Solar industry knowledge simple introduction

AC
One of two types of electricity: Alternating Current; found in homes.
 
Amorphous
having an atomic structure that is not periodic.
 
Amorphous Silicon
"Sometimes abbreviated as ""a-Si"", amorphous silicon is used as a disordered semi-conductor material in the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process used to create thin-film solar cells on a stainless-steel substrate"
 
Amps
"The unit of electrical current. Can be thought of as the ""flow rate"" of electricity."
 
Array (photovoltaic)
modules wired together in series or parallel form an array.
 
Blocking Diode
"Used to prevent undesired current flow. In a PV array, the diode is used to prevent current flow towards a failed or shaded module (or string of modules) or from the battery to the PV array during periods of darkness or low current production."
 
BOS or Balance of System (photovoltaic)
the parts of a photovoltaic system other than the array. For instance: switches, controls, meters, power conditioning equipment, supporting structure for the array, storage components, etc.
 
Bypass Diode
A diode connected in parallel with a PV cell to provide an alternative current path in case of cell shading or failure.
 
Cell (photovoltaic)
the smallest unit of a solar module.
 
Charge Monitor/Meter
A device that measures amperage; amp meter.
 
Charge Regulator
" A device that controls the changing rate and/or state of charge for batteries. Wired between a photovoltaic array and a battery bank., its main job is to prevent the battery from being overcharged from the PV array, while monitoring the array and/or battery voltage."
 
Components
Refers to other devices used and needed when building a solar system
 
Converter
An Electroic Device that changes alternating current (ac) to direct current (dc).
 
Crystalline
having a repeating atomic structure in all three dimensions.
 
DC
"One of two types of Electricity Direct Current; found in anything that uses batteries. Radios, cars laptops, cell phones, etc."
 
Disordered
minimizing and lifting of lattice constraints, which provides new degrees of freedom, permitting the placement of elements in multi-dimensional spaces where they interact in ways not previously available. This allows the use of multi-elements and complex materials where positional, translational, and compositional disorder remove restrictions so new local order environments can be generated controlling the physical, electronic, and chemical properties of the material, thereby permitting the synthesis of new materials with new mechanisms.
 
Grid-Connected (photovoltaic)
a photovoltaic (PV) system in which the PV array supplies power to the grid. Systems can be operated by the utility or by individual buildings.
 
Inverter
An Electronic Device that changes direct current (dc) to alternating current (ac).
 
Kilowatt
1000 watts; a light bulb uses 40-100 watts.
 
Megawatt
"1,000,000 watts"
 
Module (photovoltaic)
cells wired together in series form a module.
 
Ovonic
[after S.R. Ov(shinsky) + (electr)onic] - the term used to describe our proprietary materials, products, and technologies.
 
Ovshinsky effect
The effect by which a specific glassy thin film switches from a nonconductor to a semiconductor upon application of a minimum voltage.
 
Parallel Connection
"Connection in which the voltage stays the same, but the amperage multiplies."
 
Peak Power
the maximum amount of energy available for a sustained period of time, typically 10 to 30 seconds.
 
Photovoltaic (PV)
direct conversion of light into electrical energy.
 
Photovoltaic Cell
The treated semi-conductor material that converts solar irradiance to electricity.
 
Roll-to-Roll Process
a process where a roll of substrate is continuously converted into a roll of product.
 
Series Connection
Connection in which the current (amps) stays the same but the voltage multiplies.
 
Solar
Energy from the sun.
 
Solar Collectors
A device designed to capture light or heat energy from the sun. Solar thermal collectors are used in solar hot water systems (often found in homes) and photovoltaic collectors are used in solar electric systems
 
Solar Heating
Technologies or systems that take advantage of the heat energy coming from the sun. Solar thermal collectors are used in solar hot water systems (often found in homes) and photovoltaic collectors are used in solar electric systems.
 
Solar Module or Solar Panel
A collection of solar cells interconnected to form a solar panel or module.
 
Stabilized Energy Conversion Efficiency
the long-term ratio of electrical output to light input.
 
Systems; Balance of Systems
"Solar electric systems include the photovoltaic array and the other components that allow these solar panels to be used in homes and commercial facilities where a regulated DC power supply or an AC power supply is required. Components used in solar electric systems include; wire and disconnect devices, charge regulators, inverters, metering, and grounding components."
 
Thin-Film
a very thin layer of material formed on a substrate.
 
Volts
The unit of electromotive force that will force a current of one amp through a resistor or one ohm.
 
Voltage
The measurement of the force of electricity.
 
Voltage Meter
A device that measures voltage.
 
Watts
A measure of electrical power that is determined by multiplying the voltage by the amperage.