            SIG TOO BIG

            Comment

            • Sly_RJ
              Live Hard - Die Hard
              • Feb 2002
              • 17042

              #7
              http://www.howstuffworks.com/solar-cell.htm
              Interesting reading.
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              • pamphage
                Confirmed User
                • Jan 2003
                • 3569

                #8
                SIG TOO BIG! Maximum 120x60 button and no more than 3 text lines of DEFAULT SIZE and COLOR.
                Unless your sig is for a GFY top banner sponsor, you may use a 624x80 instead of a 120x60.
                Let me repeat... A 120 x 60 button and no more that 3 lines of DEFAULT SIZE AND COLOR text.

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                • Amputate Your Head
                  There can be only one
                  • Aug 2001
                  • 39075

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Sly_RJ
                  http://www.howstuffworks.com/solar-cell.htm
                  Interesting reading.
                  hmmm.... good stuff there.

                  so, I should be looking for a battery first then? Where would that be? Underneath it?
                  SIG TOO BIG

                  Comment

                  • Mike Semen
                    Confirmed User
                    • Dec 2001
                    • 2924

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Amputate Your Head


                    yeah... it was lame.

                    this one has potential though
                    Damn... and there was me spoiling for a scrap...

                    I applaud your green efforts tho'

                    I think the best thing to do is get a mix of panels and wind turbines... that way you get power whatever the weather. And yes, you can store the electricity you don't use. i understand that you need to buy cells to do that with tho.

                    I was looking at making my northern hemisphere lair self sufficient a while ago...
                    ICQ 1454 81 522 |

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                    • HeadPimp
                      Bad Mo-Fo
                      • Jul 2001
                      • 2772

                      #11
                      I have never heard of one having an internal battery. As long as it isn't hooked to anything else you are fine. Plus as far as I know they generat DC power which won't hurt you...

                      Comment

                      • Mr Pheer
                        So Fucking Banned
                        • Dec 2002
                        • 22082

                        #12
                        they dont store energy and they only produce direct current

                        I assume this is for your house, and if it is, then a battery would be large and you'd know if you had one

                        just cover it with a tarp (to keep sunlight from hitting it) and do whatever you need to do

                        Handle it carfully though, they are kind of fragile. And if its been in the sun all day, its going to be pretty warm.

                        Comment

                        • Sly_RJ
                          Live Hard - Die Hard
                          • Feb 2002
                          • 17042

                          #13
                          You should probably call a local installation company. It looks like there are several different setups you might have. Some use batteries, some don't. Some feed the power grid, some don't.
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                          • Amputate Your Head
                            There can be only one
                            • Aug 2001
                            • 39075

                            #14
                            crap. I don't think I have a battery kind. Was hoping to not have to call somebody for this, but I hate electricity cuz I'll end up frying myself. If I turn off all the breakers in the house first, that won't work?
                            SIG TOO BIG

                            Comment

                            • Mr Pheer
                              So Fucking Banned
                              • Dec 2002
                              • 22082

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Mike Semen


                              Damn... and there was me spoiling for a scrap...

                              I applaud your green efforts tho'

                              I think the best thing to do is get a mix of panels and wind turbines... that way you get power whatever the weather. And yes, you can store the electricity you don't use. i understand that you need to buy cells to do that with tho.

                              I was looking at making my northern hemisphere lair self sufficient a while ago...
                              I was looking at doing the same thing in Texas. Some states (like texas) have a metering program where you still are connected to the power company but if you are generating more power than you are using, it actualy spins your meter backwards, which reduces your bill. Then at night your meter is running normal again when the cells arent producing power.

                              Some states have 2 meters, incoming and outgoing, and they "buy" the power from you, but they dont pay alot for it. Usualy its just deducting from your bill every month.

                              Then of course you can buy batteries to store the power and have generators for emergencies. Thats much more expensive but takes you off of the power grid completely.

                              Comment

                              • Mr Pheer
                                So Fucking Banned
                                • Dec 2002
                                • 22082

                                #16
                                Originally posted by Amputate Your Head
                                crap. I don't think I have a battery kind. Was hoping to not have to call somebody for this, but I hate electricity cuz I'll end up frying myself. If I turn off all the breakers in the house first, that won't work?
                                Dude its direct current

                                Dont put the wires in your mouth and you'll be fine
                                Just cover the cell to reduce its output as a safety thing
                                It really doesnt put out much current, and especialy not like what comes out of your wall outlet, which is alternating current and will shock the shit out of you

                                Comment

                                • Mike Semen
                                  Confirmed User
                                  • Dec 2001
                                  • 2924

                                  #17
                                  Yah, I saw a program in the uk where a power company employee had installed an experimental type of solar panel in his roof. The panels just looked like roof tiles and covered the whole thing.

                                  I think he was doing rather well selling power back to the national grid...

                                  if everyone did this we would be looking good....
                                  ICQ 1454 81 522 |

                                  Comment

                                  • Amputate Your Head
                                    There can be only one
                                    • Aug 2001
                                    • 39075

                                    #18
                                    Originally posted by MrPheer


                                    Dude its direct current

                                    Dont put the wires in your mouth and you'll be fine
                                    Just cover the cell to reduce its output as a safety thing
                                    It really doesnt put out much current, and especialy not like what comes out of your wall outlet, which is alternating current and will shock the shit out of you
                                    so you're saying it's totally safe long as I don't fuck around with the wires then right?
                                    SIG TOO BIG

                                    Comment

                                    • HeadPimp
                                      Bad Mo-Fo
                                      • Jul 2001
                                      • 2772

                                      #19
                                      Originally posted by Amputate Your Head
                                      crap. I don't think I have a battery kind. Was hoping to not have to call somebody for this, but I hate electricity cuz I'll end up frying myself. If I turn off all the breakers in the house first, that won't work?
                                      All I can say is if you are really worried, grab a pair of electricians gloves that are insulated for electricity and a disposable pair of cutters.. Not that I would EVER have cut power to something that way before...

                                      Comment

                                      • Mr Pheer
                                        So Fucking Banned
                                        • Dec 2002
                                        • 22082

                                        #20
                                        Originally posted by Amputate Your Head


                                        so you're saying it's totally safe long as I don't fuck around with the wires then right?
                                        it puts out the same type of current as a battery
                                        you can touch the terminals on a battery and you're ok
                                        but a battery in your mouth and you'll be sorry

                                        just dont put the wires in your mouth, put still cover the panel to reduce its output just incase you short the wires together or something, you dont want to damage the panel

                                        Comment

                                        • Mr Pheer
                                          So Fucking Banned
                                          • Dec 2002
                                          • 22082

                                          #21
                                          um... why are you moving the panel anyway?

                                          Comment

                                          • Amputate Your Head
                                            There can be only one
                                            • Aug 2001
                                            • 39075

                                            #22
                                            Originally posted by MrPheer
                                            um... why are you moving the panel anyway?
                                            not 100% sure I need to yet, but I have some damage up there and was wondering in case I need to take them off to fix it, cuz I don't know how bad it is yet. But I don't know, do they just bolt down over the top of the roofing or is there like, a big hole or something under them for the wires and shit?
                                            SIG TOO BIG

                                            Comment

                                            • Mr Pheer
                                              So Fucking Banned
                                              • Dec 2002
                                              • 22082

                                              #23
                                              Originally posted by Amputate Your Head

                                              not 100% sure I need to yet, but I have some damage up there and was wondering in case I need to take them off to fix it, cuz I don't know how bad it is yet. But I don't know, do they just bolt down over the top of the roofing or is there like, a big hole or something under them for the wires and shit?
                                              They are usualy bolted to a metal frame which is then bolted to your roof somehow.

                                              Comment

                                              • $5 submissions
                                                I help you SUCCEED
                                                • Nov 2003
                                                • 32189

                                                #24
                                                Originally posted by Amputate Your Head
                                                like, store it up like a battery would?
                                                If I'm taking one off, do I gotta discharge it somehow first or something? I don't wanna get electrocuted here....
                                                It doesn't.

                                                Comment

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