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....

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

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... :Graucho

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

Your 'thread to end all threads...'

It ended?

yeah... it was lame. :(

this one has potential though

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?

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

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... :glugglug

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...

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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....

so you're saying it's totally safe long as I don't fuck around with the wires then right?

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...

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

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?

They are usualy bolted to a metal frame which is then bolted to your roof somehow.

It doesn't.